Religion
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Quotes and news
“It is our presumption that they wish to draw out some financial assistance from abroad without conceding their pride or self-esteem.” This is how Bishop Peter Kang U-Il, president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Korea, described North...
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Pope Francis to review Vatican bureaucracy, scandal-ridden bank
Pope Francis, who wants the Catholic Church to be a model of austerity and honesty, could restructure or even close the Vatican’s scandal-ridden bank as part of a broad review of its troubled bureaucracy. Having inherited a Church mired in scandals...
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Sensing his presence
Today’s readings: Acts 5, 12-16; Apocalypse 1, 9-13.17-19; John 20, 19-31. On this Sunday immediately following Easter, the Scriptures narrate how in the early stages of the development of the Christian faith, believers in Jesus Christ continued to...
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Ratzinger’s legacy
When interviewed by Peter Seewald on August 15, 1996, Joseph Ratzinger said: “The words of the Bible and of the Church Fathers rang in my ears, those sharp condemnations of shepherds who are like mute dogs; in order to avoid conflicts, they let the...
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Quotes and news
In a series of decrees approved by Pope Francis, the Vatican has proclaimed 65 new martyrs, all from the 20th century. The martyrs come from Spain, Romania, Germany, Hungary and Italy. The Congregation for the Causes of Saints also approved a...
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Burden of proof
Today’s readings: Acts 10, 34.37-43; Colossians 3, 1-4; John 20, 1-9. It has never been easy, and it never will be, to ‘prove’ that Christ is risen, that he rose from death after having completely succumbed to death. His first witnesses, whom...
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The Pope who wears an apron
For the past few weeks the eyes of the world were set on Rome as a new pope had to be chosen. When Jorge Mario Bergoglio appeared on the balcony of St Peter’s Basilica, there were mixed reactions. He was unknown to many, and looked shy in a rather...
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Quotes and news
After returning from the inauguration of Pope Francis, the Orthodox Patriarch Bartholomew I of Constantinople said he sees a possibility for reunion between the Orthodox and Roman churches. But he added that this “will probably not happen during my...
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Pope shares folk wisdom at Palm Sunday Mass
The new Pope began Holy Week yesterday with a sermon invoking the folk wisdom of his grandmother, further emphasising a new-look papacy that aims to be closer to the people. Leading his first major service since his election, Pope Francis urged a...
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The gift of steadfast hope
The resurrection of Jesus Christ is the centrepiece of the Christian faith. Spiritual guide Gordon Vassallo reminds us what we are actually celebrating beyond the Easter eggs and other treats. After experiencing an unfair trial, a night of merciless...
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Facing helplessness
Today’s readings: Isaiah 50, 4-7; Phil. 2, 6-11; Luke 22,14 – 23, 56. The best way to live these days is to pay attention to human suffering in real life and try to bring hope. The way of the cross and Golgotha happen over and over again. There is...
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Benedict’s Year of Faith
One of Pope Benedict’s main concerns was undoubtedly the fact that, especially in the western world, many Christians were giving up their faith. This must have been the main reason which prompted him to dedicate this year to Faith. Throughout...
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Quotes and news
Last Tuesday, millions took part in the inauguration ceremony of the Petrine office of Pope Francis. The different ways in which the role of protector is exercised was the central theme of the Pope’s homily. This theme will probably develop into the...
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Pope Francis’s style is implicit criticism of Benedict’s papacy
With every day Pope Francis reigns, his style reveals more contrasts with his predecessor Benedict in ways that amount to an unspoken criticism of how the retired pontiff conducted his papacy. The enthusiasm former Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio has...
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Mercy that heals
Today’s readings: Isaiah 43, 16-21; Philippians 3, 8-14; John 8, 1-11. The death penalty is absolutely unacceptable both from the perspective of faith and from that of human dignity because it denies the possibility of redemption, mercy, forgiveness...
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Great desires reflect God’s desires for me
Few things motivate others as desires do. Desires relate to human wishes and needs and may range from hope and deep longings to craving, appetites, not to mention lust and passion. Nothing is more human than to desire; perhaps nothing is more...
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Quotes and news
The Hungarian parliament has voted to amend the nation’s constitution to define marriage as the union of a man and a woman. Other moves are raising religious-freedom concerns. Vatican Radio said: “Rights activists fear the end of religious freedom...
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Dramatic final stage of a secretive election
The conclave to pick a Roman Catholic Pope is the dramatic final stage of a secretive election process that quietly began weeks, months or even years ago. Some of the 115 cardinals who file into the Sistine Chapel for the election today have been...
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Cardinals hold last discussions prior to being secluded
Cardinals held final discussions on the troubled state of the Roman Catholic Church yesterday, the day before they seclude themselves from the world to elect a new pontiff, with no frontrunner in view. Stunned by the abdication last month of Pope...
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Put people first
Today’s readings: Joshua 5, 9-12; 2 Cor. 5, 17-21; Luke 15, 1-3.11-32. Jesus was being accused of welcoming sinners and eating with them. In response he gave the famous parable of the prodigal son. Rather than meaning to impart any ethical teaching,...
