Global Catholic News

Mother Teresa to be canonized Sept. 4; pope sets other sainthood dates

By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Pope Francis will declare Blessed Teresa of Kolkata a saint at the Vatican Sept. 4. The date was announced March 15 during an "ordinary public consistory," a meeting of the pope, cardinals and promoters of sainthood causes that formally ends the sainthood process. At the same consistory...

Pope: Missionaries of Charity killed in Yemen are 'martyrs of charity'

VATICAN CITY (CNS) - The four Missionaries of Charity murdered March 4 in Yemen "are the martyrs of today," Pope Francis said. "They gave their blood for the church." After reciting the Angelus with thousands of people gathered in St. Peter's Square March 6, Pope Francis publicly offered his condolences to the Missionaries of Charity and prayed th...

Vatican announces consistory to approve canonization of Mother Teresa

VATICAN CITY (CNS) - Pope Francis will preside over a consistory to approve the canonization of five men and women, including Blessed Teresa of Kolkata, the Vatican announced. The March 15 consistory will also determine the approval of canonization of Argentine "gaucho priest," Blessed Jose Gabriel del Rosario Brochero and Blessed Jose Sanchez del...

Vatican statistics report increase in baptized Catholics worldwide

VATICAN CITY (CNS) - The number of baptized Catholics worldwide has grown at a faster rate than that of the world's population, according to Vatican statistics. Although the number of priests has increased globally, the number has decreased slightly in Europe and Oceania, according to the Vatican's Central Office for Church Statistics. The figure...

Pope calls for jubilee moratorium on death penalty

VATICAN CITY (CNS) - Pope Francis called for a moratorium on executions during the Year of Mercy and said the fifth commandment, "Thou shalt not kill," applies not only to the innocent but to the guilty as well. "Even a criminal has the inviolable right to life, a gift of God," he said Feb. 21 after reciting the Angelus with visitors gathered in S...

Vatican updates papal itinerary for Cuba, Mexico visit

VATICAN CITY (CNS) - Pope Francis is scheduled to have more than two hours alone with Russian Orthodox Patriarch Kirill of Moscow in Cuba in addition to signing a declaration with the patriarch before flying on to Mexico for a February 12-17 visit. The Vatican announced the pope-patriarch meeting February 5 and, on February 8, released an updated ...

Pope asks Mexican people for time alone with Our Lady of Guadalupe

VATICAN CITY (CNS) - In a video message one week before his apostolic visit, Pope Francis asked the people of Mexico for some time alone during his visit to pray before the image of Our Lady of Guadalupe. "I would like to ask -- as a favor from you -- that this time, which will be the third time I will step on Mexican soil, to leave me alone a few...