Margret is a vocational school teacher for deaf students in the Solomon Islands that suffered long-term water shortages and damage from Tropical Cyclone Harold. With Caritas Australia’s support, Margret’s school installed water tanks, repaired cyclone damage, implemented COVID-19 prevention measures, and is now planning to boost food security.

The Gospel account of Jesus’ temptation in the desert, read each year at the beginning of Lent, is a reminder that following the Lord’s footsteps “is a battle against the spirit of evil,” the Holy Father stated in his 21 February Sunday Angelus address.

Pope Francis’ Lenten message for 2021, released by the Vatican on 12 February, focusses on Lent as “a time for renewing faith, hope and love” through the traditional practices of prayer, fasting and almsgiving. And, by going to confession.

The coronavirus pandemic can either be a catalyst for change for the better or it will weaken a world already burdened by global crises, Pope Francis said.

The Vatican has announced that Pope Francis will today participate in a meeting hosted by the United Nations to mark the first International Day of Human Fraternity. According to a statement published on 1 February by the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue, the Holy Father will take part in the 4 February virtual event, which will be hosted in Abu Dhabi by Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed, the crown prince.

A catechist always must teach what the church teaches and that includes the vision and teachings of the Second Vatican Council. It must focus on leading people to a personal relationship with Christ and building a community of believers where the talents of each person are valued and where all go out to share the Gospel and serve the poor, Pope Francis said.

In the age of instant communications and fake news, journalists – like everyone else – need to recover the practice of going out and verifying information before they share it, Pope Francis said. By Cindy Wooden.

Australia’s financial crime watchdog agency said it over-estimated by the equivalent of more than US$1.5 billion the amount of money transferred from the Vatican to Australia between 2014 and 2020.

Pope Francis delivered his Christmas message and blessing “urbi et orbi” (to the city and the world) from the Hall of Blessings at the Vatican on 25 December 2020, highlighting his hope that Christmas would be an opportunity for all to rediscover the family as a cradle of life and faith, a place of acceptance and love, dialogue, forgiveness, fraternal solidarity and shared joy, a source of peace for all humanity.

Pope Francis kisses a figurine of the baby Jesus as he arrives to celebrate Christmas Eve Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican in this Dec. 24, 2019, file photo. The pope will celebrate the traditional Christmas Eve Mass with a small congregation, beginning at 7:30 p.m. in Rome so people can get home without breaking Italy’s 10 p.m. COVID-19 curfew.