Catholic News
Church marks 60th anniversary of Pope Paul VI’s ‘Ecclesiam suam’
On 6 August 1964, Pope Paul VI published his programmatic first encyclical, “Ecclesiam suam”, a “fraternal and informal” message that reflects on the Church’s relationship with the Christ and her dialogue with the world.
Paul VI: Dialogue as the antidote to religious marketing and social media outrages
Our Editorial Director reflects on the relevance of Pope St Paul VI’s first encyclical, “Ecclesiam suam,” on the sixtieth anniversary of its publication.
Australian government forbids uranium mining at Northern Territory site
The government of Australia's Northern Territory has refused to renew a mining lease for the Jabiluka uranium deposit, a move welcomed by activists seeking to preserve the Indigenous heritage of the site.
Hostility against Christians increasing in the Holy Land
The Jerusalem-based interreligious Rossing Center releases its annual report on ‘Attacks on Christians in Israel and East Jerusalem’, revealing a concerning rise of aggressions and incidences of intolerance against Churches and their members by Jewish extremists.
Authorities in Nicaragua detain two vicars of Diocese of Matagalpa
Nicaraguan authorities have arrested two priests during the Feast of the Patron Saint of Matagalpa, Santo Domingo de Guzmán.
Vietnam: Honouring legacy of Christian martyrs
The Roman Martyrology celebrates fallen Vietnamese Christian martyrs of the 19th century who gave their lives for Christ, offering a strong symbol of faith for future generations.
Papal Mass oversubscribed in Singapore, additional tickets to be released
The demand for seats at the Papal Mass scheduled to be held in Singapore on September 12 during Pope Francis' Apostolic Journey to the country has exceeded expectations, leading organizers to release more tickets through a second ballot.
Struggle for independence has made Catholic faith stronger in Timor-Leste
As the Church in Timor-Leste prepares for Pope Francis’ visit the Vicar-General of the Archdiocese of Dili explains that the motto for the event emphasizes the close link between the deeply rooted Catholic faith of the East Timorese people and their culture and recent troubled history.
Pope Francis sends greetings to participants in “Outreach” conference
Replying to a message from Fr. James Martin, who carries out his mission among the LGBTQ community in the United States, Pope Francis says he is spiritually united with those participating in the meeting at Georgetown University from August 2 to 4.
Indian diocese opens facilities as relief camps for landslide victims
Bishop Varghese Chakkalakal of Calicut in India has instructed parishes and Catholic schools to temporarily convert their facilities into relief camps to accommodate landslide victims.
Olympics: South Sudan looks for a basketball win
South Sudan’s basketball dream team is hoping for a win at the Olympic Games in Paris as its national team tries to make history against the United States’ NBA stars and will face off against Serbia on Saturday.
Zambia: On Being a Missionary of Synodality
Since returning from a “Parish Priests for the Synod” meeting held in Rome this year, Fr Cletus Mwiila, parish priest of St Mary’s Choma Parish in Zambia’s Monze Diocese, has been bringing the synodal message to Zambia’s parish priests, seminarians, women religious, and local communities.
Vatican issues clarification on Holy Doors during 2025 Jubilee
The Vatican's Dicastery for Evangelization issues a clarifying note regarding the 2025 Jubilee, specifying that Holy Doors will only be open at the four Papal Basilicas in Rome and in one prison.
Venezuela: Holy See calls for dialogue and ‘democratic coexistence’
The Holy See has urged all political parties in Venezuela to engage in dialogue and “peaceful attitudes,” amid reports that around 20 people have died in protests in the wake of Sunday’s presidential election.
Kenyan Bishops: Our nation's young people deserve trust
Following recent political demonstrations by Kenyan young people, the Bishops of the country insist that the youth deserve the people’s trust, while also calling for dialogue, listening, and preserving churches as sacred, and never instrumentalized, places.
Philippine bishop calls for greater lay involvement in Church mission
Bishop Pablo Virgilio David, President of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), urges parish priests to share pastoral responsibilities with the laity at the ongoing “National Meeting of Parish Priests for the Synod” in Manila.
Pope thanks circus workers for the smiles they bring to people's faces
Pope Francis pays an afternoon visit to Luna Park in Ostia Lido (southwest of Rome) where he meets with carnival and circus workers who live there assisted by Sisters Geneviève Jeanningros and Anna Amelia who provide pastoral care to them.
Churches and Mosques turned into make-shift hospitals in Kerala's landslide-hit areas
Hundreds of rescue workers searched through mud and debris Wednesday from multiple landslides that have killed at least 185 people in the southern Indian state of Kerala. Mosques and churches are on the frontlines of solidarity as they turn into make-shift hospitals and shelters.
Church in Canada desires reconciliation with indigenous to become ‘lived reality’
Reflecting on the second anniversary of Pope Francis’ penitential journey to Canada in 2022, the President of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops says he hopes the concrete actions being taken by the Church can help make truth and reconciliation with Indigenous peoples a ‘lived reality.’
Central African Republic: Torture and abuse in overcrowded prisons
A United Nations report sheds light on widespread violence and abuse throughout the Central African Republic's prison system, and draws attention to children being locked up with adults, because there are no juvenile prisons.