The trees will be sourced from France’s national parks and private donors. The long road to Notre Dame de Paris’ restoration is stretching into 2021. It hasn’t been quite two years since the April 2019 fire that devastated the famed Catholic landmark, and a lot has been done. Much of the toxic lead has… Continue reading Notre Dame’s spire will need over 1,000 oak trees to rebuild
Category: Europe
Let us imagine unity as 3 concentric circles: Full text of pope’s homily
Pope’s reflection for Week of Prayer for Christian Unity says we need prayer to begin our journey to unity, starting with ourselves. The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity concluded with vespers on January 25, feast of the Conversion of St. Paul. Here is a Vatican translation of the full text of the… Continue reading Let us imagine unity as 3 concentric circles: Full text of pope’s homily
Polish statue of Christ found peeking out of a growing tree
This unintentional work of art stands as a symbol of Christ’s unfailing presence in the world. This statue of Jesus was discovered in an abandoned cemetery in the Polish town of Łupków. According to a report from The First News, Łupków is a ruined town that was largely abandoned after World War II. All that remains of… Continue reading Polish statue of Christ found peeking out of a growing tree
43 priests in Italy die of COVID-19 in one month
November’s deaths bring toll to 167 for Italian clerics weathering pandemic. The COVID-19 death toll among Catholic priests in Italy since the beginning of the pandemic has reached 167 — with 43 clerics dying in November alone. The dead include the retired auxiliary bishop of Milan, Marco Virgilio Ferrari, 87, who died November… Continue reading 43 priests in Italy die of COVID-19 in one month
A regular teenager who lived heroic virtue in a simple life: Meet Montse Grases
She had no idea her holiness was lending a sense of peace to those around her, including family and friends. Maria Montserrat Grases Garcia (lovingly known as Montse) was born in Barcelona on July 10, 1941. Montse was the second of nine children, and her parents taught her to love God and trust Him. Her… Continue reading A regular teenager who lived heroic virtue in a simple life: Meet Montse Grases
World’s oldest bishop dies at 104
Spanish Bishop Damián Iguacén Borau was ordained a priest in 1941. The world’s oldest bishop died Tuesday at the age of 104. Bishop Damián Iguacén Borau served as the bishop of three different Spanish dioceses, and retired from the last one in 1991. He was a priest of the Spanish city of Huesca, where… Continue reading World’s oldest bishop dies at 104
Walk the St. Francis Camino in Italy
Take a pilgrimage in the footsteps of St. Francis. The trail begins in Assisi, the city of St. Francis, and ends in Rome, the Eternal City of St. Peter Over the past few decades, walking Caminos have exploded in popularity. Pilgrims setting out on the journey range from religious and devout to spiritual and… Continue reading Walk the St. Francis Camino in Italy
Pfizer’s new Coronavirus vaccine was not created with fetal cells from aborted babies
The vaccine has been shown to be over 90% effective in preventing COVID-19. The announcement today that Pfizer’s new coronavirus vaccine was found in clinical trials to be more than 90% effective is a promising step in the battle against the deadly virus. Unlike other vaccines in development, the Pfizer vaccine was not created… Continue reading Pfizer’s new Coronavirus vaccine was not created with fetal cells from aborted babies
Bishops perform cleansing ritual in Nice basilica where three people were killed
Penitential rite of reparation must be performed whenever there is a “gravely injurious act” in a church. In response to the killing of three people by a suspected Islamist terrorist, the bishop of Nice, France, led a ritual cleansing of the Basilica of Notre Dame in which the October 29 incident occurred. Bishop André Marceau of… Continue reading Bishops perform cleansing ritual in Nice basilica where three people were killed
World is drifting toward violence, says papal advisor after attack in Nice
We have to go beyond a “pious wish for fraternity,” to “expressing a real urgency for fraternity.” “One cannot separate these [terrorist] acts from the violent drift of our contemporary world,” reflected Msgr. Bruno-Marie Duffé, secretary of the Vatican’s Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development, after the Islamist attack at the Basilica of Nice.The… Continue reading World is drifting toward violence, says papal advisor after attack in Nice
Spanish city begins jubilee year with the Holy Grail
Valencia, Spain, celebrates the “Chalice of the Passion” with its special relic of the Last Supper. A year-long celebration has begun in a Spanish city that claims to have the chalice used by Jesus at the Last Supper, often referred to as the Holy Grail.Cardinal Antonio Cañizares, Archbishop of Valencia, Spain, opened the Eucharistic Jubilee… Continue reading Spanish city begins jubilee year with the Holy Grail
Viewing of Blessed Carlo’s remains extended through weekend
The Church’s first millennial Blessed has stirred the hearts of so many pilgrims, near and far. Such a large number of pilgrims are seeking the chance to pray before the relics of Blessed Carlo Acutis that the bishop of Assisi has extended the public viewing through the weekend.Carlo Acutis became the first member of… Continue reading Viewing of Blessed Carlo’s remains extended through weekend
Beatification of Carlo Acutis is “good news,” says cardinal at homily in Assisi
Born in 1991, Blessed Carlo is a millennial who has become a light for those who want to know Christ. Carlo Acutis, a 15-year-old Italian teenager who used his passion for computers to evangelize, was beatified October 10 in Assisi. The feast day of the new blessed is October 12, the anniversary of his death… Continue reading Beatification of Carlo Acutis is “good news,” says cardinal at homily in Assisi
Australian, French theologians awarded Ratzinger Prize
Pope Emeritus has ability to speak to younger generations, honoree says. Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI has at least five important qualities or gifts that ensures that he continues to be an important voice in Catholic thought, said a theologian who was awarded a prize named for the German pontiff and theologian.“I would say that… Continue reading Australian, French theologians awarded Ratzinger Prize
Full text: Pope’s address to the UN
“The current crisis has also demonstrated that solidarity must not be an empty word or promise.” September 25, on the fifth anniversary of his first visit to the United Nations, Pope Francis addressed the United Nations General Assembly again.Unlike the first visit, in a packed General Assembly Hall with six-delegates per country and many others… Continue reading Full text: Pope’s address to the UN
Pope sends rosary for man who killed “martyr of charity” priest
The mentally ill man turned himself in immediately following the crime. On September 19, 2020, Cardinal Konrad Krajewski, the Papal Almoner, concelebrated the Memorial Mass at the Cathedral of Como (Italy) for Fr. Roberto Malgesini, an Italian priest who was murdered on September 15 by a poor person he had helped. Read more: A martyr… Continue reading Pope sends rosary for man who killed “martyr of charity” priest