Cardinal Cantalamessa: charity saves from dehumanization
The first thing to do at Christmas is to believe in God’s love for man. This, in summary, is the message at the center of the third and final Advent sermon given today in the Paul VI Hall by Capuchin Cardinal Raniero Cantalamessa, in the presence of Pope Francis. “The traditional act of charity, at […]
What is the papal blessing known as Urbi et Orbi?
What is the papal blessing known as “Urbi et Orbi”? “Urbi et Orbi” literally means “to the city (of Rome) and to the world” and refers to the papal blessing that is extended to the whole world on different occasions. The Pontiff usually gives this special blessing from the balcony of the central façade of […]
This is why Pope Francis wants you to spend less money this Christmas
Pope Francis is inviting everyone to have “a more humble Christmas” this year. At the end of his weekly general audience Dec. 14, the pope asked people to consider spending less on gifts and parties and in order to help the people of Ukraine. “It is good to celebrate Christmas, to have parties — but […]
Pope Francis donates three fragments of the Parthenon to Ieronymos II
The Holy See announced this morning that Pope Francis “has decided to donate to His Beatitude Ieronymos II, Archbishop of Athens and All Greece, the three fragments of the Parthenon, which for centuries have been carefully kept at the Pontifical Collections and in the Vatican Museums and exhibited to millions of visitors from all over […]
Jesuit superior says that Fr. Marko Rupnik was excommunicated in 2019
The Jesuit Superior General, Father Arturo Sosa, has confirmed that Jesuit artist Father Marko Rupnik incurred an automatic excommunication in 2019 for absolving a woman he had sex with, a fact his religious order was aware of but did not disclose until now. According to a report by the Associated Press, Sosa disclosed this new […]
Pope Francis: Look at each other, not cell phone screens
Pope Francis has urged young people to look away from their cell phone screens and make eye contact with the people around them. In a meeting on Dec. 15 with youth groups affiliated with Catholic Action, the pope warned that “a great risk for a boy and a girl today is to spend our days […]
Pope Francis celebrates 53 years of ordination today
On the 13th of December, 1969, just four days before his 33rd birthday, Jesuit seminarian Jorge Mario Bergoglio – who is now Pope Francis – was ordained priest by Archbishop Ramón José Castellano, Archbishop Emeritus of Córdoba, Argentina. That 13th of December, 52 years ago, was a Saturday, the eve of the third Sunday of […]
The Vatican Opens Beautiful Exhibition of Several Nativity Scenes
The Vatican is honoring the Blessed Virgin Mary while also preparing for Christmas. On Thursday, the Holy See opened an exhibition of several dozen nativity scenes. EWTN Vatican Bureau Chief Andreas Thonhauser joined Monsignor Rino Fisichella, the man responsible for the exhibition, to discuss why it is important to display the nativity scenes and what […]
An Encyclical on Peace in Ukraine
On December 6th, Francesco Antonio Grana, an Italian Vaticanist, presented the book which he compiled and edited ‘An Encyclical on Peace in Ukraine,’ in the Basilica of Santa Maria in Montesanto, also known as the ‘Church of the Artists.’ The book collects all the Pope Francis’s speeches that call for the end of conflict in […]
Pope Francis: Be surprised by God’s mercy this Advent
The season of Advent is a time to let ourselves be surprised by God’s mercy and compassion, Pope Francis said on Gaudete Sunday. “Advent, then, is a time for overturning our perspectives … for letting ourselves be surprised by the greatness of God’s mercy,” the pope said Dec. 11. Advent is, he continued, “a time […]
