Advertisement

Coronavirus

Pope Francis offers Mass in Casa Santa Marta on March 10, 2020. Credit: Vatican Media/CNA.

Pope Francis Prays for Those Who Weep from Coronavirus Loneliness or Loss

Mar 29, 2020

“Many cry today. And we, from this altar, from this sacrifice of Jesus -- of Jesus who was not ashamed to cry -- ask for the grace to cry. May today be for everyone like a Sunday of tears,” Pope Francis said.

Pope Francis gives an extraordianry Urbi et Orbi blessing in St. Peter's Square, March 27, 2020. / Vatican Media.

Pope Francis Gives Special Apostolic Blessing, "Urbi et Orbi", During Coronavirus Pandemic

Mar 28, 2020

On Friday, before an empty and rain-covered St. Peter’s Square, Pope Francis held Eucharistic adoration and gave an extraordinary Urbi et Orbi blessing, praying for the world during the coronavirus pandemic which has killed more than 25,000 people.

Board Members of the Council of Religions in Mauritius.

“The war to be fought is against COVID-19,” Religious Leaders in Mauritius United

Mar 28, 2020

Religious leaders in Mauritius have come together to demonstrate their unity of purpose in the fight against the spread of COVID-19 in their country and invited citizens in the Island nation to stand together in the battle.

President Faustin Archange Touadera during the meeting with stakeholders of various institutions in the country, including Catholic Church leaders.

Stakeholders in CAR Consult to Prevent Spread of COVID-19 with 5 Confirmed Cases

Mar 28, 2020

With just five confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the Central African Republic (CAR), stakeholders of various institutions in the country, including Catholic Church leaders, held a meeting to consult on ways to prevent the spread of the deadly virus that is claiming precious lives in other parts of the world, including African nations.

Fr. Richard Oduor, Kenyan-born priest incardinated in South Sudan's Torit diocese who tested positive for COVID-19 days after arriving in Kenya from Rome. He says he has no symptoms of the virus / Fr. Richard Oduor

“It's my 14th day in Kenya, I’ve no COVID-19 symptoms,” Priest Says, Faults Media Reports

Mar 27, 2020

The Kenyan priest, Fr. Richard Oduor who, according to government authorities in Kenya, tested positive for COVID-19 and got hospitalized days after returning from Italy has said that on the 14th day since he traveled back to Kenya, he does not feel any of the known symptoms of the virus that has claimed more than 24,000 lives across the globe.

Msgr. Séraphin François Rouamba, Archbishop emeritus of Burkina Faso’s Koupela Archdiocese,  the first African Catholic Prelate known to test positive for COVID-19.

Burkinabé Archbishop First African Catholic Prelate Known to Test Positive for COVID-19

Mar 27, 2020

The Archbishop emeritus of Burkina Faso’s Koupela Archdiocese, Séraphin François Rouamba has tested positive for COVID-19, the Episcopal Conference of Burkina Faso and Niger (CEBN) has confirmed in a March 25 statement.

Fr. Jean Messingue Sj, founder of the Abidjan-based  call centre to offer psychological support to Ivorians weighed down by the emotional burden of the highly contagious COVID-19 pandemic. / Jesuit Conference Of Africa and Madagascar (JCAM)

Call Centre Offering Psychological Support for COVID-19 Cases Functional in Ivory Coast

Mar 27, 2020

With 80 COVID-19 cases confirmed in Ivory Coast, a priest in the West African country has opened a call centre to offer psychological support to Ivorians weighed down by the emotional burden of the highly contagious global pandemic.

A Poster announcing the National Day of Prayer and Fasting in Ghana.

Ghanaians Anchor National Prayer and Fasting Day on Thanksgiving and Repentance

Mar 27, 2020

Christians and Muslims in the West African nation of Ghana observed a day of prayer and fasting Wednesday, March 25 using a ten-point prayer guide that detailed specific prayers against the spread of COVID-19.

A Dutch church closed because of the global Coronavirus pandemic. Credit: Jasper Suijten/shutterstock.

Analysis: The Sacramental Shutdown, Coronavirus, and Canon Law

Mar 26, 2020

The coronavirus pandemic has caused disruption around the world. To politics, economics, and to the life of the Church: most especially to the steady regularity of her sacramental life, which many Catholics see as the anchor of consistency amid a world of chaos.

: Peter Cardinal Appiah Turkson, Prefect of the Dicastery of Promoting Integral Hunan Development with some members of the Ghana Catholic Ecclesiastical Union. / GCEU

Ghanaian Clergy, Religious, Seminarians in Rome Take “precautionary measures to stay safe”

Mar 26, 2020

With Italy ranked the world’s worst-hit country by COVID-19, the clergy, religious and seminarians who are natives of Ghana and based in the country’s capital, Rome have, in an interview with ACI Africa correspondent, said that they are taking seriously directives from the Italian government as precautionary measures to stay safe.

Archbishop Nicodéme Anani Barrigah of Lome Archdiocese calling on Togolese to adopt new Habits to avoid the spread of COVID-19. / Radio Maria Togo

COVID-19 “an opportunity to reflect on the way we live, to convert”: Togolese Prelate

Mar 26, 2020

As countries around the world put in place measures to control the spread of COVID-19 including an appeal, sometimes enforced, for citizens to “stay at home,” a Catholic Prelate in the West African nation of Togo has taken a positive view of the situation, saying it offers the people of God an opportunity to reflect on their respective lives, seek conversion and draw closer to God.

Coronavirus – Africa : 46 countries reporting a total 2,475 cases of COVID-19, 64 deaths (25 March 2020)

Dioceses in Africa Seek to Align Pastoral Guidelines with State Directives over COVID-19

Mar 26, 2020

With at least 2,455 cases of COVID-19 confirmed across not less than 43 countries in Africa, various Catholic dioceses on the continent have announced pastoral guidelines aligned with directives issued by their respective governments in a bid to control the spread of the virus.

Pope Francis gives his Wednesday audience message on March 18, 2020. Credit: Vatican Media.

Pope Francis: The Church’s Pro-life Message is More Relevant Than Ever

Mar 25, 2020

Pope Francis said Wednesday that the Church's pro-life message is more relevant than ever as the world faces the coronavirus pandemic.

Pope Francis prays global Our Father March 25, 2020. Credit: Vatican Media.

Pope Francis Leads Christians in Global Our Father for God's Mercy Amid Coronavirus

Mar 25, 2020

Pope Francis Wednesday led Christians around the world in praying an Our Father to ask God’s mercy during the coronavirus pandemic, which is causing the suffering and death of many people.

Kenya's two leading newspapers, The Standard and Daily Nation, which framed the Church negatively in their respective headlines of March 23, 2020 edition.

Kenyan Media Framing of Church “as weak link, agent of death, unethical,” Catholics Decry

Mar 25, 2020

The recent negative media framing of the Church in Kenya as “a weak link” and “an agent of death” has been condemned and termed unethical, with a section of Catholics in the East African nation calling on the institution that regulates media standards, the Media Council of Kenya (MCK), to sanction the implicated media outlets.

Priests in the Archdiocese of Douala reciting the Rosary with the Statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary during Monday's Procession around the city of Douala, Cameroon. / ACI Africa

Cameroon’s Douala Archdiocese Entrusted to “protection of the Virgin Mary” amid COVID-19

Mar 25, 2020

As governments in Africa struggle to contain the spread of COVID-19, with some nations seeking divine intervention by holding National Prayer Days, the Catholic Church in Cameroon’s Douala Archdiocese held a prayer procession to entrust the central African state to the protection of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Kenyan-born Franciscan Capuchin Friar, Fr. Robert Onyango Sewe, whose picture was used by multiple media outlets in Kenya to tell the story of the Kenyan priest who is among the 26 individuals in the East African nation infected with COVID-19. / ACI Africa

U.S.-Based Kenyan Capuchin Friar Decries Use of His Image for COVID-19 Positive Priest

Mar 25, 2020

A Kenyan-born Franciscan Capuchin Friar based in the U.S. has lamented the use of his picture by multiple media outlets in Kenya to tell the story of the Kenyan priest who is among the 26 individuals in the East African nation infected with COVID-19, the disease caused by coronavirus.

Live Broadcast of Private Mass Gaining Traction in Ghana amid COVID-19

Mar 25, 2020

The practice of live streaming private celebrations of the Holy Eucharist by members of the clergy in the West African nation of Ghana is gaining traction days after Church leaders announced the suspension of public Mass.

Catholic Christians in Kenya during the National Prayer Day at Subukia Shrine, October 5, 2019. / ACI Africa

Catholic Bishops in Kenya Officially Suspend Public Mass Over COVID-19

Mar 25, 2020

The Catholic Bishops in Kenya have, in a collective statement Monday, March 23, officially suspended the celebration of public Mass and other Church gatherings in line with the government’s directives to control the spread of COVID-19, including a ban on all forms of religious gatherings.

Pope Francis prays in the chapel of Casa Santa Marta March 23, 2020. Credit: Vatican Media

Pope Francis During Coronavirus: Beware the 'poison' of laziness, complaining

Mar 24, 2020

Pope Francis Tuesday warned Christians to avoid living in a “fog” of sadness, sloth, and complaining, instead of rejoicing in the spiritual healing they have received from Christ.