By Carol Glatz Catholic News Service VATICAN CITY — For the first time in 300 years, the marble steps of the Holy Stairs will be free from the thick wooden panels installed in 1723 to protect the stairs and left uncovered for the public. For at least 40 days, people will be able to touch […]
Christmas spirit in the air as Vatican unveils Nativity scene, tree
By Junno Arocho Esteves Catholic News Service VATICAN CITY — The annual unveiling of the Vatican’s Christmas tree and Nativity scene brought some much-needed warmth to people’s hearts as winter approached. Hundreds of people in St. Peter’s Square Dec. 7 applauded as white curtains unfurled, revealing a 52-foot wide artistic representation of Jesus’ birth made […]
Photo: Sand sculpture at the Vatican
A worker sculpts an angel on a Nativity scene made entirely of sand in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican Nov. 26. The 52-foot wide sculpture is made of sand from Jesolo, an Italian seaside town near Venice. (CNS photo/Paul Haring )
China-born priest left with mixed feelings about Vatican-China agreement
By Anna Weaver Hawaii Catholic Herald The provisional Vatican-China agreement on appointments of Chinese Catholic bishops has left Diocese of Honolulu priest Father Paul Li with mixed emotions. Father Li, who was born and raised in China and started his seminary studies there in the “underground” Catholic Church before coming to Hawaii, said that there […]
Vatican exhibit displays design inspired by Catholic symbolism, art
By Carol Glatz Catholic News Service VATICAN CITY — When Pope Benedict XVI’s custom-made red leather loafers became a signature part of his wardrobe after his election in 2005, Newsweek labeled him “a religious-fashion icon” and Esquire named him “Accessorizer of the Year.” While some critics saw the media’s sudden fixation on papal fashion as […]
Christmas proclaims hope, charity where fear reigns, pope says
By Junno Arocho Esteves Catholic News Service VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Christmas calls believers to see God’s presence where he is often perceived as absent, especially in the “unwelcomed visitor, often unrecognizable, who walks through our cities and our neighborhoods, who travels on our buses and knocks on our doors,” Pope Francis said. “Christmas is […]
The weary world rejoices: Nativity scenes bring joy to hardened hearts
By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service VATICAN CITY — The Nativity scene in St. Peter’s Square is not getting rave reviews: The backdrop does not look like a stable and the characters in need — hungry, naked, dead, imprisoned — don’t exactly evoke a silent night when all was cozy, calm and bright. Franciscan Father […]
Nativity scene, Christmas tree are visible signs of God’s compassion
By Junno Arocho Esteves Catholic News Service VATICAN CITY — A Nativity scene and Christmas tree, like those displayed in St. Peter’s Square, are visible reminders of God’s benevolence and closeness to all men and women, Pope Francis said. The traditional Christmas displays are “the signs of the heavenly Father’s compassion, of his participation and […]
Preserving the art of the Vatican gardens
By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service VATICAN CITY — Roughly half of the Vatican’s 110 acres is devoted to gardens, and a major project is underway to keep them as “green” as possible. It’s not about watering the plants, although that was a big concern this year with a drought in Italy. The Vatican Museums […]
Vatican summit participants vow efforts to stop organ trafficking
By Carol Glatz Catholic News Service VATICAN CITY — A Vatican summit on organ trafficking called for greater efforts to prevent the exploitation of those vulnerable to corrupt health professionals and criminal networks making the sale of human organs possible. “We, the undersigned participants of the Pontifical Academy of Sciences summit on organ trafficking, resolve […]
- « Previous Page
- 1
- …
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
- Next Page »
