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May 2017

May 1

Pope's homily: full text from Mass in Cairo

May 1, 2017

Pope Francis was the principal celebrant and homilist at Mass for Egyptian Catholics in the “Air Defense Stadium” in Cairo on Saturday. Below are the full text of the Holy Father’s prepared remarks, in their official English translation.

Catholic Education Special Section

May 1, 2017

This week is Catholic Education Week! Click here to check out all of our feature stories on Catholic Education.

Pope calls for peace amid deadly protests in Venezuela

May 1, 2017

VATICAN CITY – As anti-government protests in Venezuela turned deadly, Pope Francis called for an end to the bloodshed.

Egyptians filled with hope by Pope's message of peace during papal trip

May 1, 2017

CAIRO, Egypt – As Pope Francis returns from his April 28-29 trip to Cairo, Egyptians of all faiths were pleased by his visit and his message – one that filled them with hope for the future, they said.

Catholics bring Pope Francis' call to protect creation to climate march

May 1, 2017

WASHINGTON – Carrying banners and signs with quotes from Pope Francis' encyclical Laudato Si', hundreds of Catholics joined the People's Climate March to call for moral and prayerful action to protect creation.

Knights of Malta elects interim leader amid ongoing reform

May 1, 2017

ROME – The new lieutenant of the grand master of the Knights of Malta will lead efforts to reform the order following a tumultuous period that brought to light many of the ancient institution's internal disputes.

Catholic leaders: Papal trip was blessing for Christian, Muslim Egyptians

May 1, 2017

AMMAN, Jordan – Pope Francis' historic, 72-hour visit to Cairo has left a profound mark on Egyptians, Catholic leaders said, as they anticipate increased ties with fellow Orthodox Christians and Muslims.

45 people saved from tornado's fury in hallway of Texas church

May 1, 2017

WASHINGTON – In the insurance world, extreme weather events such as tornadoes are often referred to as "acts of God."

Catholic leaders urge Israel to meet Palestinian hunger strikers' demands

May 1, 2017

JERUSALEM – Catholic leaders in the Holy Land urged Israel to concede to demands of Palestinian political prisoners on a hunger strike since April 17.

May 2

Youth challenged to learn more about crisis in Syria

May 2, 2017

A former Syrian refugee challenged high school students to become more involved in the world by shocking them with stories of the harsh realities of life in a refugee camp.

Pope's homily: The Lord softens those with hard hearts

May 2, 2017

“The Lord softens those with hard hearts, those who condemn all who are outside the law.” This was the message of Pope Francis homily, during Tuesday’s Mass in the Vatican’s Santa Marta residence. He said that those who are hard hearted do not know the tenderness of God and his ability to remove hearts of stone and replace them with hearts of flesh.

Pope Francis: Work is more than money, it's about the person

May 2, 2017

VATICAN CITY – Reflecting on the dignity of work, Pope Francis said that a society of fraternity promotes the dignity of the person and provides a solution to the “global economic dictatorship.”

Mexican bishops: The cry of migrants is the cry of the Church

May 2, 2017

MEXICO CITY, Mexico – In the context of their 103rd Full Assembly, the Mexican Bishops Conference released a statement on the suffering on migrants, calling for efforts to fight corruption and promote a dignified life.

Our Lady of Fatima to visit United Nations

May 2, 2017

NEW YORK CITY, N.Y. – One day before the May 13 celebration marking the 100th anniversary of the Fatima apparitions, a statue of Our Lady of Fatima will be visiting the United Nations.

Pope plans Pentecost celebrations with charismatics, Pentecostals

May 2, 2017

VATICAN CITY – Pope Francis has invited thousands of Catholic charismatics and members of Pentecostal and Evangelical churches to Rome to celebrate Pentecost and mark the 50th anniversary of what became the Catholic Charismatic Renewal.

Belgian religious push back on euthanasia directive for Catholic hospitals

May 2, 2017

BRUSSELS, Belgium – Following a decision by the board of several Belgian Catholic psychiatric hospitals to start performing euthanasia, the religious brothers who operate the hospitals said the policy change is unacceptable and cannot be implemented.

Francis and Benedict: two popes, two divergent approaches to Islam

May 2, 2017

ROME – The global growth of Islam and in particular the rise of Islamic extremism have forced recent popes to set out, with increasing urgency, a strategy for engaging the religion.

Kenyan bishops warn against election violence, insecurity

May 2, 2017

NAIROBI, Kenya – Kenyan Catholic bishops said they fear widespread violence in the next general elections.

Campaign Life Coalition ‘disqualifies’ all but two Tory leadership hopefuls

May 2, 2017

OTTAWA – Campaign Life Coalition has “disqualified” all but two Conservative leadership candidates, a move that has drawn fire from other pro-life activists.

Saskatchewan Premier overrides court ruling on Catholic school funding

May 2, 2017

REGINA, Sask. – In a victory for Catholic education, Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall said he will invoke the notwithstanding clause of the Charter of Rights to override a court ruling that threatened to cause layoffs and possible Catholic school closures in the province.