Condemnations poured in from around the world on Wednesday as Hong Kong’s newly “elected” chief executive John Lee invoked China’s authoritarian “national security law” to arrest 90-year-old Cardinal Joseph Zen and two other prominent opposition figures.
Pope Francis decried falling birthrates in the Western world Thursday, calling the demographic drop a new form of “generative poverty.”
ROME — Hong Kong police arrested 90-year-old Cardinal Joseph Zen on Wednesday evening, then released him on bail hours later.
Pope Francis extolled the blessings of old age in a message released Tuesday, insisting that the elderly make a vital contribution to society.
Pope Francis accused those resisting his sweeping restrictions on the traditional Latin Mass as sowers of division in the Church.
Pope Francis again condemned the “senseless calamity of war” Sunday, offering special prayers for the people of Ukraine.
Pope Francis urged Christians Friday to renew efforts toward unity, since divisions among Christians frequently generate dangerous conflicts, as the Russia-Ukraine war illustrates.
Pop icon Madonna tagged Pope Francis on Twitter Thursday, asking the pontiff for a meeting “to discuss some important matters.”
Pope Francis condemned religious hypocrisy Wednesday, insisting that it can destroy the faith of entire generations.
Pope Francis insisted Tuesday that Moscow Patriarch Kirill is hurting rather than helping the situation in Ukraine by his support for Putin’s war.
Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin criticized Saint Pius V Sunday, a 16th-century pope known for defeating the Ottoman Turks at the crucial Battle of Lepanto.
Pope Francis renewed his appeal for an “integral ecology” Monday, calling on Christians to live “in harmony with the environment” and “in harmony with the universe.”
Pope Francis again condemned the war on Ukraine Sunday, calling for Catholics to pray the rosary for peace every day during the month of May.
Pope Francis warned again of Europe’s “demographic winter” on Friday, caused by a dangerously low birthrate far beneath replacement levels.
Pope Francis discussed how the Catholic Church can be most effective in combatting climate change in his 41st meeting with his Council of Cardinals.
Pope Francis said Wednesday that misuse of the tongue is one of the “worst sins” of mothers-in-law in a reflection on the value of the elderly in society.
Pope Francis wiped his agenda clean Tuesday, including an important meeting with his Council of Cardinals, because of knee pain, the Vatican announced.
Pope Francis welcomed a large assembly of Sri Lankan pilgrims in the Vatican on Monday to commemorate the 2019 Islamic State Easter Sunday massacre that claimed the lives of over 350 people.
Armenians around the world commemorated the 107th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide Sunday, marking the onset of a Turkish slaughter of some 1.5 million Armenian Christians.
Pope Francis once again called for peace Sunday, which marked the two-month anniversary of the beginning of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Pope Francis said Sunday that Jesus is not looking for “perfect Christians” or those who “never doubt.”
ROME — Pope Francis met privately with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán in the Vatican Thursday, honoring him with a St. Martin medallion for Hungary’s generous reception of Ukrainian refugees.
The Vatican announced Thursday that Pope Francis and the Holy See have joined the United Nations in appealing for an Easter truce in Ukraine.
Pope Francis urged greater care and respect toward the elderly Wednesday, since they are “the honor of our civilization.”
Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin said Tuesday that the Holy See is “deeply concerned” about efforts to impose gender theory, which risks “destroying the dignity of the human being.”
Pope Francis called for an end to wars and disputes Monday, underscoring the need for “reconciliation” between adversaries.
Pope Francis denounced Russia’s “cruel and senseless war” on Ukraine Sunday, praying for Ukrainian victims and refugees.
Ukrainian Major Archbishop Sviatoslav Shevchuk has criticized “Vatican dreamers” for seeking a premature reconciliation between Ukraine and Russia while military aggression continues.
Pope Francis accused the West of racism Friday, insisting migrants are “subdivided” by skin color and country of origin.
Pope Francis urged the faithful Friday to beware of the devil because he is astute, and evil is “more seductive” than goodness.
Pope Francis has sharply censured journalists for falling into four “sins,” namely “disinformation, slander, defamation, and coprophilia.”
Pope Francis said Thursday that Christians must be on special guard against idolatry, which takes worship away from the true God and gives it to the devil.
Pope Francis warns in a new book that Russia’s war on Ukraine risks evolving into World War III and we are “moving towards it as if it were unavoidable.”
Pope Francis contrasted Christ’ peace Wednesday with Russia’s war on Ukraine, calling the latter “a blasphemous betrayal of the Lord of Passover.”
Pope Francis has invited two families — one Russian, one Ukrainian — to copresent the thirteenth station of the annual Good Friday Way of the Cross, provoking what some describe as a possible “diplomatic incident.”
Pope Francis will travel to the former Soviet republic of Kazakhstan this coming September to attend a conference of religious leaders, the Vatican announced Tuesday.
The archpriest of Saint Peter’s Basilica, Cardinal Mauro Gambetti, insisted Monday on Ukraine’s right to defend itself against invading Russian troops.
Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin has denounced heightened religious intolerance in France, demonstrated by a recent report on attacks on churches.
ROME — Pope Francis denounced violence Sunday, asserting Jesus Christ is crucified again in those who suffer “senseless acts of cruelty.”
Pope Francis called for an “Easter Truce” in Russia’s war on Ukraine Sunday, urging compromise for the sake of peace.