News Feeds

Vatican City, Aug 10, 2010 / 11:03 am (CNA/EWTN News).- Following the decision of a group of plaintiffs in Kentucky to drop a lawsuit against the Holy See, Vatican spokesman Fr. Federico Lombardi praised the move, saying it was "good news" that the allegations were ultimately proven "unfounded."

Saint Beatriz de Silva 2010 Letter of the Minister General of the Order of Friars Minor for the feast of Saint Beatriz de Silva (in spanish – pdf)

Formation and Studies – biennial conference (ESC) The formators of the English-Speaking Conference (ESC) gathered for their biennial conference from August 1-5, 2010 at the St. Malo Retreat Center in Allenspark, Colorado. Invited were the directors of the various levels of formation -ongoing, vocation animators, postulancy, novitiate, post-novitiate, and the secretaries of formation and [...]

Rome, Italy, Aug 9, 2010 / 05:15 am (CNA/EWTN News).- Children must not be deprived of the Eucharist, source of grace and assistance to them as they begin their walk with Jesus, stressed the Vatican prefect of the congregation for sacraments. In an article in L'Osservatore Romano to mark the 100-year anniversary of a papal decree which lowered the age of first communicants, Cardinal Antonio Cañizares underscored that children should still be allowed to receive the Eucharist as soon as they are able.

Castel Gandolfo, Italy, Aug 8, 2010 / 10:59 am (CNA/EWTN News).- Before Sunday's Angelus prayer, Pope Benedict XVI taught the importance of leading our lives with trust and hope in the coming of the Lord. This hope, he said, should encourage us to "an intense life, rich with good works."

Saint Clare of Assisi 2010 – letter by Minister General (pdf) …As usual, each year I send you this letter on the occasion of the Feast of the Little Plant of St. Fran- cis. With it, I wish also to offer you some pointers of reflection on contemplation, solitude, and silence, so that you may, as [...]

Vatican City, Aug 7, 2010 / 05:05 pm (CNA/EWTN News).- The place of Raphael's "Transfiguration" in an art museum and not in a place of worship means the "most beautiful painting in the world" has lost most of its ability to speak, an article in L'Osservatore Romano has claimed. The Vatican newspaper says that the venue rendered the artwork into little more than an object.

Castel Gandolfo, Italy, Aug 7, 2010 / 04:37 am (CNA/EWTN News).- In a symbolic gesture, the Holy Father went to the mountains to pray on the Feast of the Transfiguration. During the day trip away from his summer residence he visited a number of places, taking the time also to drop in on some old friends.

Minister General’s visit to Paraguay During the 6th and 7th August, 2010, Minister General Br José Rodríguez Carballo, accompanied by Definitor General Br Julio C. Bunader, visited the brothers of the Custody of Paraguay (Br Luis Bolanos). They were welcomed by the Custodian Br Iñaki Galarraga at the Assumption Convent were a meeting with the [...]

Rome, Italy, Aug 6, 2010 / 04:53 am (CNA/EWTN News).- The Holy Father's September visit "speaks of rapprochement" - that is, cordial relations - between the Vatican and the United Kingdom, explained the nation's ambassador to Holy See. Speaking to CNA, he said that the "principal symbolic moment" on the schedule of events, even for the state, is the beatification of Cardinal John Henry Newman in Birmingham.

Rome, Italy, Aug 5, 2010 / 05:09 am (CNA/EWTN News).- The pilgrimage that brought altar boys and girls to Rome en masse this week concluded on a high note at Wednesday's general audience. Bringing tens of thousands of young people together in what appeared to be a small scale World Youth Day, the event showed the true colors of Church and the communion of its youth.

Rome, Italy, Aug 4, 2010 / 05:56 pm (CNA).- The secretary of the Congregation for the Clergy, Archbishop Mauro Piacenza, wrote an article for today's feast of St. John Marie Vianney, the Cure of Ars. The Vatican prelate highlighted the saint's untiring service to God and neighbor, calling him a true "revolutionary of love."

Castel Gandolfo, Italy, Aug 4, 2010 / 02:23 pm (CNA/EWTN News).- After Wednesday's general audience, the Holy Father prayed for the victims of the recent natural disasters in different regions in Asia.

YouFra International Meeting (2011) …As it has become a tradition for YouFra from all over the world to get together in the days before WYD, so it will also be next year when we celebrate the 26th WYD in Madrid. We are organising a YouFra International Meeting to bring together young people in order to share [...]

Rome, Italy, Aug 4, 2010 / 05:29 am (CNA/EWTN News).- Benedict XVI underscored the importance of the Eucharist on Wednesday as a "treasure whose value cannot be measured." Illustrating a young third century martyr's dedication to the Body of Christ, he exhorted the tens of thousands of altar servers present at the audience to also give their lives in service to the Lord.

The feast of the Pardon of Assisi at the Portiuncola On the 1st and 2nd August, the Minister General, Br José Rodríguez Carballo, accompanied by Br Vincenzo Brocanelli, Br Roger Marcal, Br Francisco Arellano and Br Fabio L’Amour, participated in the celebration of the Pardon of Assisi. On the 1st he presided the celebration of the [...]

Rome, Italy, Aug 2, 2010 / 12:54 pm (CNA/EWTN News).- Following Friday's news that a U.S. company has been given the go ahead to experiment with embryonic stem cells on human patients, a former head of the Pontifical Academy for Life told Vatican Radio that the trials are unacceptable. He said that regardless of whether the result of testing is positive or negative, "morally it remains a crime."

To the Source af Life  - XXX Franciscan March (Porziuncola – August 2, 2010) Br. José Rodriguez Carballo, ofm – Minister General OFM Dearest Friends, Brothers, and Sisters, After days journeying, you have finally arrived in Assisi to St. Mary of the Angels, to the Porziuncola.  With great joy, I welcome you to this holy place.  I welcome you on [...]

Rome, Italy, Aug 2, 2010 / 08:26 am (CNA/EWTN News).- Redemptorist Fr. Joseph William Tobin was appointed by Pope Benedict XVI as the new secretary of the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life on Monday.

Vatican City, Aug 1, 2010 / 08:04 pm (CNA/EWTN News).- It was with "great contentment" that Benedict XVI observed the first day of the worldwide ban on cluster munitions, which took effect on Sunday. The Vatican participated in the talks that led to the international agreement, focusing upon the "logic of peace."