The Pilgrim's Journey

Author explains why an elephant was buried in the Vatican

Richard SontagLast Updated: September 17th, 2020Church News

(Catholic Herald) In February of 1962, while digging up the Vatican’s Belvedere Courtyard to modernize a heating and cooling system, a group of Italian workers hit bone. There was a large tooth and four pieces of a giant jawbone, and at first they thought they had found a dinosaur. But the bones were not fossilized, … Read More

Pope Francis: Vatican to announce decision on Medjugorje

Richard SontagLast Updated: July 13th, 2020Uncategorized

(OSV) — Pope Francis said the Vatican was ready to make an announcement concerning the alleged Marian apparitions in Medjugorje, Bosnia-Herzegovina. The Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith met recently to discuss the issue and “we’ve reached the point of making a decision and then they will say,” he told journalists on the flight … Read More

Pope’s Easter Sunday Homily

R RLast Updated: March 29th, 2023Pope Francis

Tens of thousands of people gathered in Saint Peter’s Square on Sunday morning, April 5, despite the cold and the rain, to take part in Solemn Mass with Pope Francis in celebration of Easter. Following the Liturgy, the Holy Father gave the traditional Blessing Urbi et Orbi – to the City [of Rome] and to … Read More

Pope Francis creates 20 Cardinals and doesn’t mince words

R RLast Updated: July 14th, 2020Church News, Pope Francis

(VIS) – At 11 a.m. today in the Vatican Basilica, Pope Francis celebrated an Ordinary Public Consistory during which he created twenty new cardinals, to whom he imposed the biretta, consigned the ring and assigned the title or diaconate church. The celebration was also attended by Pope emeritus Benedict XVI, whom Pope Francis embraced upon … Read More

Showers and haircuts for the homeless coming soon at the Vatican

R RLast Updated: July 14th, 2020Church News

(Vatican Insider) All the necessary kit has already been donated by the many barbers who are volunteering: scissors, brushes, razors, a mirror and of course, a barber’s chair. As of 16 February, in addition to the showers and bathrooms which Pope Francis had installed for them under the colonnade of St. Peter’s Square, homeless people … Read More

Pope modifies Pallium Investiture ceremony

R RLast Updated: March 29th, 2023Church News

(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis has made changes to the public ceremony of investiture of the Pallium on Metropolitan Archbishops emphasizing that the investiture is an ecclesial event of the whole diocese, and not merely a juridical or ceremonial event. Speaking to Vatican Radio, Monsignor Guido Marini, Master of Pontifical Liturgical Celebrations, says that from now … Read More

Vatican astronomer first cleric to ever win prestigious Carl Sagan Medal

R RLast Updated: March 29th, 2023Church News, World News

(By Patricia Montemurri, Detroit Free Press) Michigan-bred Vatican astronomer and Jesuit Brother Guy Consolmagno will become the first clergyman awarded one of planetary science’s most prestigious awards, when on Thursday in Arizona he receives the Carl Sagan Medal. And then Consolmagno, for two decades the curator of the Vatican’s meteorite collection, plans to head to … Read More

Students attending Catholic schools increase

R RLast Updated: November 13th, 2014Church News, US News

“Catholic schools provide lasting faith formation, vocations to the religious life and priesthood, high educational attainments, and communities of the New Evangelization and should reach out to Latino communities and other underserved populations as part of the Church’s mission to preach the Gospel”, said two U.S. bishops in a presentation to the Fall General Assembly … Read More

Blessed Paul VI beatification highlights

R RLast Updated: October 22nd, 2014Church News, Pope Francis

(CNS, Cindy Wooden) “Although he was not always understood, Paul VI will remain the pope who loved the modern world, admired its cultural and scientific wealth and worked so that it would open its heart to Christ, the redeemer of mankind,” wrote Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re. The Italian cardinal, a former papal diplomat like Pope Paul, … Read More