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Pope Francis prays during his general audience address in the Paul VI Audience Hall at the Vatican on Dec. 27, 2023. | Credit: Vatican Media

This is Pope Francis’ Prayer Intention for the Month of January

Jan 3, 2024

By Francesca Pollio Fenton

Pope Francis’ prayer intention for the month of January is for the gift of diversity in the Church.

In New Year Messages, Kenyan Prelates Urge Good Governance, Lowering Cost of Living

Jan 2, 2024

By Fr. Don Bosco Onyalla

Catholic Bishops in Kenya have advocated for good governance, the need to lower the cost of living, and sustainable peace among other needs that can foster livelihoods of the people of God in the East African nation.

Archbishop Georg Gänswein celebrates a Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica on Dec. 31, 2023, to commemorate the one-year anniversary of the death of Pope Benedict XVI. | Credit: Vatican Media

Conference on Anniversary of Benedict’s Death Focuses on Legacy Defined by Love of Christ

Jan 2, 2024

By Matthew Santucci

Friends, scholars and former colleagues of Pope Benedict XVI gathered in the Campo Santo Teutonico in Vatican City, from Dec. 30–31.

From left to right: Br. Godwin Eze, Fr. Léopold Feyen, Br. Cyprian Ngeh and Fr. Pamphili Nada among nine missionaries killed in Africa in 2023. Credit: Benedictine Monastery, Eruku, ANS, Immaculate Conception Medical Center Njimafor, AMECEA

Nine Missionaries in Africa among 20 Killed in 2023: Vatican Report

Jan 2, 2024

By Joe Bukuras

Twenty Catholic missionaries were murdered in 2023, according to a new Dec. 30 report issued by the Vatican’s Fides News Agency.

Pope Francis prays during his Wednesday general audience on Nov. 15, 2023. | Credit: Vatican Media

These are Pope Francis’ Prayer Intentions for 2024

Jan 2, 2024

By Francesca Pollio Fenton

The monthly prayer intentions express the Holy Father’s concerns for humanity and the mission of the Catholic Church.

Three Kings. | Credit: Shutterstock

When Does Christmas Actually End? Here are the Different Views

Jan 2, 2024

By Christine Rousselle

Just how many days is Christmas? When should you take the tree down and remove the decorations?

Pope Francis speaks at the general audience in Vatican City's Paul VI Hall on Feb. 22, 2023. | Vatican Media

Pope Sends Message of Condolence to Victims of Deadly Earthquake in Japan

Jan 2, 2024

By Daniel Payne

The reported 7.6-magnitude quake struck Ishikawa Prefecture in the western part of the country, killing more than 50.

Members of the  Sudan Catholic Bishops’ Conference (SCBC). Credit:  Sudan Catholic Bishops’ Conference (SCBC)

Don’t “sit back”: Sudan, South Sudan’s Bishops to International Community amid Ongoing War

Jan 1, 2024

By Fr. Don Bosco Onyalla

Catholic Bishops in Sudan and South Sudan are urging the United Nations (UN), the governments of the United States of America, the United Kingdom and Norway, also referred to as Troika, and other members of the international community to go on with their respective efforts to end the ongoing violence in Sudan.

Pope Francis at the first Mass of the new year, urged the faithful to entrust 2024 to the Mother of God. | Credit: Vatican Media

Pope Francis: Entrust 2024 to the Mother of God 

Jan 1, 2024

By Jonathan Liedl

The pope made his appeal during Mass at St. Peter’s Basilica on Jan. 1 for the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God.

Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, spoke about the "courage" and the "madness" of working for peace during his homily during the Mass of the Solemnity of the Blessed Virgin Mary Mother of God, on Jan. 1, 2024, in the Pro-Cathedral of the Latin Patriarchate, in Jerusalem. | Credit: Marinella Bandini

The Church in the Holy Land Rings in the New Year with Pleas for Peace

Jan 1, 2024

By Marinella Bandini

Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, urged the faithful "to cherish the desire for encounter, to cultivate freedom in relation to all, to overcome ethnic, religious, and identity boundaries."

Pope Francis smiles at pilgrims gathered in St. Peter's Square on Jan. 1, 2023, for his first Angelus of the new year. | Credit: Vatican Media

Pope Francis Reflects on Mary’s Motherhood, Prays for Nicaragua During New Year’s Angelus

Jan 1, 2024

By Matthew Santucci

Just days after Christmas, Nicaragua’s Sandinista regime abducted four priests, whose whereabouts are still unknown.

Pope Francis' Angelus message on Jan. 1, 2023, marked the solemnity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Mother of God. An estimated 40,000 people gathered in St. Peter's Square for the event. The feast day coincides with the World Day of Peace. | Credit: Vatican Media

Why are the Solemnity of Mary and the World Day of Peace Celebrated on the Same Day?

Jan 1, 2024

By Katie Yoder

Jan. 1 marks more than the start of a new year — it is also the solemnity of Mary, Mother of God, and the World Day of Peace.

Pope Francis invoke the Virgin Mary as the Queen of Peace and Mother of Mercy at a prayer vigil for peace in St. Peter's Basilica, Friday, Oct. 27. | Credit: Courtney Mares

Pope Francis Asks Mary’s Intercession in World Day of Peace Video

Jan 1, 2024

By Jonathan Liedl

Pope Francis implores the Blessed Virgin Mary to intercede for an end to human conflicts in a new video released on Jan. 1 for the World Day of Peace.

Bishop Emmanuel Adetoyese Badejo of Nigeria's Oyo Diocese. Credit: Bishop Emmanuel Adetoyese Badejo

In 2024, Let’s be “positive change” Agents: Nigerian Catholic Bishop in New Year Message

Dec 31, 2023

By Fr. Don Bosco Onyalla

At the start of the New Year 2024, there is need for the people of God in Nigeria to take an active role in changing, for the better, the situation of their country individually and collectively.

Sr. Prof. Teresa Okure, addressing members of the Catholic Biblical Association of Nigeria (CABAN). Credit: Nigeria Catholic Network

Catholic Biblical Scholars in Nigeria Call for “personal responsibility” in Peacebuilding

Dec 31, 2023

By Jude Atemanke

Members of the Catholic Biblical Association of Nigeria (CABAN) have underscored the need for the people of God in the West African nation to take a “personal responsibility” in the search for peace in the country. 

Tia, Miriam, Emanuel, and Josias (left to right) from the St. Lorenz Catholic Parish in Kempten, Diocese of Augsburg, Germany, December 2023. | Credit: Nicolas Schnall/Kindermissionswerk

Thousands of "Star Singers" Continue Tradition of Bringing Christ’s Blessings for New Year

Dec 31, 2023

By Emma Silvestri

Every year in Germany, Switzerland, and Austria, thousands of children go from door to door dressed as the three Wise Men to bring the blessing of Christ.

Pope Francis waves during his Sunday Angelus on Dec. 31, 2023. | Credit: Vatican Media

Pope Francis Says Benedict XVI "blesses us and accompanies us" from Heaven

Dec 31, 2023

By Jonathan Liedl

In his final Angelus address of 2023, Pope Francis paid tribute to Pope Benedict XVI on the one-year anniversary of his predecessor’s death. 

Pope Francis presides at the annual celebration of “first vespers,” or evening prayer, for the vigil of the solemnity of Mary, Mother of God, on Dec. 31, 2023. | Credit: Vatican Media

Pope Francis: Faith Allows Christians to Live Transition into the New Year "differently"

Dec 31, 2023

By Jonathan Liedl

Pope Francis rang in the new year and gave thanks for 2023 at a special New Year’s Eve Vatican liturgy.

Pope Benedict XVI on April 21, 2007, in Vigevano, Italy. | Credit: miqu77/Shutterstock

4 Kernels of Wisdom from Pope Benedict XVI’s Last Message to the World

Dec 31, 2023

By Isabel Barry

On the first anniversary of the former pope's death, we look at his final work, “What Is Christianity? The Last Writings,” published by Ignatius Press.

Members of the Episcopal Conference of Ivory Coast (CECCI). Credit: CECCI

We Can’t “conceal risk of confusion, scandal”: Ivory Coast Bishops on Fiducia Supplicans

Dec 30, 2023

By Fr. Don Bosco Onyalla

Catholic Bishops in Ivory Coast have expressed their concern about the possibility of blessing of “same-sex couples” and couples in other “irregular situations” as explained in Fiducia Supplicans, the December 18 Declaration of the Vatican Dicastery for the Doctrine of Faith (DDF).