Pope Francis has officially recognized the miracle attributed to the intercession of two Fatima children – Blesseds Francisco and Jacinta Marto. He also approved the canonizations of 30 Brazilian and 3 Mexican martyrs.

The Pope will visit Fatima in Portugal on 12-13 May. Click here to see the schedule of his visit.

During an audience on Thursday with Cardinal Angelo Amato, S.D.B., Prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints, the Holy Father authorized the Congregation for the Causes of Saints to promulgate the following decrees:

– the miracle attributed to the intercession of Blessed Angelo da Acri (né Luca Antonio Falcone), professed priest of the Order of Friars Minor Capuchin, born 19 October 1669 and died 30 October 1739);

– the miracle attributed to the intercession of Blessed Francisco Marto, born on 11 June 1908 and died on 4 April 1919, and Blessed Jacinta Marto, born 11 March 1910 and died 20 February 1920, children of Fátima;

– the martyrdom of Servants of God José Fernández Sánchez and 32 companions, priests and coadjutor brothers of the Congregation of the Mission, alongside six laypeople of the Association of the Miraculous Medal of Our Lady, killed in hatred of the faith during the Spanish civil war;

– the martyrdom of Servant of God Regina Mariam Vattalil (née Rani Maria), professed sister of the Franciscan Clarist Congregation, killed in hatred of the faith on 25 February 1995;

– the heroic virtues of Servant of God Daniele da Samarate (né Felice Rossini), professed priest of the Order of Friars Minor Capuchin, born 15 June 1876 and died 19 May 1924;

– the heroic virtues of Servant of God Macrina Raparelli (né Elena), founder of the Congregation of the Basilian Sisters, daughters of Saint Macrina, born 2 April 1893 and died 26 February 1970;

– the heroic virtues of Servant of God Daniela Zanetta, layperson, born 15 December 1962 and died 14 April 1986…

Pope Francis has sent a telegram expressing his condolences to the victims of the terror attack at the House of Parliament in London on Wednesday, in which an attacker killed four people before armed police shot him dead.

Addressed to the Archbishop of Westminster, Cardinal Vincent Nichols, and signed by the Cardinal Secretary of State, Pietro Parolin, the telegram conveys the Holy Father’s promises of prayers and spiritual closeness to the grieving families, as well as his spiritual solidarity with the whole people…

Pope Francis has greeted participants in a Vatican conference on the value and values of water promoted by the Pontifical Council for Culture.

Wednesday, March 22, marks the 25th iteration of World Water Day, instituted by the United Nations in 1992.

The conference is entitled “Watershed: replenishing water values for a thirsty world”.

During his greetings to English speakers at the General Audience, Pope Francis gave a special welcome and encouraged participants in their work…

Ir-Refettorju tal-Kurja tal-Arċisqof , Il-Furjana
21 ta’ Marzu 2017

Mhux f’kollox l-Arċisqof Ġużeppi Mercieca kien jixbah lil Papa Franġisku…

Pope Francis in his message for diocesan World Youth Day, which takes place on Palm Sunday, tells young people the Church and society needs their courage, dreams and ideals”.

This year’s message has a Marian theme “The Mighty One has done great things for me”, taken from the Magnifcat.

Dear Young Friends,

Here we are, on the road again, following our great meeting in Kraków, where we celebrated the Thirty-first World Youth Day and the Jubilee for Young People as part of the Holy Year of Mercy…