March 2025

St. Joseph’s Oratory opens welcome centre

Part of $150-million reno of venerable Montreal shrine

Anna Farrow · March 1, 2025

On a cold and snowy Feb. 13, Montreal's St. Joseph’s Oratory officially opened a newly constructed, four-level welcome centre to visitors.

Spreading Catholic truth through social science

Jason Adkins · March 1, 2025

Catholic social scientists are doing some of the most important work in the public square making a reasoned case for both state and society to promote marriage and stable two-parent families as important public goods.

Mary's Meals campaign targets African hunger

Luke Mandato · March 1, 2025

Mary's Meals has launched a worldwide emergency campaign in the wake of nearly 21 million children across southern Africa facing malnutrition as poor harvests and some of the worst African droughts in living memory continue to plague countries well into the new year.

Pope Francis, from hospital, writes about 'blessing' hidden in frailty

Cindy Wooden · March 3, 2025

Pope Francis' condition remained "stable" March 2, and he "did not require non-invasive mechanical ventilation, but only high-flow oxygen therapy," the Vatican said in its evening medical bulletin.

Vatican secretary of state, Lithuanian president discuss Ukraine crisis

Catholic News Service · March 3, 2025

When Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Vatican secretary of state, welcomed Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda to the Vatican March 3, Russia's war on Ukraine was a key topic on the agenda.

Pope Francis suffers episodes of respiratory crisis, remains alert

Justin McLellan · March 3, 2025

Pope Francis suffered "two episodes of acute respiratory insufficiency" March 3 but remained alert, the Vatican said, giving cause for concern after two days in which his condition was described as "stable."

Pope Francis is 'stable' day after suffering breathing crises, remains alert

Justin McLellan · March 4, 2025

Pope Francis has not had any further respiratory crises a day after he experienced two of them, the Vatican said, and his condition remained "stable."

Ash Wednesday teaches human fragility, Gospel hope

Cindy Wooden · March 5, 2025

The journey of Lent "unfolds amid the remembrance of our fragility and the hope that, at the end of the road, the Risen Lord is waiting for us," Pope Francis wrote in his homily for Ash Wednesday.

Pope Francis marks Ash Wednesday in hospital, receiving ashes, Eucharist

Carol Glatz · March 5, 2025

Pope Francis marked Ash Wednesday on his 20th day in Rome's Gemelli hospital by taking part in the rite of the blessing of the ashes and receiving them in a short prayer service, the Vatican said.

Church charities future depends on next election: MP

Quinton Amundson · March 5, 2025

A Conservative Party MP suggests the charitable status of every Canadian house of worship and organization advancing religious values could be contingent on the outcome of the next federal election.

Only a united global family can fix crises: Paglia

Carol Glatz · March 5, 2025

One of the most serious emergencies today is that the world forgets about and does not attend to the common good and the needs of regular people, especially poor people, the head of the Pontifical Academy for Life said.

EU bishops call for unity in supporting Ukraine

Junno Arocho Esteves · March 5, 2025

European bishops have called for unity on the continent following U.S. President Donald Trump ordering a “pause” on U.S. assistance to Ukraine.

Editorial

A journey of hope

March 5, 2025

This Lent, as we share in the grace of the Jubilee Year, I propose reflections on what it means to journey together in hope.

Texts on the Ukraine conflict following the February 28 meeting between Trump and Zelensky

Catholic Register Staff · March 5, 2025

Unity. Dignity. Resilience. Sacrifice. Gratitude. These are the words in my heart on this turbulent day.

Wake up to better days in Lent

Six steps to practise faith practically

Luke Mandato · March 5, 2025

Fr. John O’Brien, SJ, is looking to timeless Jesuit traditions as one of many means for the faithful to practice and nurture their spiritual resiliency as Lent gets underway.

St. Maximilian Kolbe a saint for our times

Anna Farrow · March 6, 2025

A new film focusing on the last 14 days of St. Maximilian Kolbe’s life is aiming to capture the attention of millennials and Gen Z.

Vancouver transition overshadowed by Francis’ recovery

Nicholas Elbers · March 6, 2025

Even as they began the busy work of transferring episcopal responsibility for Vancouver, it was the health of Pope Francis that was on everyone’s mind as the Holy Father announced Archbishop Richard Smith would be the next Archbishop of Vancouver.

Pope Francis, in short audio message, thanks people for their prayers

Cindy Wooden · March 6, 2025

On his 21st day in Rome's Gemelli hospital, Pope Francis recorded a 27-second audio message thanking people for their prayers.

Mass numbers hover below pre-pandemic level

But there has been sharp rise since end of COVID restrictions

Luke Mandato · March 6, 2025

Where recent trends show Catholic Mass attendance levels in the United Kingdom and the United States have all but returned to post-pandemic levels, the Archdiocese of Toronto finds itself still with a ways to go.

Barefoot and Preaching

Hope is born from Lenten ashes

Dust to dust

Leah Perrault · March 6, 2025

The world is a hot mess right now. I am not sure there is a better way to say that. Everything feels upside down and unbelievable. Pope Francis declared a jubilee year of hope; now he’s praying for a world praying for him in a hospital bed.