By Junno Arocho Esteves OSV News From the moment of his election, Pope Francis made clear from the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica that his first mandate was to serve as bishop of Rome and be close with the people. “We take up this journey: the bishop and the people,” he said March 13, 2013, […]
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 […]
St. Peter’s Basilica to gain ‘digital twin’ for Holy Year
By Carol Glatz Catholic News Service VATICAN CITY — Aimed at reaching out to people unable to go to Rome for the Holy Year and helping the millions who are expected to visit St. Peter’s Basilica, the Vatican has teamed up with Microsoft and other specialized experts to create a “digital twin” of the church […]
15 years a saint: Recalling St. Damien’s canonization
By Jennifer Rector Hawaii Catholic Herald On Oct. 11, 2009, people speaking different languages and from many nations all united at the Vatican to witness Pope Benedict XVI proclaim Hawaii’s first saint — Father Damien de Veuster of Molokai. The canonization of St. Damien put a spotlight on his courageous story of ministry to Hansen’s […]
Iconic basilica structure is readied for restoration
By Carol Glatz Catholic News Service VATICAN CITY — Like a giant Tinkertoy construction, a skeletal tower of scaffolding slowly inched its way up the twisting bronze columns of the baldachin over the main altar of St. Peter’s Basilica. Workers on the ground picked through piles of shiny metal platforms, poles, clamps and couplers to […]
