By Carol Glatz Catholic News Service VATICAN CITY — The powerful and violent cannot control, suppress or commodify God’s grace, friendship and will to usher in a new dawn, Pope Leo XIV said. “Around us, a distorted economy tries to profit from everything. We see how the marketplace can turn human yearnings of seeking, traveling […]
Passing of Pope Francis is a first in tradition of opening Holy Doors
By Justin McLellan Catholic News Service VATICAN CITY — With his death April 21, Pope Francis marked yet another first in the history of the Catholic Church: he became the first pope to open the Holy Door of St. Peter’s Basilica without living to close it. The pope opened the Holy Door Dec. 24, 2024, […]
Holy Door of St. Peter’s Basilica sees early flood of pilgrims
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 opens Holy Door toward ‘path of hope’
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 […]