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Church 'encouraged' as 13 men begin priesthood studies

Thirteen men have begun their academic programme as seminarians for Irish Catholic dioceses.

Updated pledge aims to encourage healthier life choices

An online module is to be made available to pupils in Catholic schools who wish to avail of an updated Confirmation Pledge next year.

Ireland • 12 Jun

Rise in abuse claims made against Catholic Church members

There has been a significant increase in the number of new allegations notified to the National Board for Safeguarding Children in the Catholic Church in Ireland.

Ireland • 10 Jun

As it happened: US cardinal becomes new Pope

Follow live events as crowds in St Peter's Square await the appearance of the new Pope on the balcony.

New Pope • 08 May

Brendan Comiskey resigned as Bishop of Ferns in 2002

Brendan Comiskey, who resigned over Ferns Report, dies

Former Bishop of Ferns Brendan Comiskey, who resigned in April 2002 over failing to address allegations of clerical sexual abuse in the diocese, has died aged 89.

Ireland • 28 Apr

Pope Francis was admitted to a Rome hospital on Friday with a respiratory tract infection

Pope's condition 'stable', continuing treatment

Pope Francis is in a stable condition and his treatment is continuing, the Vatican has said in a statement, after he was admitted to hospital two days ago with a respiratory tract infection.

World • 16 Feb

Pope Francis often uses a wheelchair due to knee and back pain

Pope downplays health issues, has no plans to resign

Pope Francis, who turned 88 last month, has said in a new book that he feels healthy and has no plans to resign as leader of the global Catholic Church.

World • 14 Jan

It is the first pastoral letter on the topic of immigration by Catholic bishops

Irish Catholics urged to welcome newcomers to the country

Irish Catholics are being urged to welcome newcomers to the country by being "conscious of the country's history of migration".

Ireland • 12 Oct 24

A visit by H.H Baselios Marthoma Mathews III to Pope Francis in 2023

Orthodox Church leader to begin visit to Ireland

The head of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church will begin an Apostolic visit to Ireland today. The visit by His Holiness Baselios Marthoma Mathews III is the first by a Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church's Catholicos (Universal Bishop) to Ireland.

Ireland • 01 Jun 24

The 87-year-old's armchair had been set out on the hill facing the Colosseum in Rome but was withdrawn as the announcement came just moments before the Good Friday ceremony

Pope Francis pulls out of Easter event at last minute

Pope Francis has pulled out of the Way of the Cross ceremony at the last minute, with the Vatican saying he wanted to "preserve his health" ahead of other Easter events this weekend.

World • 29 Mar 24

Archbishop Eamon Martin used his Patrick's Day message to think of Irish emigrants and the wider conversation of migration

Archbishop calls for open conversation on migration

The Catholic Primate of All Ireland has stressed the need for "an honest and open conversation" about migration.

Ireland • 17 Mar 24

St John's College closed as a seminary in 1999, at a time when it had just 13 students, and has since been re-developed along with some of its associated land as housing by the Respond voluntary housing association (Stock image)

Former seminary president dismissed from priesthood

A former president of a seminary in the diocese of Waterford and Lismore has been dismissed from the priesthood following an internal inquiry, the bishop of the diocese has confirmed.

Munster • 27 Jan 24

Pope Francis sits in a wheelchair as the coffin of late Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI is carrying after a funeral mass at St. Peter's Square at the Vatican on 5 January

Criticism of Pope intensified since Benedict's death

Since the current Pontiff presided over the funeral of his predecessor 12 months ago, there have been signs of change in the Vatican.

Analysis and Comment • 31 Dec 23

Pope Francis disclosed that he has been working with the Vatican's master of ceremonies to simplify the elaborate funeral rites for a pope

Pope wants to simplify papal funeral rites

Pope Francis, who has shunned much of the Vatican's pomp and privilege, has decided to vastly simplify the elaborate funeral rites for a pontiff and be the first one to be buried outside the Vatican in more than a century.

World • 13 Dec 23

The Pope went to a Rome hospital on Saturday for a scan that the Vatican said had ruled out lung complications after a bout of flu forced him to cancel activities

Pope has 'lung inflammation' as aide reads message

Pope Francis, suffering from a "lung inflammation", appeared seated in the chapel of his residence instead of in St Peter's Square while an aide read the pontiff's Sunday message.

World • 26 Nov 23

Pope Francis celebrated vespers at the Jeronimos Monastery in Lisbon

Pope meets victims of clerical child abuse in Lisbon

Pope Francis has met 13 victims of clerical sexual abuse this evening, the Vatican has said, on the first day of his visit to Portugal for a major Catholic youth festival.

World • 02 Aug 23

A two-page document entitled 'Abortion: Changing the Narrative', will also be distributed in churches (Stock image)

Bishops criticise Govt for abortion 'narrative change'

Irish Catholic Bishops have criticised the Government for "changing the narrative" on abortion.

Ireland • 14 May 23

Pope Francis during a one-day visit to Budapest in 2021

Pope in Hungary calls for recovery of 'European spirit'

Pope Francis during the first speech of his visit to Hungary has called for recovery of the European spirit and rejection of "adolescent belligerence" amid rising nationalism and war in Ukraine.

Europe • 28 Apr 23

Mass during a Christian pilgrimage in Burkina Faso - one of the countries where Christian persecution has reportedly increased

Persecution of Christians ignored by Govts - Charity

The persecution of Christians worldwide has been ignored for far too long by successive Irish governments, according to a report by the Irish charity Church in Chains.

Ireland • 02 Mar 23

Rt Rev Dr Michael Ipgrave said the church had been 'exploring the use of gendered language in relation to God for several years' (stock image)

Church of England considers gender-neutral God terms

The Church of England is considering whether to stop referring to God as "he" after priests asked to be allowed to use gender-neutral terms instead.

UK • 08 Feb 23

The proportion of those aged 21-25 identifying as Christian has fallen from 5.1% to 3.9% (File image)

Most young adults in England and Wales have no religion

The average age of people in England and Wales identifying as Christian is now above 50, while a majority of young adults say they have no religion, 2021 census data shows.

UK • 30 Jan 23

The body of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI lies in state at St. Peter's Basilica

Tens of thousands pay tribute to Emeritus Pope Benedict

Tens of thousands of people have paid their respects to former pope Benedict XVI at the Vatican, at the start of three days of lying-in-state at St Peter's Basilica before his funeral.

World • 02 Jan 23

In a statement, the church leaders said that the important and vital work of peace is unfinished, but one they are all committed to actively pursuing

President Higgins meets with church leaders

President Michael D. Higgins has met with church leaders at Áras an Uachtaráin today in what has been described as a "focused, but relaxed and informal conversation" on a range of issues.

Ireland • 28 Nov 22

Among the themes identified in the consultation document are calls for optional celibacy, married priests and female priests

Report: Irish Catholics want change to church structure

Irish Catholics want equal status for women in the church's structures, as well as married priests and greater inclusion of LGBTQI+ people, according to a report prepared for Rome following an extensive consultation process.

Ireland • 17 Aug 22

Pope Francis has pressed for more transparency in the running of the Catholic Church, which in recent years has seen a series of corruption scandals

Vatican balances budget by selling off assets

The Vatican has published its annual results, reporting a near-balanced budget but admitting that every year it was selling off assets to cover expenses.

World • 05 Aug 22