Faith

New Swiss Guard members stand at attention during their swearing-in ceremony at the Vatican May 6, 2021.

Pope Francis tells new Swiss Guards they represent a church that welcomes

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VATICAN CITY -- Meeting new recruits to the Swiss Guard, Pope Francis thanked the young men for having chosen to serve the successor of St. Peter and he thanked all the guards for their diligence and service.

A cardinal carries his biretta as he arrives for a consistory with Pope Francis in St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican in this June 28, 2018, file photo. The pope has updated rules for the Vatican court system so that cardinals and bishops accused of a crime can now be tried by the Vatican City court, just like priests and laypeople can be.

Pope Francis updates Vatican judicial laws so cardinals, bishops can face trial

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Updating the laws that govern the Vatican's civil judicial system, Pope Francis stated that cardinals and bishops accused of a crime can now be tried in a Vatican court.

Cardinal Marc Ouellet, prefect of the Congregation for Bishops, leaves the opening session of the Synod of Bishops on young people, the faith and vocational discernment at the Vatican in this Oct 3, 2018, file photo. Cardinal Ouellet announced plans for a major international conference at the Vatican in 2022 on the theology of the priesthood.

Cardinal Ouellet unveils major Vatican conference on priesthood slated for 2022

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VATICAN CITY -- Increasing vocations to the priesthood, improving the way laypeople and priests work together and ensuring that service, not power, motivates the request for ordination are all possible outcomes of a major symposium being planned by the Vatican in February 2022.

Bishop J. Mark Spalding of Nashville, Tenn., blesses eight members of the Dominican Sisters of St. Cecilia during their perpetual profession ceremony at the Cathedral of the Incarnation in Nashville July 25, 2019. The number of Catholics and of permanent deacons in the world has risen, while the number of religious men and women decreased, according to Vatican statistics.

Vatican statistics show continued growth in number of Catholics worldwide

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VATICAN CITY -- The number of Catholics and permanent deacons in the world has shown steady growth, while the number of religious men and women continued to decrease, according to Vatican statistics.

The dome of St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican is seen from the Aventine Hill in Rome in this May 2, 2018, file photo. Pope Francis has approved pay cuts for cardinals, top managers and religious personnel working at the Vatican.

Pope Francis approves pay cuts for cardinals, top management, religious at Vatican

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VATICAN CITY -- With the need to reduce costs and make sure employees are not laid off, Pope Francis has approved pay cuts for cardinals, clergy, religious and upper management officials who work in the Roman Curia and other Vatican entities.

Priests in St. Peter's Basilica process to the altar where St. John Paul II is buried at the Vatican in this Feb. 13, 2020, photo. Dozens of priests concelebrate an early morning Mass at the tomb every Thursday.

Vatican ends practice of private Masses in St. Peter's Basilica

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VATICAN CITY -- The Vatican is putting an end to the practice of priests going into St. Peter's Basilica early every morning to celebrate their own Mass at a side altar with just an altar server.

A same-sex couple is pictured in a file photo exchanging rings during a ceremony in Salt Lake City. The Vatican's doctrinal office says in a new note that any form of blessing of same-sex unions is "illicit," but that the negative judgment is on the blessing of unions, not the people, who must be respected.

Vatican says no blessing of gay unions

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VATICAN CITY -- While homosexual men and women must be respected, any form of blessing a same-sex union is "illicit," said the Vatican Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.

Father Jiha Lim listens to a penitent’s confession March 7, 2021, at St. Aloysius Church in Great Neck, N.Y., during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Vatican says general absolution still is permissible where infections continue to rise.

Vatican says general absolution still permissible during pandemic

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VATICAN CITY -- Offering general absolution to the faithful without having them personally confess their sins first may still be done in places seeing serious or increasing levels of coronavirus infections, a Vatican official said.

Pope Benedict XVI reads his resignation in Latin during a meeting of cardinals at the Vatican in this Feb. 11, 2013, file photo. Speaking of his resignation, the retired pope recently told the Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera that "it was a difficult decision, but I made it in full awareness, and I believe it was correct."

Benedict XVI discusses his resignation, Francis' trip to Iraq in interview

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VATICAN CITY -- Although it took obvious effort to pronounce each word and sometimes his secretary repeated what he said to make it clear, retired Pope Benedict XVI spoke to an Italian newspaper about his retirement and about Pope Francis' planned trip to Iraq.

Vatican official insists religious services are 'essential services'

Vatican official insists religious services are 'essential services'

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VATICAN CITY -- For believers, the ability to practice their faith and receive spiritual guidance are "the highest of essential services," and pandemic practices over the past year have shown they are not automatically super-spreader events, the Vatican foreign minister said.

Cardinal Robert Sarah, prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Sacraments

Cardinals Sarah, Comastri retire from Vatican posts

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VATICAN CITY -- Pope Francis accepted the resignations of 75-year-old Cardinal Robert Sarah, prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Sacraments, and 77-year-old Cardinal Angelo Comastri, archpriest of St. Peter's Basilica and vicar for Vatican City State.

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