WASHINGTON (CNS) — In the years since its 1959 dedication, the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception has had three main architectural focal points: on the exterior, its Great Dome and Knights Tower over the northeast Washington skyline, and in the interior, its dramatic Christ in Majesty Mosaic behind the main altar.
VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Pope Francis encouraged a wide variety Catholic organizations to work together to defend human dignity and promote the full integral development of all people. “I encourage you to work always in a spirit of communion and cooperation with other Catholic NGOs and with the representatives of the Holy See as an
VATICAN CITY (CNS) — The appearance of Our Lady of Guadalupe, which mirrored that of the indigenous people of the time, is a sign of Mary’s closeness to those who are marginalized, Pope Francis said. Like St. Juan Diego, who felt of no importance at being chosen by Mary because of his indigenous heritage, marginalized
VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Before Christmas, the Vatican plans to launch its new multimedia communications website, although the Vatican Radio and Vatican Television Center sites will stay accessible as archives. Msgr. Dario Vigano, prefect of the Secretariat for Communication, announced Dec. 13 that the new site — vaticannews.va — would be launched in beta form
WASHINGTON (CNS) — The percentage of Americans who see Christmas as a religious holiday continues to slide across nearly all demographic lines. In a telephone survey of 1,503 U.S. adults conducted Nov. 28-Dec. 4 for the Pew Research Center, 55 percent said they mark Christmas as a religious holiday. The figure in 2013, when Pew
WASHINGTON (CNS) — December, when all eyes are on the baby Jesus, the Holy Land Family Hospital of Bethlehem wants others to think about modern-day babies in the city in the West Bank where the Gospel says Christ was born. That’s where many babies are born to struggling families, increasingly in a tense environment similar
MANILA, Philippines (CNS) — Martial law in the southern Philippine region of Mindanao, originally aimed at quelling a terrorist attack in Marawi in May, has been extended for another year. Ucanews.com reported that on Dec. 13 a joint session of Congress approved a request by President Rodrigo Duterte to extend martial law across the region
VATICAN CITY (CNS) — The Catholic Church’s care for the sick, especially through Catholic-run hospitals, is an antidote to “the business mentality that is seeking worldwide to turn health care into a profit-making enterprise,” Pope Francis said. In his message for World Day of the Sick, Feb. 11, the pope urged Catholics individually and as
VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Men and women contemplating a vocation to the priesthood, consecrated life or marriage should not be afraid because God wants only for them to experience the joy that comes from serving others, Pope Francis said. “Our slowness and our sloth” should not delay a response and Christians need not be “fearful
VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Following reports that U.S. President Donald Trump planned to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, Pope Francis expressed his concern that such a move would further destabilize the Middle East. Pope Francis said he could not “keep silent about my deep concern” for Jerusalem and urged respect for “the status
