September 1: A celebration of God’s decision to create

September 1: A celebration of God’s decision to create

Vatican news As the Church marks the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation on September 1, Indian Bishop Allwyn D’Silva, chairman of the Human Development Office of the Federation of Asian Bishops’ Conferences, reflects on the importance of praising God for his wonderful gift of Creation. By Bishop Allwyn D’Silva The World…

Pope’s September prayer intention: For the cry of the earth

Pope’s September prayer intention: For the cry of the earth

Vatican news In a video message accompanying his prayer intention for September, Pope Francis prays that “each of us may listen with our hearts to the cry of the earth and of the victims of environmental disasters and climate change, committing ourselves personally to taking care of the world in which we live.” By Christopher…

Pope: Christians called to share Gospel of peace, even amid persecution

Pope: Christians called to share Gospel of peace, even amid persecution

Vatican news Pope Francis thanks Catholics in the Italian city of Rimini for praying the rosary each month in their town square and urges Christians to spread the Gospel of peace, even when faced with persecution. By Devin Watkins For ten years, Catholics have gathered in Rimini, in northern Italy, on the 20th of each…

Custos of Holy Land joins call for prayers for peace on Solemnity of Assumption

Custos of Holy Land joins call for prayers for peace on Solemnity of Assumption

Vatican news The Custos of the Holy Land, Fr. Francesco Patton OFM, writes to the friars of the Custody to invite them to dedicate the solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, August 15, to prayer for peace in the Middle East and in the world. By Vatican News The Latin Patriarch of…

At Mass in Ukraine Cardinal Parolin invokes the miracle of peace

At Mass in Ukraine Cardinal Parolin invokes the miracle of peace

Cardinal Pietro Parolin, secretary of state for the Holy See, presides over a Mass at the Marian shrine in Berdychiv, Ukraine. Sent by Pope Francis to visit the country, he encouraged the faithful “not to lose faith even if it seems that evil has the upper hand.” By Antonella Palermo Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Secretary of…

Cardinal Pizzaballa asks Christians in the Holy Land to unite in prayer

Cardinal Pizzaballa asks Christians in the Holy Land to unite in prayer

Vatican news The Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem calls on Christians in the Holy Land to step back from political discussions at this time of bloodshed and continued sadness and to pray together. By Linda Bordoni “We must leave politics behind, we must come together and pray together. Now that the wounds are bleeding, it is…

Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith issues ruling on Our Lady of the Rock

Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith issues ruling on Our Lady of the Rock

Based on the new norms on the alleged apparitions, the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith has published its decision on the spiritual fruits deriving from the alleged apparitions to Cosimo Fragomeni in Calabria. Vatican News “In the secularized world in which we live, in which so many people spend their lives without any…

Pope’s July prayer intention: For pastoral care of the sick

Pope’s July prayer intention: For pastoral care of the sick

Vatican news Pope Francis publishes his prayer intention for the month of July and invites Christians to pray that the Church shows God's closeness to those suffering from illness. By Devin Watkins “Let us pray that the sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick may grant the strength of the Lord to those who receive…