Catholic News
- Vatican announces special year devoted to Laudato Si' (Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development)
Pope Francis devoted his second encyclical, Laudato Si’, to care for our common home. “I invite all people of goodwill to take part [in the year], to care for our common home and our most vulnerable brothers and sisters,” Pope Francis said on May 24. - Pope hails message of Ut Unum Sint, 'irrevocable' bid for ecumenism (Vatican Press Office)
Pope Francis marked the 25th anniversary of the encyclical Ut Unum Sint with a statement confirming the “irrevocable” commitment of the Catholic Church to the work of ecumenism. In a letter to Cardinal Kurt Koch, the president of the Pontifical Council for Christian Unity, the Pope said that the encyclical by Pope John Paul II should be understood in the “same liturgical and spiritual context” in which it was written. - After Minnesota bishops plan to defy Mass restrictions, governor eases rules (CNA)
On May 20, the state’s bishops announced that public Masses would resume in defiance of Gov. Tim Walz’s earlier executive order, which they said “defied reason.” - Papal prayer for China's Catholics (Vatican News)
On May 24, the feast of Our Lady, Help of Christians and patroness of China, Pope Francis told the nation’s Catholics that the Church “accompanies you with prayer for a new outpouring of the Holy Spirit, so that the light and beauty of the Gospel might shine in you as the power of God for the salvation of those who believe.” The Pope also prayed that China’s Catholics might be “strong in faith and steadfast in fraternal union, joyful witnesses, promoters of charity and hope, and good citizens.” - Vatican official reflects on 25th anniversary of 'Ut Unum Sint' (CNS)
On May 25, 1995, Pope St. John Paul II issued Ut Unum Sint (That They May Be One), his encyclical letter on commitment to ecumenism. Bishop Brian Farrell, LC, has been secretary of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity since 2002. - 'Be witnesses in the world of the Risen Lord,' Pope says on Feast of Ascension (Vatican Press Office)
At the conclusion of his May 24 Regina Caeli address, Pope Francis blessed a handful of pilgrims who had gathered in St. Peter’s Square as Italy and the Vatican emerge from lockdown (video). - Livestream of papal Mass on Chinese social media raises censorship questions (National Catholic Register)
“This type of engagement for the pope with Chinese believers directly is exactly what the Vatican was hoping to achieve through its rapprochement with the Chinese government,” said Sarah Cook of Freedom House. “By allowing it, it may be giving Beijing more leverage to obtain what it wants in the future, such as approval of certain bishops or reduced Vatican criticism of ongoing persecution of Catholics in China.” - Mississippi church that defied stay-at-home orders is burned to the ground in suspected arson (CBS News)
“I am heartbroken and furious,” Gov. Tate Reeves said after the burning of the First Pentecostal Church in Holly Springs. “There was graffiti on the lot which read ‘Bet you stay home now you hypocrites.’ What is this pandemic doing to us? We need prayer for this country.” What is this pandemic doing to us? We need prayer for this country. - On World Communications Day, Pope encourages 'constructive storytelling' (Vatican News)
On May 24, the Church commemorated the 54th World Communications Day. - Vatican Museums to reopen on June 1 after lockdown (Vatican News)
“he Museums received some 7 million visitors last year and are the Holy See’s most reliable source of income, previously generating an estimated $100 million yearly,” the Reuters news agency noted. Earlier, the Vatican outlined safety measures the Museums would take upon reopening. - Jerusalem's Holy Sepulchre fails to reopen as planned (Times of Israel)
The Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem, Franciscan Custos of the Holy Land, and Armenian Patriarch of Jerusalem had previously announced that “starting on Sunday 24, 2020, this most holy place will be accessible again to the faithful for visits and prayers.” - Catholic Relief Services warns of 'pandemic of worsening hunger' (Catholic Relief Services)
The US bishops founded Catholic Relief Services in 1943, and the majority of the members of its board of directors are bishops. “Currently, one in nine people worldwide do not have enough food to eat,” the charity warned. “Secondary impacts of the coronavirus could dramatically increase those in need.” - Ecuador's bishops deplore 'pandemic of corruption' (CEC (Spanish))
The South American nation of 16.7 million (map) is 84% Catholic and 11% Protestant, and Pope Francis made an apostolic journey there in 2015. The Fides news agency offers an English-language summary of the bishops’ statement. - US bishops, other Catholic leaders sign statement of solidarity for prisoners, prison employees (Catholic Mobilizing Network)
“The impacts of the coronavirus in jails, prisons, and detention centers are severe,” the signatories said. “As a Church, we are being challenged to creatively consider ways to be present to people behind bars and to those returning home—to see each other’s wounds, meet their pressing needs, and to become agents of God’s restorative work in the world.” - Churches are 'essential,' Trump declares (AP)
“Today I’m identifying houses of worship—churches, synagogues, and mosques—as essential places that provide essential services,” President Donald Trump said on May 22. He said that churches should be open for worship, and threatened to “override” any orders from state governors keeping them closed. - Texas bishop condemns terrorism following attack on naval base (Diocese of Corpus Christi)
A naval base in Corpus Christi was locked down for five hours following the attack, the Associated Press reported. - Prelate urges care for the poor, vulnerable in further consideration of CO19 relief legislation (USCCB)
Archbishop Paul Coakley of Oklahoma City is chairman of the US Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Committee on Domestic Justice and Human Development. - Australian bishops weigh major reforms in governance (Sydney Morning Herald)
Australia’s Catholic bishops are circulating a confidential report that suggests dramatic changes in Church governance, including lay participation in diocesan oversight. Archbishop Mark Coleridge, the president of the Australian bishops’ conference, confirmed that the proposals—which will be discussed at the bishops’ meeting in November—have “far-reaching implications for the Church’s life and missions.” - Minnesota bishops to resume public Masses in defiance of governor's order (Archdiocese of Saint Paul & Minneapolis)
While maintaining the suspension of the obligation to attend Sunday Mass, the state’s bishops “are united in our conviction that we can safely resume public Masses in accordance with both our religious duties and with accepted public health and safety standards,” they said in a letter to Gov. Tim Walz. “It is now permissible for an unspecified number of people to go to shopping malls and enter stores, so long as no more than 50 percent of the occupancy capacity is reached … An order that sweeps so broadly that it prohibits, for example, a gathering of 11 people in a Cathedral with a seating capacity of several thousand defies reason.” - For first time in months, Pope receives small group in audience (Vatican News)
Pope Francis received a small group of young athletes on May 20 and spoke about the values associated with sports. - More...