Faith
Pope Francis washes feet of women inmates at Rome prison for Holy Thursday
By Cindy Wooden, Catholic News ServiceAs Pope Francis poured water over their feet, dried them with a towel and kissed their feet, 12 women inmates at Rome's Rebibbia prison wept.
Vatican court upholds climate activists’ conviction
By Cindy Wooden, Catholic News ServiceThe Vatican City appeals court upheld the conviction of two Italian climate activists who glued their hands to an ancient sculpture in the Vatican Museums.
Doctrine chief says his book on sexuality not something he'd write today
By Justin McLellan, Catholic News ServiceThe Vatican's doctrine chief said the sometimes-graphic book on sexuality and spirituality that he published 25 years ago is "a book of my youth that I certainly would not write now."
Vatican doctrine official says priestly celibacy should be optional
By Justin McLellan, Catholic News ServiceThe Catholic Church should revise its celibacy requirement for Latin-rite priests, a senior official in the Vatican's doctrinal office said.
Late Pope Benedict remembered on first anniversary of his death
By Cindy Wooden, Catholic News ServiceAs an expression of ongoing affection and gratitude for the late Pope Benedict XVI, Pope Francis led tens of thousands of people in St. Peter's Square in a round of applause for his predecessor on the first anniversary of his death.
Vatican to publish 'private' homilies of late Pope Benedict
By Cindy Wooden, Catholic News ServiceThe Vatican publishing house announced it will release a book of some 130 homilies given by the late Pope Benedict XVI at private Sunday Masses -- 30 given while he was pope and more than 100 given to members of his household once he retired.
Doctrinal dicastery explains how, when gay couples can be blessed
By Cindy Wooden, Catholic News ServiceA Catholic priest can bless a gay or other unmarried couple as long as it is not a formal liturgical blessing and does not give the impression that the Catholic Church is blessing the union as if it were a marriage, the Vatican doctrinal office said.
Cardinal Becciu, five others sentenced to prison at Vatican trial
By Cindy Wooden, Catholic News ServiceThe Vatican City State criminal court sentenced Cardinal Angelo Becciu to five years and six months in prison on two counts of embezzlement and one of aggravated fraud but found him not guilty of abuse of office or witness tampering.
Synod council to ask Pope Francis to authorize studies on key synod topics
By Cindy Wooden, Catholic News ServiceThe council of the Synod of Bishops will ask Pope Francis to authorize studies on the need to update canon law, revise the rules for priestly formation, deepen a theological reflection on the diaconate -- including the possibility of ordaining women deacons -- and consider revising a document that provides norms for the relationship of a bishop with members of religious orders in his diocese.
Pope Francis planning to withdraw Cardinal Burke's Vatican salary, sources say
By Cindy Wooden, Catholic News ServicePope Francis told the prefects of Vatican dicasteries that he saw no reason for the Vatican to continue giving U.S. Cardinal Raymond L. Burke a monthly salary and questioned why the Vatican should be providing him with a free apartment in Rome, various sources have confirmed.
For health reasons, Pope Francis cancels COP28 trip
By Cindy Wooden, Catholic News Service"With great regret," Pope Francis has accepted his doctors' advice to not travel to Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Dec. 1-3 and is looking at alternative ways the Vatican can participate in the U.N. Climate Change Conference, the director of the Vatican press office said.