News

18/01/2019

Describing the attack on Nairobi’s DusitD2 Hotel complex in which at least 21 people were killed as a “senseless act of violence” Pope Francis has sent a telegramme assuring all those who are affected by the tragedy of his spiritual closeness.

The telegramme, signed by Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, on the Pope’s behalf, comes as Kenyan officials confirm that all are accounted for after the brutal 20-hour siege in which 21 civilians and five terrorists died…

Vatican releases details on protection of minors meeting

17/01/2019

The Director ad interim of the Holy See Press Office, Alessandro Gisotti, on Wednesday provided journalists with further information regarding “The protection of minors in the Church” Meeting, to be held in the Vatican from 21 to 24 February 2019.

The Organizing Committee of the Meeting gathered in Rome on Thursday 10 January, he said. Afterwards, the Holy Father received in audience the members of the Committee, who updated him on preparations for the Meeting…

11/01/2019

With reference to the latest comments by UPE, the Secretariat for Catholic Education would like to inform the Union that Church schools, like State schools, cover any damages caused by students to the educators’ laptops.

…

11/01/2019

In its submission in the consultation exercise related to Malta’s Sustainable Development Vision for 2050 which was carried out last November, the Interdiocesan Environment Commission (KA) makes the following points:
1. As to responsibility at ministerial level, various ministries tend to be too focused on their own remit to respond to sustainability issues. Moreover, housing sustainable development within the Ministry for the Environment, Sustainable Development and Climate Change tends to reinforce the misconception that sustainable development deals with ‘environmental stuff’…

11/01/2019

The head of the French archdiocese where an elderly priest was murdered two and a half years ago by Islamic extremists has been granted a special status in the criminal investigation of the assassination, giving him access to information that could help in the Church’s own examination of the possible sainthood of the priest.

Two men stabbed Fr…

11/01/2019

11/01/2019

…

10/01/2019

The US-Mexico border in Arizona. Credit: Chess Ocampo/Shutterstock.
On Tuesday evening, US President Donald Trump highlighted humanitarian problems present along the US-Mexico border and issued a call for increased security, including the construction of additional barriers on the border. His remarks were met with mixed reactions and frustration from Catholics across the United States…

10/01/2019

COMECE welcomes the solution reached today among some EU member states, with the intervention of the EU, that have accepted to receive some migrants who were for days stranded at sea, rescued and brought to a Maltese harbour.

The deep concern expressed by the Bishops’ Conference from Malta with regards to the situation of these migrants is shared by COMECE: we can’t remain “deaf to the cry of those suffer” as “we are called to make compassion, love, mercy and solidarity a true way of life, a rule of conduct in our relationships with one another.”

However, the efforts made by the Catholic Church and civil society in welcoming, protecting, promoting and integrating migrants can’t substitute governments’ responsibility to ensure that newcomers are rescued when stranded at sea, brought to a safe place, treated in a humane way and provided with the necessary assistance…

09/01/2019

We are appalled beyond words that, after 18 days of negotiations, 49 men, women and children remain stuck on a boat within sight of the Maltese shore. In spite of countless calls for solidarity, European Member States have not managed to find a diplomatic solution to the current impasse.

This is nothing short of tragic and shameful…