Latest Headlines Vatican unveils online resources for canonizations of John XXIII, John Paul II CWN - 4 hours ago At a March 31 press conference, Vatican officials outlined preparations for the canonizations of Blessed John Paul II and Blessed John XXIII. The Vatican has set up a web site providing... Abuse scandal’s total cost: $2.74 billion since 2004 CWN - 16 hours ago The clerical abuse scandal cost American dioceses $108,954,109 in 2013, according to a report released on March 28 by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB). Only 62% of those... Pope contrasts increasing faith of the man born blind, increasing blindness of Pharisees CWN - 17 hours ago In his March 30 Angelus address, Pope Francis reflected on the Gospel account of the healing of the man born blind (Jn. 9:1-41). “While the blind man gradually approaches the light, on the... Pair arrested trying to bring fake bonds to Vatican bank CWN - 9 hours ago The Vatican has cooperated with Italian and German police in the arrest of two men who were carrying $4 trillion in counterfeit bonds. The two men—one Dutch, one American—appeared at the Vatican... Italian bishops: no legal compulsion, but moral duty to report abuse complaints CWN - 9 hours ago In new guidelines for the handling of sex-abuse complaints, the Italian Catholic bishops' conference has said that bishops "do not have the legal obligation" to report those complaints to civil... In address to blind and deaf, Pope reflects on cultures of encounter and exclusion CWN - 17 hours ago Addressing members of the Apostolic Movement for the Blind and the Little Mission for the Deaf, Pope Francis emphasized that “to be witnesses of the Gospel, we must first have encountered”... Pope Francis confirms leadership of 3 Vatican departments CWN - 18 hours ago Pope Francis has confirmed the leadership of one curial congregation and two pontifical councils. Cardinal João Braz de Aviz, who was appointed prefect of the Congregation for Institutes of... Pope praises Salesians' work with young people CWN - 9 hours ago Pope Francis called upon the world’s Salesians to speak to young people with “the language of the heart,” as he met on March 31 with members of the order gathered for their general chapter... Pakistani Christian sentenced to death on blasphemy charges CWN - 15 hours ago Sawan Masih, a Pakistani Christian, has been sentenced to death by hanging on charges of insulting Muhammad, the founder of Islam. Following Masih’s arrest last year, a mob of 3,000 destroyed 150... Italian protester again climbs dome of St. Peter's CWN - 5 hours ago An Italian man climbed out onto the dome of St. Peter’s basilica on Saturday, March 30, and unfurled a banner protesting European economic policies. The man, identified as Marcello Di Finizio,... Irish priest, returned to ministry after acquittal on abuse charges, takes new leave of absence CWN - 5 hours ago An Irish priest who was restored to ministry after being cleared of abuse charges has taken a new leave of absence, apparently shaken by the emotional fallout from dealing with the allegations... Leading Bolivian bishop rips government CWN - 15 hours ago The president of Bolivia’s episcopal conference strongly criticized the socialist government of President Evo Morales, who was first elected president in 2006. “It is a shame that the people no... Papal preacher devotes Lenten sermon to St. Ambrose and the Eucharist CWN - 18 hours ago Father Raniero Cantalamessa, the Capuchin Franciscan friar who has served as preacher to the papal household since 1980, preached about St. Ambrose and the Eucharist in his March 28 sermon to the... Pope's prayer intentions for April 2014 CWN - 4 hours ago The Vatican has announced the prayer intentions of Pope Francis for April 2014. The Pope’s general intention is: “that governments may foster the protection of creation and the just distribution of... USCCB committee, Catholic Charities rue mandatory minimum sentences for drug offenses CWN - 15 hours ago In a joint letter to members of the US Senate, the chairman of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Committee on Domestic Justice and Human Development joined with the president of... Corruption aggravates poverty, Pope says in address to bishops of Madagascar CWN - March 28 Pope Francis applauded the bishops of Madagascar for their “courageous and tenacious work of evangelization,” as he met with them at the Vatican on March 28. Acknowledging the difficulties of... Irish board monitoring abuse claims denies former director's charge that complaint was scuttled CWN - March 28 The former chief of an independent board set up by the Irish bishops to investigate sex-abuse complaints has complained that critical facts were removed from a report that he had drafted. Ian... Greek president meets with Pontiff for talks on religion and society, economic ills CWN - March 28 Pope Francis met on March 29 with President Karolos Papoulias of Greece, for a …