Dicastery for Evangelization holds plenary on Pontifical Urbaniana University

Dicastery for Evangelization holds plenary on Pontifical Urbaniana University

The Dicastery for Evangelization is organizing a two-day extraordinary plenary assembly to discuss the future mission of the Pontifical Urbaniana University, which trains seminarians and priests for missionary dioceses around the world. By Gianni Valente, Fides Agency The Pontifical Urbaniana University is approaching an important crossroads in its long and unprecedented history. On August 29…

Bishops express shock at stabbing of priest in Galway

Bishops express shock at stabbing of priest in Galway

Vatican news Bishops in Ireland have expressed shock and dismay following news of a repeated assault on a Catholic chaplain by a teenager on Thursday. By Lisa Zengarini Irish bishops have expressed shock and outrage following the stabbing of a military chaplain in Galway. The incident happened on Thursday, when Father Paul Murphy was stabbed…

Pope Francis encourages religious to discern and be charitable

Pope Francis encourages religious to discern and be charitable

Vatican news Pope Francis addresses members of four religious congregations as they hold their general chapters in Rome and urges them to focus on discernment, ongoing formation and promoting a spirit of charity. By Francesca Merlo Pope Francis met on Monday with the leaders of four religious congregations, which are holding their general chapters in…

Rector of Nicaragua’s Matagalpa Seminary arrested

Rector of Nicaragua’s Matagalpa Seminary arrested

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…

Philippine bishop calls for greater lay involvement in Church mission

Philippine bishop calls for greater lay involvement in Church mission

Vatican news Bishop Pablo Virgilio David, president of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), is urging parish priests to share pastoral responsibilities with the laity during the ongoing “National Meeting of Parish Priests for the Synod” in Manila. By LiCAS News The event, which runs from July 29 to August 1, brought together…

Synodal Church: ‘Hotel for saints, hospital for sinners’

Synodal Church: ‘Hotel for saints, hospital for sinners’

Vatican news As the Church heads towards the second session of the Synod on Synodality, Fr Cletus Mwilla explores the hope for a paradigm shift towards a more inclusive and participatory Church. By Sr. Roselyne Wambani Wafula, FSP In anticipation of the second session of the Synod's Ordinary General Assembly scheduled for October 2024, several…

Pope meets with young Roman priests: “Do not tire of doing good”

Pope meets with young Roman priests: “Do not tire of doing good”

Vatican news Pope Francis continues his series of meetings with the clergy of his diocese, speaking with a group of recently ordained priests on pastoral issues. By Salvatore Cernuzio This was the pope's second meeting with the clergy of Rome, after that of May 14 with priests in office for 40 years and more. Today…

After Rome meeting, parish priests head home as ‘missionaries of synodality’

After Rome meeting, parish priests head home as ‘missionaries of synodality’

Vatican news Vatican News spoke to three of the 300 clergy gathered in Rome this week for a conference titled “Parishers for the Synod.” By Joseph Tulloch This week, some 300 priests gathered on the outskirts of Rome to discuss how to implement synodality at the local level. On Thursday morning, they met with Pope…

Pope’s May Prayer Intention: For the formation of men and women religious

Pope’s May Prayer Intention: For the formation of men and women religious

Vatican news Pope Francis publishes his prayer intention for the month of May: For the formation of religious men and women and seminarians. In his video message, the Pope highlights the continued development of their vocations through grace, prayer, community and witness to the Gospel. By Francesca Merlo Next May, Pope Francis invited us to…

Pope praises example of mafia-slain Italian priest

Pope praises example of mafia-slain Italian priest

Vatican news On the thirtieth anniversary of the brutal assassination of Father Giuseppe Diana by the Neapolitan Camorra mafia, Pope Francis urges young people in particular to embrace his legacy of fighting organized crime and not allow themselves to be robbed 'hope. By Lisa Zengarini Pope Francis praised the life and testimony of Italian Father…