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Coronavirus

Pope Francis gives his general audience address in the apostolic palace April 1, 2020. Credit: Vatican Media.

Ponder Christ’s Passion Amid the Coronavirus Crisis, Pope Urges

Apr 8, 2020

Meditating on Christ's Passion can help us as we struggle with questions about God and suffering during the coronavirus crisis, Pope Francis said at his general audience Wednesday.

Fr. Gérard Lagleder and some of his staff in an Order of Malta clinic in Mandeni, South Africa. / Vatican News

Rome-based Catholic Lay Religious Order Supporting Fight against COVID-19 in Africa

Apr 8, 2020

The Order of Malta, a Rome-based Catholic lay Religious Order that is active in some 120 countries, is supporting efforts to curb the spread of COVID-19 in Africa where the centuries old institution is present in over 30 nations.

Fridolin Ambongo Cardinal Besungu, Archbishop of Kinshasa in the Democratic Republic of Congo

After Ebola, COVID-19 Outbreak "would be a disaster," DR Congolese Cardinal Cautions

Apr 8, 2020

As countries put in place measures to contain the spread of COVID-19, a Cardinal in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has cautioned that the spread of the pandemic in the Central African nation would be disastrous, as the country does not have the capability of handling another outbreak, soon after struggling over the years to fight Ebola epidemic.

Bishop Emmanuel Badejo blessing the oils during the Chrism Mass at  at Our Lady of Assumption Cathedral Oyo, April 7, 2020. / Oyo Diocese

"We are compelled to ask God to heal our world": Nigerian Bishop at Chrism Mass

Apr 8, 2020

The call for divine intervention to heal the world including the people of God affected by COVID-19, a pandemic that has occasioned unprecedented restrictions, is a key highlight of Bishop Emmanuel Badejo’s Chrism Mass message for the Priests in his diocese of Oyo, Nigeria.

Credit: mrmohock via Shutterstock.

Saving Elderly from COVID-19 "a priority," Vatican’s Laity Dicastery Says

Apr 7, 2020

During the coronavirus pandemic, saving the elderly must be just as important as saving others, the Vatican’s Laity, Family, and Life dicastery has said.

Official Logo Union of the African Catholic Press (UCAP). / UCAP

Catholic Journalists in Africa Urged “to spot, debunk misinformation” about COVID-19

Apr 7, 2020

Catholic journalists in Africa are being encouraged to take up the responsibility of identifying and exposing fake news about COVID-19 in the face of increasing misinformation on the pandemic that has claimed over 74,000 lives globally, with at least 1.33 million confirmed cases.

Archbishop Ignatius Ayau Kaigama of Nigeria’s Abuja Archdiocese, while presiding at the Palm Sunday Mass at Our Lady Queen of Nigeria Pro-Cathedral in the country’s capital city.

How COVID-19 Reduced Mighty and Small Nations to the Same Level: Nigerian Archbishop

Apr 7, 2020

A Catholic Archbishop in Nigeria, while addressing the adverse effects of COVID-19, has said that the disease has reduced humanity to the same level even as governments across the world battle the pandemic that has indiscriminately caused thousands of deaths, social disorder and a plunge in economic systems.

Former Ghanaian President, John Dramani Mahama, while addressing Hospital staff at donation of hospital equipment to fight the COVID-19, Saturday, April 4, 2020.

With COVID-19, “political, religious, social differences evaporated”: Ghana’s Ex-President

Apr 7, 2020

The COVID-19 pandemic outbreak and its toll on Ghana where 214 reported cases of the disease have been confirmed has brought the country together in ways never witnessed before, according to former Ghanaian President, John Dramani Mahama.

Fr. Tesfaye Petros Botachew, the Apostolic Administrator of Gambella Vicariate. / Ethiopian Catholic Secretariat

After Ethiopia’s Gambella Bishop Succumbed to COVID-19, Vicariate Gets Administrator

Apr 7, 2020

Following the demise of Bishop Angelo Moreschi of Ethiopia’s Gambella Vicariate, the first Catholic Prelate known to have died of COVID-19, an Apostolic Administrator has been appointed for the missionary ecclesiastical territory in the Western part of the country that is dependent upon the Vatican-based Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples.

Pope Francis at the General House of the Society of Jesus in Rome, Dec. 13, 2019. Credit: Daniel Ibanez/CNA.

Pope Creates Emergency Fund to Tackle Coronavirus in Mission Territories

Apr 6, 2020

Pope Francis has created an emergency fund for those affected by coronavirus in mission countries

Pope Francis prays during Palm Sunday Mass April 5, 2020. / Vatican Media/CNA.

Pope Francis on Palm Sunday: Let Us Stand Before the Crucifix in Our Homes

Apr 5, 2020

On Palm Sunday, Pope Francis offered Mass in a nearly empty St. Peter’s Basilica and urged Catholics quarantined at home to remember "what really matters" in life: loving God and serving others.

Cardinal Peter Turkson visits Agostino Gemelli University Policlinic in Rome. Copyright: Vatican Media

Vatican-based Ghanaian Cardinal Brings Rosaries to Rome Hospital with COVID-19 Patients

Apr 5, 2020

Cardinal Peter Turkson visited Rome’s largest hospital on Friday, encouraging staff and handing out rosaries blessed by Pope Francis.

Catholic Bishops' Conference of Liberia / @cabicoliberia

Social Distancing Influences Holy Week Celebration Guidelines in Liberia

Apr 5, 2020

The government directive on social distancing aimed at containing the spread of COVID-19 has had an influence on Holy Week celebrations in many nations of the world, including the West African country of Liberia where Catholic Bishops have issued guidelines that conform to the social distance restriction.

Bishop John MacWilliams of Algeria's Laghouat Diocese

Not Much Change for Algeria’s Church amid COVID-19

Apr 4, 2020

In a country where the faithful go for months without celebrating Holy Mass due to a shortage of Priests, the Church in Algeria is experiencing very little disruption owing to the spread of COVID-19 that has forced worshippers in many parts of the world to miss Mass.

Bishop Sithembele Sipuka of Mthatha diocese, South Africa.

COVID-19 Measures "may call clergy, religious to share our own food": South African Bishop

Apr 4, 2020

As South Africans continue to observe the 21-day nation-wide lockdown declared to control the spread of COVID-19, the Bishop of Mthatha diocese has called on the clergy and religious in his diocese to consider making sacrifices that would include giving from their own food reserves to help those adversely affected by the stay-at-home directive.

Archbishop Samuel Kleda of Douala, who has practiced herbalism over the years says medicinal plants can be tried as a possible cure of the coronavirus.

“Traditional medicine can fight Coronavirus,” Cameroonian Prelate, Herbalist, Says

Apr 4, 2020

As governments across the globe battle to contain the spread of COVID-19 with medical researchers working around the clock to find a cure, a Cameroonian Catholic Archbishop who has practiced herbalism over the years has said that medicinal plants can be tried as a possible cure of the coronavirus.

Bishop Ignace Bessi Dogbo, Bishop of Katiola, Ivory Coast, President of the Episcopal Conference of the Ivory Coast (CECCI)

“Universal charity, solidarity, prayer” Necessary in Combating COVID-19: Ivorian Bishop

Apr 4, 2020

There is a necessity for governments around the world to join hands in the fight against COVID-19 if the disease that has infected at least one million people across the globe and claimed tens of thousands of lives is to be managed in good time, an Ivorian Bishop has said.

The Sacrament of Penance (also commonly called the Sacrament of Reconciliation or Confession) is one of the seven sacraments of the Catholic Church.

“No sacraments on Internet”: Ghanaian Bishop on Confession amid COVID-19 Restrictions

Apr 4, 2020

As Catholics in many parts of the world keep away from gatherings including places of worship as a way to curb the spread of COVID-19, a Ghanaian Prelate has, in response to a question raised regarding Confession, explained why the Sacrament of Penance cannot be offered through electronic means.

Bishops of the Zimbabwe Catholic Bishops’ Conference (ZCBC) with Pope Francis in Rome during their Adlimina visit.

Bishops in Zimbabwe Support “3-week Lockdown” Over COVID-19, Want More Preventive Measures

Apr 3, 2020

With eight confirmed COVID-19 cases and one death related to the disease in Zimbabwe, Catholic Bishops in the South African country have welcomed the 21-day nationwide  lockdown announced by the country’s President at the beginning of the week.

Archbishop Augustine Obiora Akubeze of the Catholic Archdiocese of Benin City and President of the Catholic Bishops conference of Nigeria (CBCN)

Nigeria’s COVID-19 Lockdown “getting people close to starvation”, Bishops Concerned

Apr 3, 2020

While the countrywide stay-at-home directive and the three-state 14-day lockdown implemented in Nigeria are important measures put in place to curb the spread of COVID-19, Catholic Bishops in the West African nation are concerned that people without savings are “getting close to starvation.”