Faith

Newly ordained deacons pray during their ordination Mass in St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican Oct. 3, 2024.

Vatican statistics show decline in baptisms, clergy, religious, worldwide

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The number of Catholics and permanent deacons in the world rose in 2022, while the number of seminarians, priests, men and women in religious orders, and baptisms declined, according to Vatican statistics.

Pope Francis shares a laugh with Nasser al-Kidwa, the former Palestinian foreign minister, second from left, and Ehud Olmert, former Israeli prime minister, third from left, and their entourage in the library of the Apostolic Palace at the Vatican Oct. 17, 2024.

Pope Francis meets former Israeli and Palestinian officials promoting peace

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Pope Francis met a former prime minister of Israel and a former Palestinian foreign minister who believe they have a workable peace plan for the Holy Land.

Under the altar at the Centre Marie-Léonie Paradis in Sherbrooke, Que., lies a glass “kind of coffin-reliquary,” according to the centre, of the soon-to-be canonized and Quebec-born Mother Marie-Léonie Paradis.

Blessed Paradis among 14 new saints

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The celebration of World Mission Sunday will see Pope Francis declare Canadian Blessed Marie-Léonie Paradis, founder of the Little Sisters of the Holy Family, and 13 others as new saints.

Pope Francis greets Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the Vatican Oct. 11, 2024.

Pope Francis and Zelenskyy discuss repatriation of Ukrainian captives

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Pope Francis and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met for the third time since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, focusing their discussion on the repatriation of Ukrainian nationals held in Russian captivity.

Cardinal Víctor Manuel Fernández, prefect of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, attends the opening session of the Synod of Bishops in the Vatican's Paul VI Audience Hall Oct. 2, 2023.

Vatican doctrinal chief tells synod it's not time for women deacons

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"Rushing" to open the diaconate to women in the Catholic Church would short-circuit a necessary reflection on the relationship between ordained ministry and charismatic leadership, particularly as it impacts the participation of women in the church, said the head of the Vatican's doctrinal office.

Pope Francis gives his homily during a penitential liturgy Oct. 1, 2024, in St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican on the eve of the opening of the second session of the Synod of Bishops on synodality.

Church must recognize, ask pardon for its sins, Pope Francis says before synod

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The Catholic Church cannot be credible in its mission of proclaiming Christ unless it acknowledges its mistakes and bends down "to heal the wounds we have caused by our sins," Pope Francis said.

A Roman Missal is seen on the altar during a traditional Tridentine Mass July 18, 2021, at St. Josaphat Church in the Queens borough of New York City.

Vatican announces visitation of Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter

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The Vatican dicastery charged with overseeing and assisting religious orders confirmed that it plans to conduct an apostolic visitation of the Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter, which was founded in 1988 by traditionalist priests wanting to maintain the old liturgical rites while remaining in full communion with the pope.

Cardinal Mario Grech, secretary-general of the synod, and Cardinal Jean-Claude Hollerich, relator general of the synod, attend a news conference at the Vatican Sept. 16, 2024, to present the calendar and list of participants for the second session of the ongoing Synod of Bishops.

Second synod session to open with penitential liturgy

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The second session of the Synod of Bishops on synodality, set to bring 368 bishops, priests, religious and laypeople to the Vatican, will begin by asking forgiveness for various sins on behalf of all the baptized.

Pope Francis listens to a question from a journalist aboard his flight back to Rome from Marseille, France, in this file photo from Sept. 23, 2023. After not traveling outside Italy for 11 months, the pope is scheduled to visit Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, Timor-Leste and Singapore during a Sept. 2-13 trip.

Pope Francis off to Asia, Oceania

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Pope Francis’ trip to Asia and Oceania in September will be a trip of religious, economic and social contrasts.

Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Vatican secretary of state, is seen in a file photo from Oct. 6, 2023.

Vatican secretary of state asks Iranian president for restraint

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As the world braced for Iran to retaliate for the assassination of a Hamas leader who was staying in the Iranian capital, the Vatican secretary of state pleaded with Iran's new president not to escalate the Middle East conflict.

The Trocadero venue is seen, with the Eiffel Tower looming in the background, as the Olympic flag is raised July 26, during the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.

Vatican says it was 'saddened' by Olympics' opening ceremony

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More than a week after the opening ceremony of the Paris Olympic Games, the Vatican joined people who complained that a segment of the show featuring drag performers offended Christians.

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