News in Church News

Synod on the Young People: No ordinary Synod, no ordinary time

Pope Francis will convene the XV Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops next Wednesday, focusing on the theme “Young People, the Faith and Vocational Discernment.” But there is nothing at all “ordinary” about this Oct. 3-28 gathering for a whole host of reasons. Not least is the fact that it’s taking place at an extraordinary and particularly historic moment in the life of the Catholic Church.

Synod assembly on young people

 Preparation for Synod assembly on young people was marked by far greater inclusion of non-bishops than previous gatherings. Pope Francis will convene the XV Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops on Oct. 3, focusing on the theme "Young People, the Faith and Vocational Discernment."Vatican City.

Papal visit: Young people look ahead to Ireland visit

Pope Francis will be in Dublin this week for the World Meeting of Families, an international Catholic event that is staged every three years. The last pontiff to visit the Republic of Ireland was Pope John Paul II in 1979 - he drew crowds of over 2.5 million. But what does meeting the Pope mean to younger people in Ireland?

Death of atheist Indian politician saddens church people

News Briefing: From Britain and Ireland

The Vatican’s director of astronomy and Tablet columnist Br Guy Consolmagno SJ has called on Scottish Catholics to take back science from atheists and secularists. In a talk entitled “Adventures of a Vatican Astronomer” at the Lauriston Jesuit Centre in Edinburgh, Consolmagno reminded his audience of Scotland’s long history in science.

Cardinal Jean-Louis Tauran dies aged 75

His ministry is likely to serve as a guiding light for the Church’s ongoing dialogue with Islam, now one of the Holy See’s top priorities.Cardinal Jean-Louis Tauran, an experienced interlocutor between Catholicism and Islam and who in 2013 announced Pope Francis’ election to the world, has died aged 75. 

Cardinal Aquilino Bocos, CMF

Fr Aquilino Bocos Merino, cmf, former Superior General of the Claretian Missionaries Congregation, was one of the new cardinals created by Pope Francis on Thursday, 28 June 2018. We can read the Homily of his Holiness Pope Francis addressed to the new cardinals.

Alumni say 'farewell' as Heythrop prepares to close

“Goodbye Heythrop, Farewell Kensington Square” was the title of a conference held at Heythrop last Saturday ahead of the imminent closure of the Jesuit-run college in London.The event was described in advance as “A day of celebration for alumni and friends”, to be followed by a conference in July 5 to 7 “celebrating achievements and looking forward”

FR. AQUILINO BOCOS MERINO, CMF among the 14 appointed new Cardinals

Vatican City. “I am pleased to announce that on June 29 I will hold a Consistory for the appointment of 14 new cardinals” Pope Francis said today, May 20, 2018, during the Regina Coeli at St. Peter’s Square. Among the 14 is our brother, Fr. Aquilino Bocos Merino, CMF. Our Missionary Congregation had him as our Superior General from 1991-2003.

Churches attacked in India's sensitive Odisha state

Vandals have destroyed two Marian statues and set fire to the sacristy and storeroom of a parish in Rourkela Diocese of India's Odisha state. Sundergarh district administration has deployed armed police in the area because of the religious sensitivity of the two separate incidents on April 1, said police inspector Bijay Kumar Singh.

Pope Francis at Audience: Summary of his visit to Colombia

Pope Francis dedicated his General Audience on Wednesday to a reflection on his Aposotolic Visit to Colombia, which concluded on Sunday. He prayed, “through the prayers of Our Lady of Chiquinquirá, Patroness of Columbia,” that the nation might “continue to progress in the way of peace in love, justice and truth.”

Cardinal Cormac was a man of "humble simplicity".

Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor dies peacefully surrounded by family and friends

"I am at peace and have no fear of what is to come," Cardinal says in final message.  Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor, the former Archbishop of Westminster has died peacefully on Friday afternoon, surrounded by family and friends.

Archbishop Romulo Valles: President of Philippine Bishops Conference

Philippine bishops elect new conference president Duterte ally Archbishop Romulo Valles of Davao to succeed critic of president as head of influential body Philippine bishops elect new conference president.

Pope Francis' Five New Cardinals reveal his vision for the future.

Next week, Pope Francis will create five new cardinals. The appointments he has made to the electoral college that will decide his successor reveal his vision for the future. If there is one area of Church life where Pope Francis is overturning the tables it is in his selection of cardinals, those at the very top of the clerical tree, who will choose his successor. 

Francis appoints American archbishop as Vatican nuncio to Great Britain

On Saturday, Archbishop Edward Adams was named to the role which requires him to be the Holy See’s representative to Government authorities in England, Wales and Scotland, while also playing a crucial role in the selection of bishops. Archbishop Adams, a priest from the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, will be the first native English speaker to hold the post for more than 50 years: the last one, Archbishop Gerald O’Hara, served from 1959-63 was also from Philadelphia. 

Pope’s letter for Dublin World Meeting of Families

Fresh Faces at Francis's Side - The New Cardinals

Today the Pope will hand red hats to 17 new cardinals. Four are aged over 80; the other 13 are eligible to vote for his successor in a conclave. While the new cardinals still wear the famous red biretta they are no longer in any real sense “Princes of the Church”. 

Pope announces 17 new Cardinals in consistory

Pope Francis at the end of his Angelus on Sunday announced the creation of 17 new Cardinals. A consistory will be held on the 19 of November, the eve of the closing of the Jubilee of Mercy. 13 of the new Cardinals will be under 80 years and will be eligible to vote in a conclave. 

Heythrop Principal resigns as doubts cast on Roehampton partnership

Heythrop Principal resigns as doubts cast on Roehampton partnership. The Principal of Heythrop College in London has resigned before the completion of negotiations to secure the 400-year-old institution’s long-term future.