Cardinal Mauro Gambetti, archpriest of St. Peter's Basilica, celebrated a penitential rite at the basilica's main altar June 3 after a man climbed up on it naked before being apprehended.
As first Communion season winds down and wedding fever rises, Catholic counters are busy.
The Central Office of Church Statistics, a department of the Vatican Secretariat of State, keeps track of baptisms, first Communions, confirmations and Catholic marriages reported by dioceses around the
Asserting that "it is in the family that many of God's dreams for the human community are realized," Pope Francis asked Catholic universities and Catholic couples around the world to support the "Family Global Compact."
"We cannot resign ourselves to the decline of
Catholics should make an "examination of conscience" about how they use social media, how they allow it to influence them and about the opportunities it provides them to share the Gospel, build community and care for others, said the Vatican Dicastery for
Pope Francis prayed that Catholics in China would be free to share the Gospel and live their faith fully.
At a time when Vatican-Chinese relations are strained because of apparent differences over an agreement to name bishops, the pope publicly marked the annual
Christians should pray on Pentecost that the Holy Spirit would give them the courage and strength to share the Gospel, Pope Francis said.
"No matter how difficult the situation may be -- and indeed, at times it may seem there is no room
Pope Francis formally recognized the martyrdom of an Italian priest shot by Nazi soldiers after they discovered he was helping his parishioners hide about 100 Jews.
The martyrdom of Father Giuseppe Beotti, who was arrested and shot July 20, 1944, in Sidolo in
Pope Francis has asked Italian Cardinal Matteo Zuppi of Bologna to lead a mission "to help ease tensions in the conflict in Ukraine," the Vatican press office said.
The appointment of the cardinal, who is president of the Italian bishops' conference and a
Asking European leaders for "creative efforts for peace" in Ukraine, the Vatican secretary of state said the Holy See "will continue to do its part."
"We cannot accept passively that the war of aggression in that tormented country continues," Cardinal Pietro Parolin said
Pope Francis updated the "Fundamental Law of Vatican City State," opening the possibility that laypeople can be members of its governing commission and emphasizing that the independence of the city-state is essential for the mission of the Holy See.