Latest Roman Catholicism News

Vatican gives green light to devotion at Bosnia site in Medjugorje where Madonna reportedly appeared

Sep. 19, 2024 09:59 AM EDT

VATICAN CITY (AP) — The Vatican on Thursday gave the green light for Catholics to continue flocking to a southern Bosnian village where children reported seeing visions of the Virgin Mary, offering its approval for devotion at one of the most contested sites of Roman Catholic practice in recent...

This new Mexican blessed is considered a protector of life from conception. Who was Moisés Lira?

Sep. 14, 2024 17:39 PM EDT

MEXICO CITY (AP) — Mexico’s Catholic Church is getting a new addition to its ranks of “blessed,” with the beatification of the Rev. Moisés Lira. The beatification ceremony was taking Saturday at Our Lady of Guadalupe’s Basilica, led by Cardinal Marcello Semeraro, who was...

A review of some of Pope Francis' most memorable quotes over his papacy

Sep. 13, 2024 17:30 PM EDT

On Friday, flying back to Rome from a lengthy trip to Asia, Pope Francis criticized both U.S. presidential candidates for what he called anti-life policies on abortion and migration. He advised American Catholics to choose who they think is the “lesser evil” in the upcoming U.S. elections. ...

Pope slams both Harris and Trump as 'against life' and urges Catholics to vote for 'lesser evil'

Sep. 13, 2024 17:07 PM EDT

ABOARD THE PAPAL PLANE (AP) — Pope Francis on Friday slammed both U.S. presidential candidates for what he called anti-life policies on abortion and migration, and he advised American Catholics to choose who they think is the “lesser evil” in the upcoming U.S. elections. ...

Pope says sex abuse is ‘demonic’ as he weighs in on new scandal in French church

Sep. 13, 2024 14:57 PM EDT

ABOARD THE PAPAL PLANE (AP) — Pope Francis called sexual abuse “demonic” on Friday as he weighed in on the latest sex assault revelations against a legendary French priest, Abbe Pierre, who devoted his life to advocating for the homeless. Abbé Pierre, who died in 2007, was one...

Pope makes new overture to China, calling Beijing ‘a promise and hope’ for the church

Sep. 13, 2024 14:52 PM EDT

ABOARD THE PAPAL PLANE (AP) — Pope Francis declared Friday that China was “a promise and a hope” for the Catholic Church, offering extensive praise for Beijing at the end of a four-nation tour through Asia and again expressed hope to one day visit. Francis’ comments, during...

AP PHOTOS: See the best moments from Pope Francis' Asia-Pacific trip — his longest ever

Sep. 13, 2024 06:29 AM EDT

BANGKOK (AP) — Pope Francis has wrapped up his longest and most challenging trip ever, which took the 87-year-old pontiff more than 32,000 kilometers (20,000 miles) by air to four countries in the Asia-Pacific from Sept. 2 to 13. He visited the country with the world's largest...

Catholic leaders discuss family and fraternity during congress in Ecuador

Sep. 12, 2024 14:30 PM EDT

QUITO, Ecuador (AP) — The world is wounded, Catholic leaders said Thursday in Ecuador. But an emphasis on supporting the family could be a path towards healing. Catholic leaders from more than 50 countries have discussed this and other topics in Quito, the Ecuadoran capital,...

How does the huge crowd for the pope's Mass in East Timor compare to others?

Sep. 10, 2024 22:41 PM EDT

TASITOLU, East Timor (AP) — Popes are popular. So much so that nearly half the population of East Timor gathered Tuesday in a seaside park for Pope Francis’ final Mass in the small Southeast Asian country whose people are deeply Catholic. Other papal Masses have drawn millions of...

Pope Francis’ Mass in East Timor draws 600,000 people, nearly half the population

Sep. 10, 2024 08:21 AM EDT

TASITOLU, East Timor (AP) — An estimated 600,000 people — nearly half of East Timor’s population —- packed a seaside park Tuesday for Pope Francis’ final Mass, held on the same field where St. John Paul II prayed 35 years ago during the nation’s fight for independence from Indonesia. ...