Hawaii Catholic Herald

Newspaper of the Diocese of Honolulu

Vatican reports mixed results in its worldwide tally of Catholics in 2023

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By Carol Glatz Catholic News Service VATICAN CITY — The number of Catholics and permanent deacons in the world rose in 2023, while the number of seminarians, priests, men and women in religious orders, and baptisms all declined, according to Vatican statistics. However, the Vatican’s Statistical Yearbook of the Church said, 9.1 million people received […]

Shroud of Turin goes on digital display for Holy Year

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By Justin McLellan Catholic News Service VATICAN CITY — The Shroud of Turin, one of Catholicism’s most valued devotional items, will be digitally showcased during the Holy Year 2025, allowing visitors to engage with the revered relic like never before. The shroud, a linen cloth many believe is the burial shroud of Jesus Christ and […]

Pope Francis leaves hospital, with recovery to continue

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By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service ROME — Immediately before leaving Rome’s Gemelli hospital after more than five weeks of treatment for breathing difficulties, double pneumonia and infections, Pope Francis greeted hundreds of people who gathered outside the hospital March 23. With a very weak voice, Pope Francis thanked the crowd, waving his hands and […]

Pope Francis improving, but condition is still ‘reserved’

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By Carol Glatz and Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service VATICAN CITY — Pope Francis’ condition has shown a slight improvement, which, however, is still critical, the Vatican said. “There were no episodes of asthmatic respiratory crisis” Feb. 24, the Vatican said in its evening medical bulletin, and “some laboratory tests improved.” He is still on […]

Pope acknowledges age, defends controversial decisions

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By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service VATICAN CITY — While calling himself an “old man” and saying he never expected to be pope this long, Pope Francis said he still has dreams for the future. “We must not stumble upon tomorrow, we must build it, and we all have the responsibility to do so in […]

Holy Door of St. Peter’s Basilica sees early flood of pilgrims

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By Justin McLellan Catholic News Service VATICAN CITY — More than half a million pilgrims crossed the threshold of the Holy Door of St. Peter’s Basilica in the first two weeks after Pope Francis opened it. From Dec. 24, when the pope inaugurated the Holy Year, to Jan. 7, the Vatican said, 545,532 people from […]

Pope names first female prefect of a Vatican dicastery

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By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service VATICAN CITY — Pope Francis has appointed Consolata Missionary Sister Simona Brambilla to be the first woman to lead a Vatican dicastery, naming her prefect of the Dicastery for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life. The 59-year-old Italian sister had served as secretary of the dicastery […]

Pope opens Holy Door toward ‘path of hope’

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By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service VATICAN CITY — In the quiet of Christmas Eve, Pope Francis opened the Holy Door of St. Peter’s Basilica, launching what he called a “Jubilee of Hope.” As the doors opened, the bells of the basilica began to peal. After the reading of a brief passage from the Gospel […]

Pontiff urges Christians to remember past, current persecution

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By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service VATICAN CITY — Christians in Japan should keep alive the memory of the persecution their ancestors endured for their faith and should also pray for Christians suffering persecution around the world today, Pope Francis said. Meeting Nov. 30 with members of the Hidden Christians Research Association, the pope led […]