BLOG: Vatican Connections
On October 9, 2016, Pope Francis announced the creation of 17 new cardinals to take place next November at the Vatican, on the eve of the end of the Jubilee Year of Mercy. Pope Francis has said before that being selected to become a cardinal is not a sign of honour but one of service. ...read more
Last Sunday during the Angelus, Pope Francis announced thirteen new cardinals from eleven different nations, plus four non-electors. The consistory, where they will be made cardinals, will be held on November 19th, the day before the end of the Jubilee Year of Mercy. “I will choose the Cardinals a little everywhere, because the Church is ...read more
Last Tuesday, on the feast of St. Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of Italy, Pope Francis made a surprise visit to the areas affected by the earthquake last August. The Holy Father arrived in Amatrice, before going to Arquata, Accumoli and Pescara del Tronto, explaining his visit with these words: “I thought long and hard ...read more
In case you missed it, our very own Emilie Callan is now the new host of Vatican Connections, our weekly show covering all things Vatican from around the world. I’m sure you’ve seen Emilie all around our network, most predominantly as a member of our French Department, but also making an appearance on some of our ...read more
A year has passed since Pope Francis trip to Cuba and the United States. In the 4 days spent on the island, the pontiff visited several cities: Havana, Holguin and Santiago, leaving a message of hope everywhere. The contribution the Holy Father made to the re-establishment of relations between Cuba and the United States after 50 ...read more
It was October 27, 1986 when St. John Paul II gathered in the same place with the religious leaders of the world to promote peace in the name of dialogue. No more than 100 people gathered, a number which today has multiplied by five. The meeting was attended by 50 representatives of Christian Churches, including ...read more
This week, the Council of Cardinals ended their 16th plenary meeting and the Commission for the Protection of Minors provide procedures to prevent abuse in the Church. ...read more
  There were significant resignations and several important nominations behind Vatican walls this week. The long expected retirement of Jesuit Father Federico Lombardi finally came to pass.  As well some high anticipated appointments were finally made and they speak volumes about the new Roman Curia. After ten years at the head of the Holy See ...read more
Pope Francis landed in Armenia this Friday for a weekend visit that includes a stop at the Armenian Genocide Memorial, his participation in a Divine Liturgy in the Armenian rite, and a visit to the Khor Virap monastery not far from the Turkish border. The first item on the papal itinerary was a visit to ...read more
A historic gathering of orthodox leaders is scheduled to take place on the Greek island of Crete later this week. The Great and Holy Council, as it called in the Orthodox church, would be the first such meeting in over a thousand years. With days to go before the start of that that meeting various ...read more