Getting COVID-19 vaccine included in Vatican employee safety regulations
The Vatican will sanction employees who refuse to get a vaccine, unless they have "proven health reasons" not to, according to a new Vatican decree.
Honoring suffering, building bridges: Papal trip to Iraq has dual focus
Despite the COVID-19 pandemic and ongoing security concerns, Pope Francis is determined to visit Iraq to pay homage to Christian and other minorities persecuted for their faith and to strengthen the commitment of the overwhelming majority of Iraqi Muslims to creating a future of peace and harmony.
Chicago cobbler pivots to making religious goods during pandemic
When the pandemic forced many people to work from home last spring, business at Al's Shoe Service in Mount Prospect, outside of Chicago, almost completely dried up overnight.
Holy Land Franciscans again offer virtual Way of the Cross during Lent
The Franciscan Custody of the Holy Land launched a virtual Way of the Cross project for pilgrims during Lent because the Holy Land is not accessible for a second year in a row due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
True dialogue begins with commitment to love, pope says
Promoting sincere ecumenical dialogue can be achieved only when Christians are committed to loving their neighbors rather than viewing them with doubt or suspicion, Pope Francis said.
Severe weather prompts emergency response from church leaders as Lent begins
Below-zero temperatures, teeth-chattering wind chills and deep snow turned the southern Plains into an Arctic landscape, forcing Catholic Charities agencies to adopt emergency measures to get people to safety.
Retired nurse on mission to urge people of color to get COVID-19 vaccine
Having the ability to educate and advocate for her family inspired Joyce Christian of Somerville, Tennessee, to become a nurse.
Bishop: Blanket DNR orders for Britons with learning disabilities ‘immoral’
Medical orders against attempting to resuscitate patients with learning disabilities during the latest COVID-19 lockdown in the U.K. are "wholly unacceptable and immoral," said the bishops of England and Wales.
Vatican reminds bishops of Holy Week guidelines during pandemic
As the COVID-19 pandemic nears its first full year, the Vatican Congregation for Divine Worship and the Sacraments reminded bishops that the guidelines it issued last year for celebrating the Holy Week and Easter liturgies would still be valid this year.
For Lent, ask if one’s life is centered on God or oneself, pope says
Lent is a time to reconsider the path one is taking in life and to finally answer God's invitation to return to him with one's whole heart, Pope Francis said.
