Laughingly describing himself as America’s most famous Catholic who as an 11-year-old altar boy put in his time “with the uppin’ and the downin’, the crissin’ and the crossin’,” Stephen Colbert headlined the 68th annual dinner of the Alfred E. Smith Memorial Foundation held Oct. 17 at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel.
The Catholic Church has a history of taking on major technological innovations that promote mass communication, such as the printing press in the 15th century and radio and television in the 20th. In fact, one of the very first motion picture films ever made was an 1896 reel of Pope Leo XIII.
Although Pope Francis made very similar remarks after his election in March, it was actually his predecessor, Pope John Paul I, who spoke these phrases in September 1978, thus introducing a new, down-to-earth style into the papacy.
The persecution of Christians around the world has intensified over the last two-and-a-half years, according to a review of religious freedom in 30 countries.
Catholic media are important not only as means of documenting church events, Pope Francis said, but especially as means for bringing the church and the Gospel closer to people.
English translations of Latin liturgical texts have promoted unity in the faith and helped millions of Catholics better understand the sacraments they share, Pope Francis said.
Marianist-run University of Dayton and Catholic Relief Services, the U.S. bishops’ overseas relief and development agency, will work together to address an increase in labor trafficking that human rights advocates expect to see in Brazil during two upcoming international sports events.
Elective abortions will no longer be covered in the health insurance plans of two Catholic universities in California.
Georgian children of parents who could not — or would not — care for them were getting ready for the day on a recent weekend morning in their group house run by the Catholic charity, Caritas.
The president of the German bishops’ conference said he was “strengthened and encouraged” by his discussion with Pope Francis about the case of a German bishop under fire for a massive building project that critics have denounced as extravagant.