World

As we continue to pray for Pope Francis through the Novemdiales - the period of mourning after the death of a pope - we also celebrate his legacy. Pope Francis was committed to upholding the dignity of workers and, with modifications, the 'Jubilee for Workers' and the 'Jubilee for Entrepreneurs' are both going ahead at the start of May. Bishop Richard Moth, Chair of the Department for Social Justi... Read More

Sister Ana Rosa Sivori, a missionary working in Thailand with the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians (FMA), who is a cousin of Pope Francis, is currently visiting Rome. Originally from Buenos Aires, after studying in Turin and working in India, she has been a missionary in Thailand for 60 years. .In an interview with Antonella Prenna from Fides she said: "I arrived in Rome on the night of Apri... Read More

Sr Anne Lyons PBVM writes: Pope Francis declared the foundress of the Presentation Order, Nano Nagle, Venerable seven months after he became Pope, on 31 October 2013. This is the second stage on the road to Sainthood. I had the privilege of meeting him in the context of my role as Postulator for the cause - most recently for a third audience last November (pictured). A postulator is the person who... Read More

The Conclave which opens next Wednesday, 7 May, will be less Euro-centric than it has ever been before. The 135 Cardinals Electors of the College of Cardinals hail from 71 different countries across the five continents. More than three-quarters of them (108) were appointed by Pope Francis, while 22 were created by Benedict XVI. Five were chosen by St John Paul II, making them the 'veterans' of the... Read More

In a video message, recorded in Casa Santa Marta on 8 January, but released only after he died, Pope Francis encourages young people to really listen to others. Pope Francis says: "Dear boys and girls, one of the most important things in life is to listen-to learn how to listen. When someone speaks to you, wait for them to finish so you can really understand, and then, if you feel like it, res... Read More

Thousands of people with disabilities and their caregivers, as well as the heads of numerous charities, are in Rome now for the Jubilee of Persons with Disabilities. Sr Veronica Donatello, head of disability outreach for the Italian Bishops' Conference, opened the first event today with a conference at the packed Augustinianum Congress Centre, in Rome, entitled: 'We: Pilgrims of Hope.' In her a... Read More

In a deeply moving moment of unity and Christian witness, churches across Nazareth gathered on Monday, 28 April, at the Basilica of the Annunciation to celebrate a Holy Mass for the repose of Pope Francis' soul. The liturgy was presided over by Mgr Rafiq Nahra, Latin Patriarchal Vicar in Galilee, and concelebrated by Fr Wojciech Bołoz, OFM, Guardian and Rector of the Basilica of the Annunciation ... Read More

The conclave to elect the 267th Pope will begin on Wednesday, 7 May, following the conclusion of the Novemdiales Masses to pray for the eternal repose of the late Pope Francis. The date was set this morning by the approximately 180 cardinals present (just over 100 of whom are electors) gathered for the fifth General Congregation in the Vatican. The conclave will take place in the Vatican's Sist... Read More

Catholic and Protestant churches across Nicaragua were subjected to restrictions between Good Friday and Easter Sunday, as the government continues to crack down on religious groups across the country. Tensions were especially high this year, with Good Friday falling on the anniversary of the 2018 protests which triggered the ongoing crackdown on civil society. Public processions and other religio... Read More

Cardinal Pietro Parolin celebrated Mass on Divine Mercy Sunday, which was also the second day of the Novemdiales, or "nine days" of mourning for the late Pope Francis. In his homily the Cardinal said mercy offers Christians the golden thread that unites our lives to one another and to Christ. He invited Christians to look to Christ's infinite mercy for peace in the world and in our hearts. Refle... Read More

World Council of Churches general secretary Rev Prof Dr Jerry Pillay has bexpressed deep concern and sorrow over the tragic loss of civilian lives resulting from a recent drone strike in the town of Gedeb, Amhara region, Ethiopia. More than 100 civilians, including women and children, are reported to have been killed on 23 April, while gathered at a primary school for community activities. "This ... Read More

Louis Theroux spends time with the growing community of Israeli religious-nationalist settlers. Their settlements are illegal under international law, and they have been protected by the army, the police and the Israeli government. Since the Hamas-led attacks on 7 October 2023, in which 1,200 Israelis were killed, there has been an acceleration in the establishment of settlements, with settlers pu... Read More

Shortly before the Pope's funeral, the Presidents of Ukraine and the United States are reported to have met for a "very productive" discussion on the ongoing war in Ukraine. Photos show Ukraine's President Zelensky deep in conversation with President Trump, the pair seated across from each other in St Peter's Basilica. From the very beginning of the war in Ukraine, Pope Francis continuously of... Read More

More than 250,000 people poured into St Peter's Square at the Vatican this morning, to bid their final farewell to Pope Francis at his Requiem Mass. Another 150,00 lined the streets of Rome as his coffin was taken in procession to the Basilica of Saint Mary Major. The Solemn and moving celebration was presided over by Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re joined by some 250 Cardinals, Patriarchs, Archbis... Read More