By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service VATICAN CITY — The Nativity scene that will sit under a 98-foot-tall silver fir tree in the middle of St. Peter’s Square this year will feature 19 life-sized figures carved in cedar by artisans in the northeastern Italian town of Sutrio. The tree comes from Rosello, a village of […]
Barracks renovations may open possibility for female Swiss Guards
By Junno Arocho Esteves Catholic News Service VATICAN CITY — An agreement between the Vatican and a Swiss foundation overseeing renovations to the Swiss Guard barracks may open the possibility to women joining the military corps in the future. The agreement, known as a memorandum of understanding, was signed May 4 by Cardinal Pietro Parolin, […]
Vatican says tourism should foster culture of encounter, safeguard planet
By Carol Glatz Catholic News Service VATICAN CITY — Tourism needs to protect both people and the planet as well as promote a more inclusive economy, the Vatican said. People need to support “an inclusive approach to tourism and resist the temptations of individualism and nationalism that are too common in our contemporary society,” said […]
Photo: Vatican in 67,000 pieces
Rocco Buttliere, a LEGO architect from Chicago, stands next to the Vatican City State replica he created that was on display Aug. 14-15, 2021, at the LEGO BrickUniverse convention at the Pontchartrain Center in Kenner, La. He spent three months in 2020 creating the scale model from 67,000 LEGOS pieces. He also completed a 114,000-piece […]
Vatican cautions U.S. bishops on politicians and Communion
By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service VATICAN CITY — The Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith has urged the U.S. bishops to proceed with caution in their discussions about formulating a national policy “to address the situation of Catholics in public office who support legislation allowing abortion, euthanasia or other moral evils.” Cardinal Luis […]
Vatican will offer Pfizer vaccine to employees
By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service VATICAN CITY — The Vatican health service will begin vaccinating employees and Vatican citizens against COVID-19 using the Pfizer vaccine, the director of the Vatican health service told Vatican News. “Only through a widespread and capillary immunization of the population will it be possible to obtain real advantages in […]
Away with the manger? Vatican creche generates controversy
By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service VATICAN CITY — Especially in a year when the COVID-19 pandemic will rule out many people’s favorite Christmas traditions, they have a right to express their dislike of the decidedly untraditional Nativity scene on display in the center of St. Peter’s Square, said a priest who specializes in catechesis […]
Pope to celebrate early Eve due to COVID curfew
By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service VATICAN CITY — Pope Francis will celebrate the Vatican’s traditional Christmas “Mass during the Night” Dec. 24, but will begin the liturgy at 7:30 p.m. local time so that the few people invited to attend can get home in time to observe Italy’s 10 p.m. curfew. The curfew is […]
New Vatican Library website aims to serve scholars, entice curious
By Carol Glatz Catholic News Service VATICAN CITY — The Vatican Library has revamped its website to serve scholars better and facilitate navigation for the curious. “Because of the pandemic, physical presence has become more difficult and, therefore, the website aims to be a place for welcoming, collaboration and openness,” Msgr. Cesare Pasini, the library’s […]
Vatican approves special ‘Mass in the Time of Pandemic’
By Cindy Wooden, Catholic News Service VATICAN CITY — The Congregation for Divine Worship and the Sacraments has approved a special “Mass in the Time of Pandemic” to plead for God’s mercy and gift of strength in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic. The Mass opens with a prayer that God would “look with compassion […]