Recent Editorial

• 

  Church secretaries should be a cheery voice at the end of the phone

  Aug 11, 2016

  A rather comic story has emerged on various internet sites about the Pope’s words describing Parish secretaries, uttered when speaking to the Polish bishops in a closed session, the transcript of which was later published by the Vatican.

  
• 

  Cardinal Tong rebuffs criticism on China-Vatican negotiations

  Aug 11, 2016

  Cardinal John Tong Hon of Hong Kong has defended China-Vatican negotiations as a win-win situation while rebuffing worries that the Holy See would give up church principles and sacrifice the underground church in exchange for successful negotiations.

  
• 

  The Pope’s programme at a glance

  Aug 05, 2016

  Soon after his arrival on July 27, Francis travelled to the Wavel Royal Castle, which was the seat of Polish kings until the end of the 16th century, 37 of whom were crowned in the Wawel Cathedral.

  
• 

  Francis goes to Poland amid extraordinarily tight security for WYD

  Aug 05, 2016

  Pope Francis set out for Poland on July 27, on his 15th foreign journey under extraordinarily tight security because of the recent terrorist attacks and blind violence in Europe, including an attack on a church and the killing of a priest in France on July 26.

  
• 

  WYD and parishes

  Aug 05, 2016

  One of the biggest challenges of World Youth Day is how to keep the millions of young people engaged once the week-long ecclesial party is over.

  
• 

  Good news for the Laity

  Jul 28, 2016

  A new department of the Roman Curia will come into existence on Sept. 1, called the Dicastery for the Laity, the Family and Life.

  
• 

  A warrior in the curia

  Jul 28, 2016

  The Roman Curia’s highest-ranking African official beganhis first nine years in Rome as the No 2 official at Propaganda Fide (Congregation for the Evangelization of People).

  
• 

  Que sera Sarah?

  Jul 28, 2016

  At the Sacra Liturgia Conference in London attended mainly by enthusiasts of the Tridentine Mass — before it was reformed in the wake of the Second Vatican Council (1962-1965) — Cardinal Robert Sarah said the Pope had asked him to form a commission to study the possibility of carrying out a “reform of the reform.”

  
• 

  Which way does God face?

  Jul 21, 2016

  The Vatican’s most senior liturgist recommends that the priest celebrating Mass should face east. But there are powerful theological and pastoral reasons why he should not.

  
• 

  Pastoral Vision

  Jul 21, 2016

  The basis for describing the Second Vatican Council as pastoral is unassailable. On the day the council opened, Oct 11, 1962, Pope John XXIII characterized it as such.