Vatican News
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.
Nigerian priest returns to ministry after two-week abduction
Father Mika Sueliman, a Nigerian priest who was recently released from captivity at the hands of bandits, talks about his recovery and return to priestly ministry in his parish in Damba.
Sri Lankan Cardinal criticizes government’s legislative focus, warns of threat to family values
Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith, Archbishop of Colombo, has publicly criticized the Sri Lankan government’s legislative priorities, particularly its focus on introducing bills supporting same-sex marriages.
Nigerian Bishops welcome new Apostolic Nuncio to ‘culturally diverse Church’
As Nigeria prepares to welcome a new Apostolic Nuncio, the President of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria, Archbishop Lucius Iwejuru Ugorji, explores the gifts and challenges facing the Church in Africa’s most populous nation.
Philippine Bishops offer four recommendations to combat human trafficking
To mark World Anti-Trafficking Day, the Church in the Philippines appeals to the faithful to do everything possible to ensure no child is left behind amid this dangerous international scourge.
Cameroon: Synodality and the Diplomacy of the Gospel
The role of Pontifical Representatives (Study Group 8) is one of the themes listed in the Instrumentum Laboris for the Synod of Bishops in October 2024. In an Interview, Archbishop Jose A. Bettencourt, the Apostolic Nuncio to Cameroon and Equatorial Guinea, shares his views on the Church Diplomatic Mission in a missionary synodal perspective.
Pope to altar servers: ‘Share Jesus with others’
Pope Francis encourages participants in the International Pilgrimage of Altar Servers to share Jesus’ Eucharistic love with those in need.
Venezuelan Bishops urge transparency over electoral results
Amidst widespread turmoil, the Venezuelan Bishops' Conference say they join their voices with "all those inside and outside Venezuela who demand verification of the ballot results."
Pope’s August prayer intention: For political leaders
In his prayer intention for August, Pope Francis prays that political leaders may be at the service of their people.
Manila Cardinal urges deeper synodality at national meeting of parish priests
The Cardinal Archbishop of Manila has urged a renewed focus on the virtues of hospitality, boldness, and hope to enhance the Church’s synodality.