Jun 07 World reaches 400,000 virus deaths as pope urges caution By Joseph Wilson, Associated Press Worldwide, at least 6.9 million people have been infected by the virus, according to Johns Hopkins University, whose aggregated tally has become the main worldwide reference for monitoring the disease. Its running counter says United States leads the world with… Continue reading
Apr 12 Pope urges solidarity on an Easter of both joy, virus sorrow By Nicole Winfield, Associated Press Pope Francis called for solidarity the world over to confront the “epochal challenge” posed by the coronavirus pandemic, as Christians celebrated a solitary Easter Sunday, blending the joyful feast day with sorrow over the toll the virus has already taken. Continue reading
Mar 27 Pope prays for ‘fragile’ humanity in need of help during the pandemic By Frances D'Emilio, Associated Press Praying in a desolately empty St. Peter's Square, Pope Francis on Friday likened the coronavirus pandemic to a storm laying bare illusions that people can be self-sufficient and instead leaves “all of us fragile and disoriented.”… Continue reading
Mar 15 Vatican’s Holy Week to proceed but without public amid virus By Frances D'Emilio, Associated Press VATICAN CITY — The Vatican’s Holy Week ceremonies will go ahead but without public attendance as Italy tries to contain the coronavirus outbreak, the Holy See said Sunday. Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni said in a statement that “as far as… Continue reading
Feb 12 Watch 4:26 News Wrap: New novel coronavirus infections declining, WHO says In our news wrap Wednesday, the World Health Organization voiced hope that the outbreak of novel coronavirus may be slowing, as Beijing enforces public health measures. Also, Syrian government supporters attacked U.S. troops, who shot and killed one of the… Continue watching
Feb 12 Pope does not approve ordination of married men in the Amazon By Nicole Winfield, Associated Press In an eagerly-awaited document, Francis didn’t even refer to recommendations by Amazonian bishops to consider the ordination of married men and women deacons. Rather, he urged bishops to pray for more priestly vocations and send missionaries to the region. Continue reading
Jan 15 Pope names 1st woman to Vatican’s top management position By Associated Press Pope Francis on Wednesday named Francesca Di Giovanni, a 27-year veteran of the Vatican, as undersecretary for multilateral affairs. Continue reading
Jan 14 Watch 6:05 Why it’s problematic to have 2 popes weighing in on key issues for Catholic Church Rome is being roiled by a series of unusual developments in which a former pope appeared to be weighing in on a sensitive issue facing his successor, Pope Francis. The debate is over the law of clerical celibacy, which divides… Continue watching
Jan 13 Vatican tamps down clamor over Benedict’s new celibacy book By Nicole Winfield, Associated Press The French daily Le Figaro late Sunday published excerpts of the book “From the Depths of Our Hearts: Priesthood, Celibacy and the Crisis of the Catholic Church," co-authored with conservative Cardinal Robert Sarah. Continue reading
Jan 01 Watch 5:14 News Wrap: Death toll in Australian wildfires rises to 17 In our news wrap Wednesday, New Year’s Day brought only slight relief to parts of Australia ravaged by some of the country’s worst-ever wildfires. The death toll rose to 17. Also, the Taliban staged a series of attacks on Afghan… Continue watching