Pope Francis at Mass: be salt of the earth
That Christians might spread the spiritual salt of faith, hope and charity: this was Pope Francis’ exhortation at Mass Thursday morning in the chapel of the Domus Sanctae Marthae residence in the ....

Bishop Kirby welcomes progress of US Immigration Bill
Bishop John Kirby, Chair of the Irish Bishops’ Council for Emigrants, has welcomed yesterday’s decision of a US Senate panel for approving the Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration ....

No need to legislate for X case say experts
Professor William Binchy has challenged the assertion that Ireland needs to introduce legislation to deal with the European case and, specifically, that we introduce legislation in accordance with ....

Pope Francis visits Vatican soup kitchen
Pope Francis visited the "Gift of Mary" soup kitchen and women’s shelter run by the Missionaries of Charity on Tuesday evening, to mark the 25th anniversary of the facility's opening in the ....

First annual report of the Vatican Financial Information Authority
This afternoon in the Press Office of the Holy See, Rene Brulhart, director of the Vatican Financial Information Authority (L’Autorità di Informazione Finanziara, AIF), presented the AIF's first ....

NBSCCCI reports on three new allegations relating to past twelve years
Over the past year the National Board for Safeguarding Children in the Catholic Church in Ireland (NBSCCCI) was notified of 242 allegations, concerns and suspicions of abuse reported to the Church ....

Pope prays for strength and hope in wake of Oklahoma tragedy
Pope Francis has sent a telegram to the Archbishop of Oklahoma City to express his deep concern for the victims, injured and homeless in the wake of a devastating tornado: The Holy Father has ....

Pontifical Council on challenges of reaching out to victims of forced migration
How can the Church boost its pastoral assistance to the victims of forced migration, especially at a time when more and more people worldwide are being forced to flee their homes largely because of ....

No more “Francis, Francis,” from now on it’s “Jesus is Lord" says Pope
In a spontaneous, unscripted question and answer session on Saturday Pope Francis gave a small ‘fraternal reproach’ to the crowd.  “All of you in the square shouted out: "Francis, Francis, ....

CoI Bishops’ Appeal – Responding to Crisis in Syria
 In response to the current humanitarian problems and the suffering facing many people in Syria, Archbishop Richard Clarke and Archbishop Michael Jackson have approved an emergency release of ....

Rosary App
 USA & Ireland -  On the occasion of the birth anniversary of Blessed Pope John Paul II, World Priest the inspiration and the organizers of the Annual Global Rosary Relay for Priests has ....

Church must stress its concern for both mother and unborn - Archbishop Martin
Archbishop Diarmuid Martin of Dublin has said the Church must “very clearly stress” that it is “very concerned with the lives of women” and any threat to the life of expectant mothers but that it ....

Pope Francis at Pentecost: Newness, harmony and mission
Below the official English language translation of Pope Francis’ homily at Mass for the Feast of Pentecost with New Movements:Dear Brothers and Sisters,Today we contemplate and re-live in the ....

Cardinal O’Malley: Gosnell Convictions Draw Attention To Tragedy Of Abortion
WASHINGTON—The chairman of the Committee on Pro-Life Activities of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops called for reflection, greater respect for human life and healing in the wake of the May ....

"Economic system became infested with greed"- Archbishop Martin
Vigil of Pentecost 2013 - FESTIVAL OF PEOPLEHomily Notes of  Most Rev. Diarmuid Martin Archbishop of Dublin Pro-Cathedral, 18th  May 2013 “We celebrate the Vigil of the Feast of ....

Pope Francis: Avoid the temptation to interfere
The Christian must overcome the temptation to "interfere in the lives of others," was the exhortation of Pope Francis at Mass this morning at the Casa Santa Marta. The Pope also stressed that talk ....

Pope Francis meets with Angela Merkel
This morning, Saturday May 18, 2013, in the Vatican Apostolic Palace, the Federal Chancellor of Germany, Angela Merkel, was received in audience by Holy Father Francis. Afterwards, Merkel met with ....

Legislation poses "ethical dilemma" for doctors, claims leading gynaecologist
A leading gynacologist has warned that the Government's proposed abortion legislation could create “a moral and ethical dilemma for doctors”. Speaking on Newstalk this morning, the Master of the ....

Pope Francis addresses directors of Pontifical Mission Societies
Pope Francis met on Friday with the National Directors of the Pontifical Mission Societies. In his remarks to the Directors, who hailed from every part of the globe, the Holy Father focused on the ....

St. Brigid of Kildare Gathering Festival - Sept 2013
This is to invite you and members of your group, your friends and family to come to Kildare Town this September for the St. Brigid of Kildare Gathering Festival.  There will be a ....

John Waters to address Pentecost meeting in Vatican in presence of Pope
Irish author and columnist John Waters will be one of two people offering their stories of faith before the Pope, at a huge rally for the ecclesial movements this weekend at St Peter’s Square. Over ....

Archbishop of Dublin expresses specific concern on abortion legislation
(Letter to the Editor of the Irish Times Newspaper from Archbishop Martin, May 16h 2013)   Dear Sir, I write as a citizen of Ireland who happens also to be the Roman Catholic Archbishop ....

Pope Francis: Financial reform along ethical lines
There is a need for financial reform along ethical lines that would produce in its turn an economic reform to benefit everyone.”… “Money has to serve, not to rule” Those were the Pope’s words to ....

Trocaire reports on Guatemala former military dictator found guilty of genocide
In Guatemala last Friday a former general accused of genocide was found guilty. The judge sentenced Rios Montt to 80 years in prison– 50 years for the genocide and an additional 30 years for crimes ....

Pope Francis: Bishops and Priests need prayers
Pray for priests and bishops, that they might not give in to the temptations of money and vanity, but serve the people of God. This was Pope Francis’ exhortation to the faithful at Mass this ....

Vatican update regarding Cardinal O'Brien
Vatican City, 15 May 2013 (VIS) – This afternoon, the Holy See Press Office issued the following press release:   “His Eminence Cardinal Keith Patrick O’Brien, archbishop emeritus of St. ....

World Youth Day 2013 in Rio - Dublin Archdiocese
Thirty people are travelling from Dublin to World Youth Day in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in July, but because there is such an interest the event will be linked to home with a Rio-In-Dublin ....

European camapign seeks to protect embyro
A European grassroots initiative, aimed at advancing the protection of the human embryo, has received the endorsement of the Pope. During his Regina Caeli message on Sunday, Pope Francis urged his ....

Pope Francis - Egoism leads nowhere
Egoism leads nowhere. Love, however, frees. Therefore, those who are able to live their lives as “a gift to give others” will never be alone and will never experience “the tragedy of the isolated ....

Anti-suicide teenager passes away
A young 16 year old who had urged his peers to value life, passed away peacefully at his family home in Blennerville, Co Kerry, on Sunday, surrounded by his family, his dad Fionnbar, his mother ....

2013 Pontifical Yearbook: Permanent diaconate booms in Europe, U.S.
The number of Catholics globally remains largely unchanged at 1214 million, rising only slightly higher than global population growth for the 2010/2011 period. The number of priests (religious and ....

Pontifical Justice and Peace Council: 'Banking on the Common Good'
A international colloquium on the theme ‘Banking on the Common Good’ is taking place in the Vatican on Monday, with discussions focused on how to bring ethical values to bear on the world’s ....

More exploreAway
The exploreAway vocations discernment programme is to hold its first ever taster session later this month and another in September. The programme for young single men and women between the ages of ....

World Communications Day focuses on social networks
On Sunday, May 12, the Church marks World Communications Day, encouraging Catholics in countries across the globe to make better use of the media and other forms of communication to share the good ....

Pope Francis proclaims new saints on Feast of the Ascension
At Mass for the Seventh Sunday of Easter, Pope Francis canonized 800 Martyrs from the Italian city of Otranto, along with two Latin American religious Foundresses, Mother Laura Montoya e Upegui – ....

Cardinal withdraws from graduation due to invite to Taoiseach
Statement by Cardinal Sean O'Malley of Boston Because the Gospel of Life is the centerpiece of the Church’s social doctrine and because we consider abortion a crime against humanity, the Catholic ....

Churches explore together Vatican II and its effects
“I’m not breaking any secrets from the conclave when I tell you that with the election of Pope Francis, there was a move from the head to the heart.”  So said Cardinal Séan Brady at the Irish ....

Pope Francis: prayer takes us out of ourselves
True prayer brings us out of ourselves: it opens us to the Father and to the neediest of our brothers and sisters. This was a central part of Pope Francis’ message to the faithful gathered for Mass ....

Trócaire appeals for EU wide ban on import of 'settlement' goods
The leader of Ireland’s Catholic aid agency, Trócaire, yesterday addressed a high powered delegation of former international leaders in Dublin on the topic of the Middle East. Executive Director ....

Canadian pro-lifers hold annual March for Life
Pro-life advocates across Canada are taking part in events to mark the 2013 National March for Life, being held in Ottawa, the nation’s capital, on Thursday March 9. Last year's March (pictured) ....