Vatican Pope continues to govern the church, says Vatican secretary of state Even on his worst days in Rome's Gemelli hospital, Pope Francis was governing the Catholic Church, although on some days, he did not seem to have the energy to sign his full name, said Cardinal Pietro Parolin.
Chicagoland Local Muslims and Catholics find hope and solidarity at annual iftar Many similarities exist between the Muslim holy month of Ramadan and the Christian liturgical season of Lent. During Ramadan, Muslims are called to fast, participate more actively in prayer and increase charitable giving, as Catholics and other Christians are asked to do during Lent. In an uncommon alignment of calendars, Ramadan and Lent overlap this year, each falling mostly in the month of March. As the Vatican’s Dicastery for Interreligious Dialogue stated in its annual “Message for the Month of Ramadan,” “This proximity … offers us a unique opportunity to walk side-by-side, Christians and Muslims, in a common process of purification, prayer, and charity.”
Vatican Pope clears way for three new saints, including first woman from Venezuela Pope Francis has cleared the way for the canonizations of three blesseds: an Armenian Catholic archbishop martyred during the Armenian genocide, a lay catechist from Papua New Guinea killed during World War II and a Venezuelan religious sister who dedicated her life to education and the poor.
Photo Gallery Parishes, school mark Shrove Tuesday, Ash Wednesday Students from St. Walter-St. Benedict School in Blue Island watch as Monsignor Dennis Lyle, pastor, blesses dried palms before a palm burning on the parish and school grounds on March 4, 2025. The ashes would be distributed on Ash Wednesday, March 5, which marks the start of Lent in the Latin-rite church. Parishioners receive ashes at St. Mary of the Lake and Our Lady of Lourdes Parish, 4220 N. Sheridan Road, prior to Mass on Ash Wednesday, March 5, 2025. Ash Wednesday marked the start of the penitential season of Lent -- a time of reflection, prayer, fasting and charity before the Easter feast. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)
Photo Gallery Fish fry raises money for local deacon ministry Volunteers helped at a fish fry at the Slovenian Catholic Center in Lemont, on March 14, 2025, to help raise funds for Hope’s on the Way, a ministry sponsored by the Catholic Deacons of Chicago. The ministry supplies victims of natural disaster with Buckets of Hope, utility buckets filled with cleaning items. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)
Chicagoland Archdiocese files suit to stop false abuse claims The Archdiocese of Chicago filed a countersuit March 24 against two people who claimed they were sexually abused by former priest Daniel McCormack as well as five other people, alleging that the individuals were part of a yearslong conspiracy to fraudulently obtain financial settlements from the archdiocese.
U.S. Catholic Theological Union hosts novena for migrants, immigrants Nine bishops and archbishops from across the United States will lead prayers and reflections during a March 14-22 national novena for migrants and immigrants hosted by the Bernardin Center at Catholic Theological Union in Chicago, including Cardinal Cupich on the final day.
Chicagoland Bishop Timothy O’Malley's coat of arms Bishop O’Malley’s coat of arms is representative of the themes of the Incarnation of Our Lord Jesus Christ, the revelation of Christ in the road to Emmaus and the Blessed Virgin Mary.
Chicagoland Bishop Lawrence Sullivan's coat of arms Bishop Sullivan’s coat of arms is representative of his birthplace, his personal devotions and the place in which he has spent his life and ministry as a priest.
Chicagoland Bishop José María Garcia-Maldonado's coat of arms Bishop Garcia-Maldonado’s coat of arms is representative of the themes of his family and his historic and faith roots in Mexico.
Chicagoland Bishop Robert Fedek's coat of arms Bishop Fedek’s coat of arms represents both his background and his aspirations and hopes as he begins his episcopal ministry as an auxiliary bishop in the Archdiocese of Chicago.