FAITH/STORIES

Religious sisters participate in a Eucharistic procession through midtown Manhattan in New York City Oct. 15. The procession and the Holy Hour and Mass that preceded it at St. Patrick’s Cathedral attracted thousands of worshippers.

Eucharistic procession takes to New York streets

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A remarkable day of faith and devotion unfolded at St. Patrick’s Cathedral in midtown Manhattan Oct. 15 as thousands of Catholics gathered for a Eucharistic procession.

Cardinal Víctor Manuel Fernández, prefect of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, arrives in the Paul VI Audience Hall to attend a morning session of the synod at the Vatican Oct. 21, 2024.

Cardinal Fernández updates synod on study group focusing on women's roles

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Pope Francis decided the question of ordaining women deacons was not to be discussed at the 2024 Synod of Bishops, and he directed a synod-related study group on women's ministries not to explore the matter, according to the Vatican's doctrinal chief.

Pope Francis presides over Mass for the canonization of 14 new saints on World Mission Sunday in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican Oct. 20, 2024.

Saints served generously, creatively, Pope Francis says at canonization Mass

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Pope Francis called on the faithful to yearn to serve, not thirst for power, as he proclaimed 14 new saints, including Canada-born St. Marie-Léonie Paradis, founder of the Little Sisters of the Holy Family, and 11 martyrs.

Cardinal Mario Grech, secretary-general of the synod, delivers his homily during Mass with synod participants at the Altar of the Chair in St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican, Oct. 21, 2024.

Cardinal calls for communion, continued action as synod nears end

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As members of the Synod of Bishops entered the last week of their meeting in Rome, the synod's secretary-general urged them to resist the temptation of "covetousness" -- the desire "to keep everything for ourselves, to possess, to hoard, to define, to close."

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 poses for a photo with a delegation from New Ways Ministry, including transgender and intersex Catholics, during a meeting at his residence at the Vatican Oct. 12, 2024. Pictured from left are Cynthia Herrick, Laurie Dever, Deacon Ray Dever, Michael Sennett and Nicole Santamaria.

Pope Francis hears testimonies from transgender and intersex Catholics

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Pope Francis met with a group of transgender and intersex Catholics, along with LGBTQ+ allies and a medical doctor specializing in transgender healthcare, during a nearly 90-minute audience at his residence, the Domus Sanctae Marthae.

Cardinal Jean-Claude Hollerich of Luxembourg, relator general of the Synod of Bishops on synodality, speaks during the morning session in the Paul VI Audience Hall at the Vatican Oct. 15, 2024.

Synod begins looking at institutional changes to promote synodality

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If members of the Synod of Bishops are serious about sharing their experience of "synodality" with all members of the Catholic Church, then they must identify concrete ways to do so, Cardinal Jean-Claude Hollerich told members.

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.

Belgian Deacon Geert De Cubber, a member of the Synod of Bishops on synodality, speaks during a news conference at the Vatican Oct. 9, 2024.

Synod seeks to expand consultations on women's ministry, diaconate

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The Vatican group studying the question of women's ministry, including the ordination of women to the diaconate, will expand its consultative phase to include women who do not serve as consultors to the dicastery in charge of the study group, synod officials announced.

October 8, 2024
Pope Francis meets with Jesuits from Belgium, Luxembourg and the Netherlands at Saint Michel College in Brussels Sept. 28, 2024.

Evangelize with simplicity, prayer, dialogue, service, Pope Francis tells Jesuits

Evangelization does not have to be complicated or "sophisticated," even in highly secularized places, Pope Francis told Jesuits living in Belgium, Luxembourg and the Netherlands.

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.

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