Disgraced former cardinal McCarrick dies at 94
(OSV News) -- The disgraced former cardinal Theodore E. McCarrick, removed from the clerical state in 2019 after revelations of credible allegations of...
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British church steps up opposition to 'deeply flawed' assisted suicide bill
OXFORD, England (OSV News) -- The head of the Catholic Church in England and Wales has urged renewed opposition to a draft law on assisted suicide, amid...
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Two women religious murdered in Haiti amid that nation's 'way of the Cross'
(OSV News) -- Two women religious were murdered March 31 by armed gangs in the city of Mirebalais, Haiti, as long-standing violence continues to further...
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Fatima shrine will not remove Rupnik mosaic, but suspends promotional use, spokesperson says
(OSV News) -- A representative of the Shrine of Our Lady of Fatima in Portugal said it is not considering the removal of artwork by Father Marko Rupnik...
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Nicaea anniversary inspires faith, strengthens mission, theologians say
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Christians should not see the Nicene Creed simply as a list of things they believe, but they should look at it with awe because it...
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Greenland's only Catholic priest calls his 'rewarding, demanding' mission a 'dream job'
(OSV News) -- Father Tomaž Majcen, a Conventual Franciscan, is the only Catholic parish priest in Greenland, working alongside two fellow Franciscan...
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St. Josemaría Escrivá tops the charts, a century after his priestly ordination
(OSV News) -- On the 100th anniversary of his priestly ordination, St. Josemaría Escrivá is topping the Amazon charts. The Spanish saint's book...
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Pope is following doctors’ orders for his convalescence, Vatican says
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- During his second week back at the Vatican after a long hospitalization, Pope Francis continued to follow his doctors' orders to...
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Holy Spirit is source of peace, harmony, fraternity, pope says
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- The Catholic Church is a new and reconciled humanity thanks to the gift of the Holy Spirit, which is the source of communion, harmony...
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Lord always goes in search of the lost, pope says
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Even when a person seems totally lost and unable to find a way back to God, the Lord is already looking for him or her, said the...
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Pope prays people stare less at screens, connect more face-to-face
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Technology should be used to improve people's lives and to connect people as members of one human family, Pope Francis said. However,...
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Tragic earthquake hits war-torn Myanmar, with massive death toll and little aid
(OSV News) -- On March 28, a powerful 7.7 magnitude earthquake hit the Mandalay-Sagaing region in southwestern Myanmar, causing multistory buildings to...
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Pope continues to govern the church, says Vatican secretary of state
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Even on his worst days in Rome's Gemelli hospital, Pope Francis was governing the Catholic Church, although on some days, he did...
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Pope clears way for three new saints, including first woman from Venezuela
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Pope Francis has cleared the way for the canonizations of three blesseds: an Armenian Catholic archbishop martyred during the Armenian...
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Myanmar death toll surpasses 2,000; cardinal calls for immediate ceasefire amid tragedy
(OSV News) -- People in Myanmar are in desperate need of humanitarian supplies and medical support as the death toll from the devastating earthquake that...
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Pope stable; his lung infection slightly improved, Vatican says
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Pope Francis' condition remains stable, and an X-ray showed there has been a slight improvement regarding his lingering lung infection,...
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Churches East and West celebrate Easter the same day in 2025; could it be a step to unity?
(OSV News) -- Does Easter belong to Jesus Christ, or to a calendar? For Pope Francis, the answer is clear: "Easter belongs to Christ!" the pontiff declared...
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Jesuits offer help to women who say they were abused by Father Rupnik
ROME (CNS) -- The Jesuits have written to 20 women who have accused Father Marko Rupnik of sexual, psychological and spiritual abuse, offering to work...
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Vatican statistics: Baptisms down, but first Communions, confirmations up
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- The number of Catholics and permanent deacons in the world rose in 2023, while the number of seminarians, priests, men and women...
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Jesus pursues brokenness to offer healing, pope's catechesis says
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Jesus seeks out people in their woundedness and isolation to offer healing and hope, even when they feel furthest from God, Pope...
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Pope knew he 'might not make it,' physician says
ROME (CNS) -- For Pope Francis' medical team at Rome's Gemelli hospital, Feb. 28 was the worst day. "For the first time I saw tears in the eyes of some...
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Spanish church rallies Catholics against 'demographic winter' of abortion
(OSV News) -- Spanish bishops marked International Day for Life March 25 by demanding a better environment for "stable families," as pro-life campaigners...
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Safeguarding is essential to being faithful to Gospel, papal message says
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Those who work to keep children and vulnerable adults safe are serving and honoring Christ, Pope Francis said in a written message. "Abuse...
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Pope's return from hospital coincides with Vatican conference on aging
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Even though its focus was mainly scientific, a Vatican-sponsored conference on aging and longevity could not ignore the ongoing convalescence...
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Pope returns to Vatican after long hospitalization
ROME (CNS) -- Immediately before leaving Rome's Gemelli hospital after more than five weeks of treatment for breathing difficulties, double pneumonia and...
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Pope to return to Vatican, prescribed to continue rest, doctors announce
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Pope Francis will return to his residence in the Vatican March 23 after spending 38 days in Rome's Gemelli hospital for treatment...
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Ukraine war confirms humanity can 'rely only on God,' nuncio says
(OSV News) -- The apostolic nuncio to Ukraine said that recent events regarding Ukraine have shown that the only true weapon that can bring peace is prayer. “As...
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Papal preacher: Stay anchored in Christ, live hope during Holy Year
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- The papal preacher urged cardinals and senior officials of the Roman Curia to remain firmly anchored in Christ through lives of humility,...
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Kidnappers kill young Nigerian seminarian
(OSV News) -- A young seminarian has become the latest victim of killings in Nigeria, the West African country where attack and kidnapping of Catholic...
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Biographer: In 12 years since election, Francis demonstrates papacy is a mission, not a job
(OSV News) -- As Pope Francis celebrates 12th anniversary of his election in the hospital, the papal biographer told OSV News that the pontiff has "given...
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Vatican unveils 'lost' Renaissance painting of the deposition of Christ
VATICAN CITY (CNS) --A painting of Christ being laid in the tomb, long hidden under layers of overpainting and forgotten by history, will once again be...
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King Charles, Queen Camilla hope to meet pope at Vatican in April
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Britain's King Charles III and Queen Camilla confirmed their plans to meet at the Vatican with Pope Francis in early April in an...
Read MorePope has reduced need for overnight supplemental oxygen, Vatican says
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Pope Francis spent the night without a breathing mask, the Vatican press office said March 18, indicating that his need for supplemental...
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Holy Land collection is sign of solidarity, faith, hope, cardinal says
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- While anchored in the hope that comes from Jesus' resurrection, Catholics should not forget the "tears, despair and destruction everywhere"...
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Speakers: Church has role in fight against AI-generated exploitation
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- The Catholic Church needs to expand its safeguarding efforts to include the new threats and opportunities posed by artificial intelligence,...
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Lenten lectures are back at Notre Dame, marking a 'grand retour' of a Parisian classic
PARIS (OSV News) -- The traditional "Lenten Conferences" resumed at Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris this Lenten season, for the first time since the fire...
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European bishops address 'rising tensions' as Trump talks to Putin, Zelenskyy
(OSV News) -- As President Donald Trump held new talks with Russia's President Vladimir Putin March 18, followed by a call with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy...
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Pope's doctors report more improvement, but no date for his release
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Pope Francis no longer needs the "noninvasive mechanical ventilation" he has used most nights since experiencing a breathing "crisis"...
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Pope appeals to communicators to assist peacemakers by disarming words
ROME (CNS) -- People in the world of news and communications need to understand the full importance of words, Pope Francis wrote. While war offers no...
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Improved condition means pope can briefly go without supplemental oxygen
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Pope Francis has been able to spend brief moments of the day without any supplemental oxygen, which is yet another sign of the gradual...
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Shroud of Turin to be digitally showcased during Holy Year
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- The Shroud of Turin, one of Catholicism's most valued devotional items, will be digitally showcased during the Holy Year 2025, allowing...
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Vatican releases first photo of Pope Francis since his hospitalization
ROME (CNS) -- For the first time since Pope Francis was hospitalized in mid-February, the Vatican press office released a photograph of him March 16; the...
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Pope stable, has reduced need for oxygen overnight
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- After more than a month in the hospital, Pope Francis' condition continues to be stable, the Vatican said March 15, and he gradually...
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Pope approves next phase of synod, setting path to 2028 assembly
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Pope Francis has approved the next phase of the Synod of Bishops on synodality, launching a three-year implementation process that...
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As ceasefire talk continues, Zelenskyy says he spoke with Cardinal Parolin
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- As the United States continues to attempt to broker a ceasefire deal between Russia and Ukraine, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy...
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Papal preacher: Neglecting Mass means losing sight of heaven
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Failing to attend or celebrate Mass is not just skipping a religious obligation -- it is a sign that one's spiritual hunger is withering,...
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In message, pope thanks Italian movement for supporting 'culture of life'
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Defending the life of the unborn should be a sign of being in solidarity "with all the discarded of the world," Pope Francis said...
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Pope's condition continues to improve; he is following Lenten retreat
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Pope Francis' condition continued to be stable with further slight improvements March 11, the Vatican press office said. The pope's...
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Pope's chest x-ray confirms his improvement, doctors say
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Pope Francis' condition continues to be stable and a chest x-ray "confirmed the improvements recorded in the previous days," his...
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Death, even a pope's, is a 'beautiful passage,' preacher tells Curia
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Death, even that of a pope, should not be seen as a tragedy but as a transition filled with Christian hope, the preacher of the papal...
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Papal anniversary: For 12 years he's said, 'Don't forget to pray for me'
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- As Pope Francis prepared to spend the 12th anniversary of his election at Rome's Gemelli hospital, people at the Vatican and around...
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Pope out of danger but to remain in hospital
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Pope Francis is no longer considered in imminent danger from his lung infection, but he will remain in Rome's Gemelli hospital for...
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500 days after statute of limitations lifted in Rupnik case, priest 'does his work,' travels world
TURIN, Italy (OSV News) -- It's been 500 days since the Oct. 27, 2023, papal lifting of the statute of limitations in the case of Father Marko Rupnik,...
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Jesus gives faithful guidance, strength to fight temptation, pope writes
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- The devil, who lies and sows divisions, tests everyone, even Jesus, Pope Francis said in a written homily. Satan tries to convince...
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Pope follows Lenten retreat from hospital; his condition remains stable
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- As Pope Francis' condition remains stable, which is a sign of continued improvement, he followed the start of the Lenten retreat...
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Pope text: Those facing illness, adversity need 'miracle of tenderness'
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- The world needs the "miracle of tenderness" brought by people who accompany those experiencing illness or adversity, Pope Francis...
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Pope's 'complex' condition remains stable; he continues to rest, work
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Pope Francis continues to rest, pray, follow his doctors' prescribed therapies and work a bit throughout the day, the Vatican press...
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Pope, in short audio message, thanks people for their prayers
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- On his 21st day in Rome's Gemelli hospital, Pope Francis recorded a 27-second audio message thanking people for their prayers. Played...
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Former Vietnamese communist nurse who once baptized sick child will be baptized at Easter
(OSV News) -- Dau Kieu Giang, who baptized a child when she was an atheist and Communist Party member, is now getting ready to be baptized herself during...
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Like St. John Paul II, pope shows untiring will to serve, says cardinal
ROME (CNS) -- Like St. John Paul II, Pope Francis knows the "cross of Christ is never abandoned" and that everything is in God's hands, said Cardinal Stanislaw...
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Fatima statue to visit Rome for Jubilee of Marian Spirituality
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- The original statue of Our Lady of Fatima will make a rare journey from its shrine in Portugal to Rome in October 2025 for a Jubilee...
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Pope text: Ash Wednesday teaches human fragility, Gospel hope
ROME (CNS) -- The journey of Lent "unfolds amid the remembrance of our fragility and the hope that, at the end of the road, the Risen Lord is waiting for...
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