Holy Mass for the Solemnity of Mary, the Most Holy Mother of God, was celebrated on the morning of New Year’s Day by Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin, standing in for Pope Francis, who is suffering a painful attack of sciatica.

In his homily, which was read by Cardinal Parolin, Pope Francis focused on three words from the day’s readings: to bless, to be born, and to find, which he said “find their fulfillment in the Mother of God.”

To bless

Beginning with the first Reading, where God commands Moses to bless the people, Pope Francis writes, “This is no pious exhortation: it is a specific request.” We need to be blessed, the Pope said; and at Christmas, we receive “not only the words of blessing, but the blessing itself: Jesus is Himself the blessing of the Father.”

Whereas Jesus is the blessing, Mary is blessed through grace, and “in this way, brings us God’s blessing… Read more »

1. At the dawn of a new year, I extend cordial greetings to Heads of State and Government, leaders of International Organizations, spiritual leaders and followers of the different religions, and to men and women of goodwill. To all I offer my best wishes that the coming year will enable humanity to advance on the path of fraternity, justice and peace between individuals, communities, peoples and nations… Read more »

Pope Francis, suffering from an attack of sciatica, was absent from the celebration of Vespers and the recitation of the Te Deum – the Church’s solemn chant of Thanksgiving for the past year – but nonetheless offered a reflection on how we can give thanks for the year that is drawing to a close.

The liturgy was presided over by the Dean of the College of Cardinals, Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, who pronounced the homily prepared by Pope Francis for the occasion… Read more »

Pope Francis will not preside over end of year Vespers and the solemn changing of the Te Deum this evening, 31 December, in St. Peter’s Basilica or over Holy Mass for the Solemnity of Mary the Mother of God on 1 January due to “painful sciatica.”

A statement released by the Holy See Press Office said the traditional end of year celebration on Thursday evening will be presided over by Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, Dean of the College of Cardinals, while the Mass on New Year’s Day will be celebrated by Cardinal Secretary of State, Pietro Parolin… Read more »

On 19 March 2021, the fifth anniversary of the Apostolic Exhortation Amoris laetitia, on the joy and beauty of familial love, Pope Francis will inaugurate the Year “Amoris Laetitia Family,” which will conclude on 26 June 2022 on the occasion of the X World Meeting of Families in Rome. The Holy Father will be present for the Meeting… Read more »

Dear Brothers and Sisters, Merry Christmas!

I would like to bring to everyone the message that the Church proclaims on this feast with the words of the prophet Isaiah: “To us a child is born, to us a son is given” (Is 9:6)

A child is born. A birth is always a source of hope; it is life that blossoms, a promise of the future… Read more »

With Italy under a new lockdown for the holidays, Pope Francis celebrated Christmas Mass “during the Night” in a near empty Saint Peter’s Basilica on Thursday evening. Millions of people were able to follow the ceremony through radio, television and the various means of social communications.

In his homily, Pope Francis said, “The birth of Jesus is the ‘newness’ that enables us to be reborn each year, and to find, in Him, the strength needed to face every trial.”

Jesus is born “for us”

Jesus’ birth, the Pope said, is for us; and he noted how often the word “for” appears “on this holy night.”

“Yet what do these words — ‘for us’ — really mean?” he asked… Read more »

From Thursday 24th December till Sunday 3rd January 2021 (both days included), the Archbishop’s Curia in Floriana and the Ecclesiastical Tribunal in Valletta will be closed. They will be open to the public on Monday 4th January 2021. Read more »

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The Servant of God, Judge Rosario Livatino, who was killed by the mafia in 1990. 

During an audience granted to Cardinal Marcello Semeraro, Prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints, Pope Francis authorized the publication of Decrees regarding:

 – the martyrdom of the Servant of God Rosario Angelo Livatino, layman; born 3 October 1952 at Canicatti, Italy; killed, in hatred of the faith, on the highway between Canicatti and Agrigento on 21 September 1990;

 – the heroic virtue of the Servant of God Vasco de Quiroga, Bishop of Michoacán, Mexico; born around 1470 in Madrigal de las Altas Torres, Spain; died in Pátzcuaro, Mexico on 14 March 1565;

 – the heroic virtue of the Servant of God Bernardino Piccinelli (né Dino), of the Order of the Servants of Mary [Servites], titular Bishop of Gaudiaba and Auxiliary of Ancona; born 24 January 1905 at Madonna dei Fornelli, in the municipality of San Benedetto Val di Sambro, Italy; died at Ancona, Italy on 1 October 1984;

 – the heroic virtue of the Servant of God Antonio Vincenzo González Suárez, diocesan Priest; born 5 April 1817 at Agüimes, Spain; died at Las Palmas, Spain, on 22 June 1851;

 – the heroic virtue of the Servant of God Antonio Seghezzi, diocesan Priest; born 25 August 1906 in Premolo, Italy; died at Dachau, Germany, on 21 May 1945;

 – the heroic virtue of the Servant of God Bernardo Antonini, diocesan Priest; born 20 October 1932 at Cimego, Italy; died at Karganda, Kazakhstan on 27 March 2002;

 – the heroic virtue of the Servant of God Ignazio Stuchlý, Priest of the Society of Saint Francs de Sales [Salesians]; born 14 December 1869 in Bolesław, in what is now Poland; died in Lukov, Czech Republic on 17 January 1953;

 – the heroic virtue of the Servant of God Rosa Staltari, professed Religious of the Congregation of the Daughters of Mary Most Holy, Co-Redemptrix; born 3 May 1951 at Antonimina, Italy; died in Palermo, Italy, on 4 January 1974… Read more »