Catholic News
- Pope Francis departs for Iraq (Vatican News)
The Pope’s apostolic journey to Iraq concludes on March 8. Before his journey, Pope Francis prayed before the icon of Mary, Salus Populi Romani in the Basilica of St. Mary Major. The US bishops’ conference called for prayer and solidarity, and encouraged the faithful to consider supporting CNEWA and Catholic Relief Services. - Canadian bishops call out governments over unfair treatment in Covid regulations (Catholic Register)
“As Quebec movie theatres welcome up to 250 patrons as pandemic protocols begin to loosen, churches remain limited to only 10 people — including the presiding priest — at worship services,” the report begins. - Washington archdiocese allocates $2M for Cardinal Wuerl's 'continuing ministry' (Pillar)
Cardinal Donald Wuerl was Archbishop of Washington from 2006 to 2018, and apostolic administrator until Cardinal Wilton Gregory’s 2019 appointment. “The archdiocese, which has pledged in recent years a commitment to financial transparency, has not responded to questions about the details of Wuerl’s continued ministry, the costs associated with it, or the source of the funds allocated for Wuerl,” according to the report. - 'Something is changing' in Iraq, Chaldean Patriarch says (Vatican News)
Born in 1948, Cardinal Louis Raphaël I Sako became Patriarch of the Chaldean Catholic Church in 2013. The church (CNEWA profile) is among the Eastern Catholic churches in full communion with the Holy See. - Pope names Cardinal Tobin to Congregation for Bishops (CWN)
Pope Francis has appointed Cardinal Joseph Tobin of Newark to the Congregation for Bishops, the Vatican body that advises the Pontiff on the appointment of new bishops. - Kenyan Christians cry for justice after arson targets churches (Aid to the Church in Need)
Five churches were burned down in a week in one Kenyan village. - Kenyan archbishop criticizes Catholic doctors for opposing Covid vaccine (Citizen Digital)
The head of the Kenya Catholic Doctors Association said that the AstraZeneca vaccine is “unnecessary, absolutely useless and can be extremely dangerous.” - Cardinal Gracias encourages 'everyone to take the vaccine' (AsiaNews)
Cardinal Oswald Gracias of Mumbai (Bombay) is president of the Conference of Catholic Bishops of India, a member of the Pope’s advisory Council of Cardinals, and former president of the Federation of Asian Bishops’ Conferences. - Pressure eases on Cardinal Woelki (The Tablet)
According to the report, “German bishops have backtracked” from their criticism of Cologne Cardinal Rainer Maria Woelki’s decision not to publish the results of an abuse investigation. - Dallas diocese announces 1st synod since 1934 (Diocese of Dallas)
“The pastoral plan will conclude on December 12, 2031 with a large Mass to celebrate the 500th anniversary of our Lady of Guadalupe’s appearance to San Juan Diego and the conclusion of this decade long journey of faith and revitalization,” the Diocese of Dallas announced. - Bishops' commission, other groups call on EU to protect work-free Sunday (COMECE)
The European Sunday Alliance said that t”he Covid-19 pandemic has accelerated existing challenges of digitalization by intensifying work and extending working hours, thus putting a healthy work-life balance at risk for more people.” - Narrowing enrollment pipeline pressures Catholic colleges (Inside Higher Ed)
Between 2010 and 2018, enrollment in Catholic colleges in the US fell by 6%. - Becerra investigating hospital after 'accusations that it applies Catholic limits on care' (Los Angeles Times)
The California attorney general is President Biden’s nominee to lead the US Department of Health and Human Services. In 2017, Becerra filed suit against the Little Sisters of the Poor. - Pope's message to Iraq: 'I come among you as a pilgrim of peace' (Vatican News)
Pope Francis has sent a video message to the people of Iraq, on the eve of his visit there. “I come as a pilgrim,” the Pope says, “as a penitent pilgrim to implore forgiveness and reconciliation from the Lord after years of war and terrorism, to ask God for the consolation of hearts and the healing of wounds.” - President Biden mentions Our Lady of Guadalupe, shows Rosary in meeting with Mexico's president (CNA)
President Biden and President López Obrador of Mexico met virtually on March 1 (transcript). - 'Fratelli Tutti' translated into Russian (Vatican Press Office)
The Pope’s third encyclical letter, Fratelli tutti, is devoted to fraternity and social friendship. “I think that reflection and dialogue on this Encyclical can be of help not only for the Russian Federation, where dialogue between Christians and Muslims is required to grow, but for the human family as a whole,” the Pope wrote in a March 3 message. - Texas governor lifts Covid restrictions; El Paso bishop maintains 25% capacity limit (KTSM)
“This community is not anywhere near a level that experts refer to as ‘herd immunity’ and we will not reach that level for some time,” Bishop Mark Seitz said after Gov. Greg Abbott ended all Covid restrictions. “For the time being, churches will be limited to a maximum of 25 percent of their capacity.” - Virginia court rejects challenge to remaining Covid restrictions on churches (Religion Clause)
“There are no capacity limits in Executive Order # 72 and non-religious gatherings have stricter requirements regardless of occurring indoors or outdoors,” the court noted. - Lebanon: Chaldeans back Maronite call for international conference (AsiaNews)
The Chaldean Church in Lebanon has endorsed the call by Maronite Catholic Patriarch Bechara Rai for an international conference to resolve the country’s political stalemate. The Chaldean Council issued a public statement that it “does not expect current problems to be solved without international initiatives.” - Don't sell shuttered churches to developers, parishioners urge Chicago archdiocese (Chicago Sun-Times)
“The self-proclaimed ‘God Squad’ represents 25 parishes and churches that have shuttered or are on the cusp of closure and have filed canonical appeals to save the buildings,” according to the report. - More...