Pope Francis marked Christianity’s most joyous day with a passionate plea for world peace, celebrating his first Easter Sunday as pontiff in the enthusiastic company of more than 250,000 people who overflowed from St. Peter’s Square.
Pope Francis is to celebrate his first Easter vigil Saturday after praying for peace in a Middle East “torn apart by injustice and conflicts” during Good Friday’s ceremonies.
Pope Francis will visit his predecessor Benedict XVI on March 23 for the first time since his election, the Vatican said on Saturday.
Often cast as the social conscience of the church, Ghana’s Cardinal Peter Turkson is viewed by many as the top African contender for pope.
Faithful attending Sunday Mass on five continents for the first time since Pope Benedict XVI’s retirement had different ideas about who should next lead the Roman Catholic Church, with people suggesting everything from a Latin American pope to one more like the conservative, Polish-born John Paul II. What most agreed on, however, was the church is in dire need of a comeback.
These churches are endorsed by no less than one of the reported top contenders for the papacy.
The Catholic Church has awoken with no leader following Benedict XVI’s resignation, in which he pledged obedience to his successor and described himself as “simply a pilgrim” starting the final part of his life.
Pope Benedict XVI has greeted his cardinals for the last time as pontiff, beginning a quiet final day as leader of the world’s 1.2 billion Catholics before flying off into retirement.
A wooden chest with the mortal remains of St. Therese of the Child Jesus will arrive in Cebu today.
He’s French. But when Jean Christophe Gaillard joins 10 Kapampangan in a room, there will be 11 of them.
The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines opened its semi-annual plenary assembly in Manila on Saturday to tackle Church matters and pressing national concerns.
It was their faith in the Sto. Niño that brought them back to the Catholic faith. Couple Rasty and Lilibeth Seville were Protestants when they first attended the fluvial procession in 2001. Curiosity prompted them to accept the invitation of a friend to join him in his banca, but it turned out the watercraft was already carrying 20 people, way beyond its capacity of only 12.
A Catholic Church official on Friday defended its continued opposition to the reproductive health law, adding that the Church only wanted the public to be aware of its potential “dangers.”
