Pope Francis

Pope Francis talks about big-bang and black holes: here’s what he says

Address of the Pope to the participants in the meeting promoted by the Vatican Astronomical Observatory (Specola)

Jun 20, 2024 13:44

ZENIT Staff

Local Church

USA: Bishops react to Biden’s plan to regulate immigration for undocumented spouses

Biden Administration’s announcement of a new program for the undocumented spouses of U.S. citizens. The program allows select individuals who have resided in the country for at least ten years to apply for parole in place, which offers access to legal work authorization and protection from removal if granted

Jun 19, 2024 17:39

ZENIT Staff

Justice and Peace•Pro Life

UN Population Fund report proposes a right to surrogacy

Surrogacy is a controversial topic internationally, raising concerns about the exploitation of women, particularly poor women in developing countries who are hired as surrogates by individuals and couples from wealthy countries.

Jun 19, 2024 17:37

ZENIT Staff

General Audience•Pope Francis

Are you sad, oppressed, in fear or distress? These are the salms that the Pope recommends to pray

Pope’s General Audience, June 19, 2024, on the Book of Psalms as a symphony of prayer whose composer is the Holy Spirit. The Book of Psalms explained by the Pope as a symphony of prayer.

Jun 19, 2024 17:34

ZENIT Staff

Cardinals and Bishops•Pope Francis•Woman

Pope, his Council of Cardinals and 3 women discuss canon law, role of women and economics

The next Council meeting is scheduled for December 2024.

Jun 18, 2024 17:31

ZENIT Staff

Cardinals and Bishops•Dicasteries•Liturgy and Divine Worship

Archbishop of Melbourne asks for permission for traditional mass in cathedral: Vatican answers «no» and these are the reasons why

Full text of the letter-response from the Dicastery for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments to the Archbishop of Melbourne regarding a dispensation to celebrate Mass according to the pre-1962 missal in the cathedral of the archdiocese.

Jun 18, 2024 17:27

ZENIT Staff

Analysis Opinion•Justice and Peace

World Health Organization adopts censorship rules to apply in case of new pandemic

These new rules come as amendments to an agreement known as the International Health Regulations.

Jun 18, 2024 17:20

ZENIT Staff

Liturgy and Divine Worship

Questions about liturgy: When to Bless Water

Appendix II of the Roman Missal mentions that the blessing of water may take place during Mass on Sundays. Can one bless water using these prayers at Masses said on days other than Sundays?

Jun 18, 2024 17:12

ZENIT Staff

Local Church•Young People

U.S. Bishops Approve New Guidelines for Pastoral Ministries with Youth and Young Adults

The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Committee on Laity, Marriage, Family Life and Youth, chaired by Bishop Robert E. Barron of Winona-Rochester, developed the framework in response to “Christus vivit,” issued by Pope Francis in 2019 following the Synod on Young People

Jun 18, 2024 17:06

ZENIT Staff

Cardinals and Bishops•Vatican Diplomacy

Why did the Holy See not sign the declaration in favor of Ukraine at the Swiss Summit?

Statement of His Eminence Card. Pietro Parolin, Secretary of State – High-level Summit on peace for Ukraine Switzerland (15- 16 June 2024)

Jun 17, 2024 17:33

ZENIT Staff

Local Church

Report on the state of the permanent diaconate in the U.S. Church released

The Archdiocese of Chicago had the greatest number of permanent deacons (827) followed by Galveston-Houston (346), New York (357), and Joliet in Illinois (307).

Jun 17, 2024 17:31

ZENIT Staff

Analysis Opinion

The Higher You Go Liturgically, the Lower You Should Go in Service of the Poor

The worship of God must lead to care for the poor, and care for the poor must lead to the worship of God—and this for a simple reason. Worship is all about centering ourselves upon God, assuring through gesture, word, song, procession, etc. that God is the central and ultimate concern of our lives

Jun 17, 2024 17:29

ZENIT Staff