Vatican news Catholic pilgrims from across Papua New Guinea have descended on Port Moresby to see Pope Francis, and St. John the Apostle Catholic Church has rolled out the red carpet to welcome them. By Claudia Torres and Franco Piroli – Port Moresby St. John the Apostle Catholic Church in Tokarara, a residential suburb of…
Vatican news Nicaragua’s parliament has approved new tax measures that will require churches and religious organizations of all denominations to pay taxes on offerings received from the faithful. By Giancarlo La Vella Nicaragua’s National Assembly approved on August 20 a tax reform that removes tax exemptions for religious institutions, requiring them to pay income tax…
Vatican news Estonian Catholics will make a pilgrimage to the country’s oldest shrine dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary on August 24, as the Apostolic Administration of Estonia prepares to celebrate its 100th anniversary. By Marge-Marie Paas – Tallinn Estonian Catholics will travel to the country’s oldest shrine on Saturday, August 24, to celebrate 25…
Vatican news Following a series of recent detentions, the Nicaraguan government is exiling seven priests, sending them to Rome. VATICAN NEWS Among the priests detained in Nicaragua, seven were exiled this Wednesday, August 7, and sent to Rome, where they arrived Thursday afternoon. They are Víctor Godoy, Jairo Pravia, Silvio Romero, Edgar Sacasa, Harvin Torres,…
Vatican news Nicaraguan authorities have arrested the rector of the Matagalpa seminary, who is also the parish priest of Santa María de Guadalupe. Father Jarvin Tórrez has been in prison since August 5, according to activists and human rights organizations, who also reported the arrest of a lay collaborator, Lesbia Rayo Balmaceda, from a parish…
Vatican news The Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops says it “remains committed to walking in solidarity” with Indigenous peoples as Canada commemorates two years since Pope Francis’ historic “penitential pilgrimage” of healing and reconciliation. By Christopher Wells Two years after Pope Francis’ historic “penitential pilgrimage” to Canada, the country’s bishops say they “remain committed to…
Vatican news As the Church celebrates the Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Father Marion Nguyen, OSB, offers his reflections on the day’s liturgical readings under the theme, “Come and Rest.” By Father Marion Nguyen, OSB * Saint Gregory exhorts the pastor: “Let the pastor, preoccupied with external things, not become complacent in his concern for…
Vatican news The Bishops of Ireland have issued a pastoral letter to people of faith and goodwill who wish to protect and support human life in end-of-life situations. By Thaddeus Jones The Irish Catholic Bishops' Conference has issued a pastoral statement entitled “The freedom to live fully, until death” to inform people of faith and…
Vatican news Father Emmanuel Saintéliat, kidnapped on June 30, has been freed by the group that attacked the town of Gressier, Haiti, killing 20 people. Confirmation of his release came from the archdiocese, which appealed to the authorities to end the violence and protect lives. Vatican News Father Emmanuel Saintéliat, pastor of the Saint-Jean-Baptiste church,…
Vatican news The Latin Patriarch Cardinal of Jerusalem speaks of the critical period the Holy Land is going through and the difficulty of finding solutions. By Andrea Tornielli “The moment is very painful, we are experiencing a very long night. But we also know that the nights are ending. This is the moment when the…