FAITH/STORIES
Preparations begin for opening Holy Doors at Vatican, Rome basilicas
By Cindy Wooden, Catholic News ServiceHours after the last visitors and pilgrims left St. Peter's Basilica for the day, a chisel clanged and dust flew as a group of prelates chanted their prayers before a simple wall marked with a cross.
Final synod document is magisterial, must be accepted, Pope Francis says
By Justin McLellan, Catholic News ServiceDoubling down on the centrality of synodality in the Catholic Church, Pope Francis said that it is now up to local churches to accept and implement proposals from the final document approved the Synod of Bishops on synodality.
Cardinal Parolin warns war in Ukraine could spiral out of control
By Carol Glatz, Catholic News ServiceThe situation in Ukraine is very "worrisome" and could spiral out of control, said Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Vatican secretary of state.
Pope Francis says he'll canonize Acutis, Frassati, host meeting on child's rights
By Carol Glatz, Catholic News ServicePope Francis announced that he will canonize Blesseds Carlo Acutis and Pier Giorgio Frassati next year and that the Vatican will host a world meeting on the rights of the child Feb. 3.
Pope Francis meets Ukrainian first lady, decries war as 'shameful tragedy'
By Cindy Wooden, Catholic News ServiceWith Ukraine's first lady seated in the front row, Pope Francis told people at his general audience that it is "a shameful tragedy for all humanity" that Russia's war on Ukraine has lasted more than 1,000 days.
Pope Francis meets Israeli citizens freed from captivity in Gaza
By Carol Glatz, Catholic News ServicePope Francis met with a group of Israelis and their family members who were freed after being held hostage in Gaza by Hamas and other Palestinian militants.
Marking 1,700 years, Rome's cathedral testifies to Christianity's perseverance
By Maria Wiering, OSV NewsSituated on the outskirts of ancient Rome along the still-visible Aurelian Walls is the Archbasilica of St. John Lateran, the cathedral of Rome. The site of the pope's residence for nearly 1,000 years, five of the church's ecumenical councils, and the signing of a pivotal 1929 treaty between Italy and the Holy See, St. John Lateran is celebrated by the whole church annually with the Nov. 9 feast of its dedication.
Italian Capuchin succeeds Cardinal Cantalamessa as papal preacher
By Carol Glatz, Catholic News ServicePope Francis appointed a new preacher of the papal household: a 53-year-old Italian Capuchin priest who studied computer science and mathematics and discovered his vocation while reading a free copy of St. Matthew's Gospel on the subway.
Top Vatican official hopes Trump will promote peace, national unity
By Cindy Wooden, Catholic News ServiceThe Vatican secretary of state said his prayer for Donald J. Trump is that God would grant him wisdom "because that is the main virtue of those who govern according to the Bible."
On All Souls, pope prays at graves of children, miscarried infants
By Cindy Wooden, Catholic News ServicePope Francis prayed at the graves of children and of miscarried babies on the feast of All Souls before concelebrating Mass with several hundred mourners.
Pope Francis offers Mass for cardinals and bishops who died in past year
By Cindy Wooden, Catholic News ServiceRemembering the cardinals and bishops who died in the past year, Pope Francis prayed that after their loving service to the Catholic Church "they may exult in eternal communion with the saints."
Papal commission releases report highlighting progress in safeguarding
By Carol Glatz, Catholic News ServiceHighlighting progress made in safeguarding and recommendations for rectifying ongoing gaps, the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors dedicated its first annual report to all victims and survivors of sexual abuse by members of the Catholic Church.
Pope Francis to open Holy Door at Rome prison at beginning of Jubilee 2025
By Justin McLellan, Catholic News ServiceTwo days after opening the Holy Door of St. Peter's Basilica to inaugurate the Holy Year 2025, Pope Francis will travel to a Rome prison to open a Holy Door as a "tangible sign of the message of hope" for people in prisons around the world, the Vatican announced.