Calling for formal recognition of “those lay men and women who feel called by virtue of their baptism to cooperate in the work of catechesis,” Pope Francis has instituted the “ministry of catechist.” more

Pope Francis issued a decree declaring the sainthood of Blessed Margaret of Città di Castello, a much-loved Italian Dominican laywoman. more

Updating the laws that govern the Vatican’s civil judicial system, Pope Francis stated that cardinals and bishops accused of a crime can now be tried in a Vatican court. more

The John Paul I Vatican Foundation announced the recovery of a collection of the late pope’s writings. more

With President Joe Biden now proposing several ultra-expensive infrastructure, education and family-related bills, the president’s controversial Equality Act may get a slower hearing in the U.S. Senate. more

Pope Francis has accepted the resignation of Bishop W. Francis Malooly of Wilmington, Del. and named Msgr. William E. Koenig, vicar for clergy for the Diocese of Rockville Centre, to succeed him. more

Pope Francis has called for a global prayer marathon for the entire month of May, praying for the end to the pandemic. more

Whenever we hear someone speak about the vocations crisis in the Church, our first thought goes to the challenging situation regarding the dearth of priestly vocations. While this certainly is … more

More than two decades ago I was privileged to offer Mass each Sunday at a church in downtown Brussels, the French and Flemish bilingual capital of Belgium. The drive from where I was living and … more

The chairman of the U.S. bishops' pro-life committee April 20 called on the Biden administration to fund research "that does not rely upon body parts taken from innocent children killed through abortion." more

The decision by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s acting commissioner to suspend enforcement of the agency’s in-person prescribing requirement for the abortion drug endangers women’s health and possibly their lives, pro-life leaders said. more

The biggest risk Afghanistan might face with a withdrawal of U.S. troops could be civil war, said the Italian priest in charge of the small Catholic community in Afghanistan. more

As closing arguments began April 19 in the trial of former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin in the death of George Floyd, Archbishop Bernard A. Hebda and priests across the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis offered special Masses “For the Preservation of Peace and Justice.” more

A jury found former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin guilty on all three counts April 20 for the death of George Floyd, after deliberating for about 10 hours over two days. Chauvin, 44, … more

After a night of protests and vandalism April 11 in Brooklyn Center, Minn., following the police shooting of Daunte Wright, Archbishop Bernard A. Hebda of St. Paul and Minneapolis urged prayers for justice and peace. more

Increasing vocations to the priesthood, improving the way laypeople and priests work together and ensuring that service, not power, motivates the request for ordination are all possible outcomes of a major symposium being planned by the Vatican in February 2022. more

One of the most beautiful aspects of the Easter season is the celebration of the sacraments of initiation. It is a highlight of the Easter Vigil welcoming new believers at the font for Baptism or … more

Pope Francis today accepted the resignation of New York Auxiliary Bishop  John J. O'Hara more

The greatest feast day in the Catholic Church is not Christmas, not Three Kings, and, although some might wish otherwise, not even St. Patrick’s Day. No, the three highest Holy Days in the Church … more

“As a pastor I can testify first-hand about the difficulties of our people this past year caused by this terrible pandemic, as they struggle to pay their rent, to buy groceries, to keep the lights and the heat going, purchase medicine, pay even the modest tuition to attend one of our excellent Catholic schools. I am grateful to our priests, parishes, Catholic Charities, ArchCare, and schools for rising to the occasion to provide assistance. more