The Lenten season is a reminder for Catholics that overindulgence ruptures communion with God, with others and with creation, Pope Francis said.

Thursday 21 February marks the beginning of the four-day Vatican summit regarding sex abuse, held at the Aula Nuova del Sinodo, which will focus on the themes of responsibility, accountability, and transparency.

By Cindy Wooden Pope Francis has last weekend confirmed the removal from the priesthood of Theodore McCarrick, the 88-year-old former Cardinal and Archbishop of Washington. The Vatican announced the decision on 16 February, saying he was found guilty of "solicitation in the sacrament of confession and sins against the Sixth Commandment with minors and with adults, with the aggravating facto...

The declaration signed by Pope Francis and Sheik Ahmad el-Tayeb, the grand imam of al-Azhar, during the Holy Father’s trip to the United Arab Emirates “is a clarion call for robust dialogue that leads to peace,” said the Catholic Chairman of the National Catholic-Muslim Dialogue and the chairman of the US bishops’ Committee on Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs.

By Carol Glatz Having considered the holiness of Saint Paul VI and the influence of his ministry for the Church worldwide, Pope Francis has approved putting the saint on the church's universal calendar of feast days as an optional - not obligatory - memorial. The celebration of the late Pope falls on 29 May (on the General Roman Calendar), the universal schedule of holy days and feast days ...

Pope Francis told reporters he is more afraid of the consequences of not engaging in interreligious dialogue than he is of being manipulated by some Muslim leaders. He told reporters flying back to Rome with him on 5 February from Abu Dhabi that people are always saying he's letting himself be used by someone, "including journalists, but it's part of the job." "For me, there is only one gre...

For West Australians Simeon Dzieciol and Annellee Aguilar, their World Youth Day (WYD) pilgrimage which saw them visit Mexico and Costa Rica, before eventually arriving in Panama, was an experience they will cherish for the rest of their lives.

Australian Catholic Religious Against Trafficking in Humans (ACRATH), Catholic Religious Australia (CRA) and the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference (ACBC) are inviting Catholics to mark St Bakhita Day on 8 February and at weekend Masses on 9 and 10 February.

Pope Francis twirls a football presented by a member of CirCuba, the Cuban national circus, during his general audience in Paul VI hall at the Vatican on 2 January. Photo: Paul Haring/CNS. By Cindy Wooden Christians are not better than other people, Pope Francis said, but they do know that God is their Father and they are called “to reflect a ray of his goodness in this world thirsting for ...

Pope Francis greets the audience during the Angelus prayer in St Peter’s Square at the Vatican on 16 December. Photo: Giuseppe Lami/EPA. By Carol Glatz With Christmas in our midst, visitors came to St Peter’s Square with their Baby Jesus figurines for a traditional blessing by the Holy Father. Many children came with small figurines for their family Nativity scene, others held delicate...