Church

Former Pope Benedict XVI, whose resignation shook the Catholics, dies at 95

Benedict XVI passed away on Saturday at 9:34 AM in his residence, the official Vatican News agency said on Twitter

Pope Francis wrote resignation note in case of health impediment

Pope Francis has revealed in an interview published on Sunday that shortly after being elected pontiff in 2013 he wrote a resignation letter in case medical problems impede him from carrying out his duties. Speaking to the Spanish newspaper ABC, Francis said he gave the note to Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, who then was the Vatican secretary of state. The pontiff added that he presumes that the prelate currently in that Vatican No. 2 role, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, now has the written instruction. Francis, who turned 86 on Saturday, had surgery in 2021 to repair a bowel narrowing and has been hobbled by knee pain that for months saw him use a wheelchair. Lately, he has increasingly used a cane instead of the wheelchair to get around in public. Asked what happens if health issues or an accident suddenly leaves a pope unable to do his job, and whether there should be a rule for such instances, Francis replied, In practice there is already a rule. I have already signed my renunciation," .

Japan minister resigns after row over ties with Unification Church

Public criticism of the minister had grown as new information surfaced about his ties with the group

Japan PM Kishida apologizes for party's church links, will cut ties

Japan's Prime Minister Fumio Kishida says his ruling party will cut ties with the Unification Church following a widening scandal trigged by former leader Shinzo Abe's assassination last month. Widespread cozy ties between members of Kishida governing Liberal Democratic Party and the church have surfaced since Abe was shot to death while giving a campaign speech in July. The suspect arrested at the scene allegedly told police he killed Abe because of his apparent link to the church. Dozens of LDP members have since acknowledged their ties to the church and related organisations. Kishida shuffled his Cabinet earlier in August to purge seven ministers linked to the groups, but more ministers and their aides have since admitted their ties. Kishida also apologised over the loss of public trust in politics because of the scandal and his lack of explanation for hosting a state funeral for Abe.

Egypt: Fire at Coptic church in Cairo kills at least 41 people, hurts 14

The Church, citing health officials for the casualty toll, said the blaze ripped through the Abu Sefein church in densely populated neighbourhood of Imbaba

Ukrain Orthodox leaders declare independence, reject Russian control

The leaders of the Orthodox churches in Ukraine that were affiliated with the Russian Orthodox Church have adopted measures declaring the church's full independence

French clergy sexually abused over 200K children since 1950: Report

Most of the victims were boys, he said, many of them aged between 10 and 13

Was told that DDA razed church; Delhi govt as no control over it: Kejriwal

Arvind Kejriwal assured justice in a matter related to the demolition of a church in Chattarpur area of Delhi saying the action was taken by the DDA which comes under the Central government

Supreme head of Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church of India passes away

The supreme head of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church of India, Baselios Marthoma Paulose II, passed away in the early hours of Monday, a church spokesman said here. He was 74. His end came at 2.35 am at a private hospital in Parumala in Pathanamthitta district while undergoing treatment for post-COVID-19 complications, he said. The senior priest, who had been suffering from lung cancer since December 2019, had recovered from the COVID-19 infection in February this year. Baselios Marthoma Paulose II was the eighth Catholicos of the East in Malankara and 91st primate on the Apostolic Throne of St Thomas, the church said. He was enthroned as the Catholicos of the East & Malankara Metropolitan in November 2010.

Former head of Mar Thoma Church Dr Philipose Mar Chrysostom passes away

Former head of the Malankara Mar Thoma Syrian Church and the longest-serving bishop in India Dr Philipose Mar Chrysostom died due to age-related ailments on Wednesday, a church spokesman said

Explosion outside Catholic church in Indonesia's Makassar, cordon set

An explosion occurred outside a Catholic church in the Indonesian city of Makassar on Sunday, The Jakarta Post reported citing police

Pope Francis says women can read at Mass, but still can't be priests

Pope Francis has changed church law to explicitly allow women to do more things during Mass, while reaffirming they cannot be priests

Predawn fire guts old church housing New York's Liberty Bell

A historic church in lower Manhattan that houses New York's Liberty Bell and whose congregation dates to the earliest days of the city's settlement was gutted by a massive fire early Saturday that sent flames shooting through the roof. The Middle Collegiate Church in the East Village burned before dawn after a fire spread from a five-story vacant building adjacent to the church around 5 a.m. Video posted on Twitter shows flames shooting from the roof and the church's stately front window glowing from the conflagration inside. We are devastated. We are gutted like our building is gutted; our hearts are crushed like our doors are crushed, said the Rev. Jacqueline J. Lewis. "But we know how to be the church, and we know that God is God, yesterday, today and tomorrow. City Council member Carlina Rivera tweeted that no injuries were reported. Built in 1892, the church is home to the oldest congregation of the Collegiate Churches of New York, which date to the Dutch settlement of the isl

Biden as 2nd Catholic president to offer refresh in church's political role

The Roman Catholic Church is more diverse and more divided than it was 60 years ago

Over 50% respondents say won't visit religious places once open: Survey

The survey, conducted by LocalCircles, a community social media platform, looked at people's willingness to visit various public spaces when they are opened post relaxations.

Cries of abuse in Catholic churches being heard as Pope lands in Japan

The two are among a handful of people who have gone public as survivors of Catholic clergy sexual abuse in Japan, where values of conformity and harmony have resulted in a strong code of silence

Youth vandalise church in Raipur, thrash worshippers; five arrested

The accused were allegedly sporting saffron bands on their forehead and belonged to right wing Hindu outfit Bajrang Dal

Youths vandalise church, thrash worshippers

The attackers, allegedly belonging to Bajrang Dal, vandalised the church premises and thrashed those present