In 2016, the Zaheda flew to Italy from Lesbos on the pope’s plane. “He’s a gift from paradise,” Hasan Zaheda said on Sunday. “Pope Francis, a gift from our God, that God sent us to save us.”
News
Posted inNews, Politics & Society
Trump administration terminates US bishops’ refugee resettlement contract
The Trump administration “immediately terminated” its contract with the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops for refugee resettlement, effective Feb. 27, according to letters issued by the U.S. State Department a day earlier.
Posted inNews, Politics & Society
JD Vance prays for Pope Francis’ health, acknowledges his criticism of US immigration crackdown
At the National Catholic Prayer Breakfast, Vance said he wasn’t there to litigate “about who’s right and who’s wrong,” and credited Francis as one who “cares about the flock of Christians under his under his leadership.”
Posted inFaith, News
Vatican: Names of alleged sexual abusers cannot be published without proof
The Vatican strongly cautioned against publishing “news” that would harm the reputation of an individual, especially someone who is deceased, when it comes to priests accused of abuse and not found guilty in civil or canonical procedures.
Posted inFaith, News
Pope Francis beats back speculation of imminent death or conclave as he continues pneumonia recovery
The 88-year-old pope continues his slow recovery from double pneumonia, with results of more medical tests expected later Thursday.
Posted inFaith, News
The US Christian population has declined for years. A new survey shows that drop leveling off.
The number of Americans who identify as Christian has declined steadily for years, but that drop shows signs of slowing, according to a new survey from the Pew Research Center.
Posted inFaith, News
Pope Francis establishes new commission to boost donations to the Holy See
Signed by the pope and dated Feb. 11, three days before Pope Francis was hospitalized, the decree was released by the Vatican Feb. 26.
Posted inFaith, News
Like his predecessors, Pope Francis wrote resignation letter in case of impairment
Canon law states that a pope can resign, but it stipulates that the papal resignation must be “made freely and properly manifested”—conditions that would be difficult to ascertain if a pope were already incapacitated.
Posted inFaith, News
Vatican to host nightly rosary for Pope Francis in St. Peter’s Square as prayers pour in from around the world
Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Vatican secretary of state, will lead a public recitation of the rosary at 9 p.m. Feb. 24 in St. Peter’s Square.
Posted inFaith, News
When the pope is sick or incapacitated, who leads the Catholic Church?
Pope Francis’ hospital stay is raising obvious questions about what happens if he loses consciousness for a prolonged period, or whether he might follow in Pope Benedict XVI’s footsteps and resign if he becomes unable to lead.