Ordination anniversary of Venerable Augustus Tolton celebrated in Rome
The first openly Black Catholic priest in America was ordained at the Lateran Basilica in 1886 and was put on the path to sainthood in 2010.
Pope Francis
Goodbye, Francis, pope of mercy
Tamika Royes remembers the pontiff who inspired her to embrace her Catholic spirituality as faith demanding justice and outreach.
Black cardinals—and not just Africans—among candidates for next pope
An African American and a Haitian are expected to join 15 Black African electors in the papal conclave, which could choose one from their number.
Pope Francis, Latin American pontiff of the poor, dead at 88
The globe-trotting Argentinian prelate was a force in the Catholic Church, to which he dedicated seven decades as a student, shepherd, and servant.
Synod working groups—including on women's ordination, episcopal authority—open for public submissions until April
The 10 study groups were formed in March 2024 to continue (and, in some cases, sideline) discussions swirling at the Synod on Synodality.
Cardinal Robert McElroy succeeds Cardinal Wilton Gregory of Washington
The 70-year-old Bishop of San Diego is, like the lone African-American cardinal, one of Pope Francis' most trusted allies among U.S. prelates.
President Joe Biden commutes (almost) all of federal death row
The historic move comes after years of advocacy on the part of activists, clergy, politicians, and even the pope.
Vatican's top cardinal speaks on Donald Trump's second presidential victory
Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Holy See's Secretary of State, contrasted Trump's campaign promises with reality, human dignity, and Pope Francis.
The Synod on Synodality is over. What does the final document say?
The topic of women's leadership again saw opposition, as did local episcopal authority, but consensus increased compared to last year's synthesis.
'A black mark': Congolese cardinal on sainthood cause for Belgian king linked to colonialism, assassination
On King Baudouin, Cdl Fridolin Ambongo says Congolese bishops remain open, while noting an investigation will dig deeply into the royal's past.
As Synod on Synodality nears close, leaders keep women's ordination at arm's length
Cardinal Víctor Manuel Fernández, the Vatican's doctrine czar, spoke to delegates Monday after his absence from a synod event on the topic last week.
In the push for African-American saints, what more can we possibly do?
Ralph Moore Jr. on the exasperation of Catholics advocating for recognition of Black Catholic holiness—and an All Saints' initiative in response.
Haitian archbishop calls for peace during Pope Francis' day of prayer
Archbishop Launay Saturné of Cap-Haitien is one of two Black Caribbean delegates to the Synod on Synodality, currently convening in Rome for the month of October.
'No room' for ordained Catholic women deacons, says Vatican doctrine chief
Cardinal Victor Manuel “Tucho” Fernández made the comments on behalf of a study group on the topic, among several others, over the next 10 months.
Pope Francis signals sainthood for Belgian king tied to deadly Congolese coup
King Baudouin praised the "genius" of Leopold II's bloody Congo Free State and turned a blind eye to the 1961 assassination of Patrice Lumumba.
Synod on Synodality to reconvene at the Vatican in October—with a few new twists
Dr. Cynthia Bailey Manns and Cardinal Wilton Gregory will again join more than 350 delegates for a month-long exploration of a "listening Church".