In March this year, Pope Francis established a Vatican Council for the Economy and appointed eight cardinals and seven lay people to serve on it. The council is not merely an advisory team of the Secretariat of Economy but an important body which has extensive authority to set forth policy and guidelines for the financial…
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(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis is to celebrate the weddings of 20 couples at St. Peter’s Basilica. The celebration during which the Pope will celebrate the Sacrament of Marriage is scheduled to take place on Sunday, September 14. The Mass will take place just three weeks before the extraordinary Bishops’ Synod on the Family in the…
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(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis has expressed his sorrow for the death of slain US journalist Steven Sotloff, urging people everywhere to reject violence, aggression and lack of compassion. His words came in a telegramme of condolences addressed to Sotloff’s family and signed by Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin on behalf of the Pope.…
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Archbishop Eamon Martin has become Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland after Pope Francis on Monday accepted the resignation of his predecessor, Cardinal Sean Brady. For the past 16 months Archbishop Martin has been the Coadjutor Bishop of the Diocese, with the right of succession. Aged 52, the new archbishop is a native…
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(Vatican Radio) Archbishop Konrad Krajewski, the head of the Holy Father’s Alms-giving office (“Elemosineria”), has confirmed that as of 1 January 2015, papal blessings will no longer be available from stores and businesses outside the Vatican. In a note, the apostolic Almoner recalls that the Alms-giving office is tasked with carrying out “works of charity for…
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