Browsing News Entries

9 things to know and share about Fátima

Monument of the Guardian Angel of Portugal apparition to the three little shepherd children of Fátima. / Credit: Daniel Ibañez/CNA

National Catholic Register, May 13, 2025 / 04:00 am (CNA).

May 13 is the optional memorial of Our Lady of Fátima, arguably the most prominent approved apparition of the 20th century.

Controversial German Synodal Committee to meet this weekend

The cross of the German “Synodal Way.” / Credit: Maximilian von Lachner/Synodaler Weg

Magdeburg, Germany, May 9, 2025 / 10:42 am (CNA).

The German Synodal Committee meets this weekend without four bishops, who will not participate due to the Vatican’s warning that the committee is not legitimate. 

The World War II tragedy still shrouded in silence 80 years later

Cap Arcona — once a luxurious transatlantic liner — became a place of execution in the spring of 1945 when it was bombed by British aircraft on May 3. / Credit: Photo courtesy of Father Piotr Wiśniowski

Dublin, Ireland, May 6, 2025 / 14:37 pm (CNA).

On May 3, 1945, one of the greatest and most silenced maritime tragedies of the 20th century unfolded in the Bay of Lübeck in Germany. 

Pope Francis’ passing leaves international soccer world in mourning

A patch depicting the late Pope Francis is seen on the jersey of San Lorenzo’s Spanish midfielder No. 10 Iker Muniain during the Argentine Professional Football League 2025 Apertura Tournament football match between San Lorenzo and Rosario Central at the Pedro Bidegain stadium in Buenos Aires on April 26, 2025. The late Pope Francis, Jorge Bergoglio, was a fan and member No. 88235 of Argentina’s San Lorenzo football club. / Credit: ALEJANDRO PAGNI/AFP via Getty Images

Dublin, Ireland, Apr 28, 2025 / 10:39 am (CNA).

Among the tens of thousands of mourners paying their respects before the coffin of Pope Francis late last week was Gianluigi Buffon, the Italian World Cup-winning goalkeeper.

7 popes are buried at St. Mary Major; Pope Francis will soon be the eighth

The statue of Our Lady, Queen of Peace in the Basilica of St. Mary Major. / Credit: Jonah McKeown/CNA

CNA Staff, Apr 26, 2025 / 04:00 am (CNA).

Pope Francis will be buried today at Santa Maria Maggiore — who are the other popes buried there?

Record numbers of pilgrims flock to see the Holy Tunic of Christ near Paris 

The Holy Tunic of Christ on display in Argenteuil, France, in 2016. / Credit: Simon de l'Ouest, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Paris, France, Apr 24, 2025 / 11:00 am (CNA).

Open to the public from April 18 to May 11, the exhibit is galvanizing Catholic faithful across Europe.

German bishops: Blessings of same-sex couples should be done with ‘appreciation’

German bishops gather in Rome on Nov. 17, 2022. / Credit: Daniel Ibáñez/CNA

CNA Staff, Apr 23, 2025 / 12:00 pm (CNA).

The German Catholic bishops have published a handout that offers guidance to pastors on blessings for couples in “irregular” situations such as same-sex relationships.

How the tradition of Dutch flowers at the pope’s Easter Mass was saved

Dutch flowers decorate St. Peter’s Square for Easter Sunday Mass 2019. / Credit: Daniel Ibáñez/CNA

Rome Newsroom, Apr 20, 2025 / 06:00 am (CNA).

Dutch flowers adorn St. Peter’s Square on Easter Sunday. Here’s how the 37-year tradition was saved in 2022.

The surprising Catholic origins of England’s hot cross bun

According to Stephen de Silva, St. Albans Cathedral’s longest-serving guide of more than 45 years, religious brothers who lived in the cathedral’s abbey in the 14th century invented the original hot cross bun for both charitable and catechetical reasons. / Credit: Photo courtesy of St. Alban's Cathedral

Rome Newsroom, Apr 18, 2025 / 04:00 am (CNA).

The origins of the hot cross bun traditionally made with currants, spices, flour, and eggs are closely linked to a cathedral dedicated to St. Alban.

Iconic Holy Week processions in Seville vividly portray the Passion

The Mystery of the Brotherhood of San Benito processes through the surroundings of the cathedral of Seville on Holy Tuesday, April 15, 2025. / Credit: Photo courtesy of Joaquín Carmona

Seville, Spain, Apr 17, 2025 / 13:01 pm (CNA).

The Holy Week processions in the Andalusian capital are one of Spain’s most iconic traditions, and this year was no exception.