By Carol Glatz Catholic News Service VATICAN CITY — A commission set up by Pope Francis to study women deacons has voted against the possibility of ordaining women deacons while also supporting more study on the issue. The panel also expressed hope that women’s access to other ministries would be expanded. Pope Francis established the […]
Bishop Silva: Pope Francis led by humble example
By Celia K. Downes Hawaii Catholic Herald Gray skies and a heavy downpour greeted the faithful who arrived at the Co-Cathedral of St. Theresa in Honolulu April 28 — fitting conditions, perhaps, for a memorial Mass for Pope Francis, who died a week earlier, on Easter Monday. Despite the short notice and dreary weather, the […]
Reflection: Sharing the pope’s blessing with all
By Maricel and Mark Sebastian Special to the Herald Maricel and Mark, who were married at Immaculate Conception Church in Ewa in 2016, received an apostolic blessing from Pope Francis the same year. Maricel Sebastian: When a friend mentioned we could get a newlywed blessing from the pope, there were no other honeymoon plans but […]
Papal frontrunner lists have been plentiful — outside Vatican
By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service VATICAN CITY — After the funeral and burial of Pope Francis April 26, the attention of the world turned to who would be the next pope. The news media, blogs, pundits and people on the street all seem to have their favorite candidate or a list of “probable” next […]
Conclave boasts wide range of age, geography
By Carol Glatz Catholic News Service VATICAN CITY — The conclave that began May 7 was expected to be the largest in history, with a wide geographical mix of cardinal-electors. There are 135 cardinals under the age of 80 and eligible to vote in a papal election. By contrast, 115 cardinals took part in the […]
Texts, secrecy guide historic election
By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service VATICAN CITY — The conclave to elect a new pope, which began May 7, is governed by two texts: a rule book and a prayer book. The rule book is the apostolic constitution, “Universi Dominici Gregis” (“Shepherd of the Lord’s Whole Flock”), which was issued by St. John Paul […]
Photos: Scenes from Rome
Faithful mourned and cardinals gathered in the days following Pope Francis’ death From top: U.S. Cardinal Kevin J. Farrell, chamberlain of the Holy Roman Church, used holy water to bless the body of Pope Francis April 21 in the chapel of his residence, the Domus Sanctae Marthae, at the Vatican (CNS); young people attended Mass […]
Funeral of Pope Francis: Late pontiff believed that ‘church is a home for all’
Catholic News Service VATICAN CITY — Pope Francis was “a pope among the people, with an open heart toward everyone,” said Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, dean of the College of Cardinals, as he presided over the funeral of the pope, who died April 21 at the age of 88. And the people — an estimated […]