Catholic News Service

A cardinal or bishop who is a member of the Congregation for Saints' Causes and anyone officially appointed as a consultant to the congregation cannot serve as the postulator or official promoter of a candidate's cause for sainthood.

The Institute for Policy Studies honored an international coalition founded by an Ursuline sister to support and uplift torture survivors and advocate for a global end to the practice of torture.

The Vatican urged the international community to regulate cryptocurrency, especially because of its growing use in the smuggling and exploitation of migrants and vulnerable persons.

A prominent Anglican bishop has joined the Catholic Church and will be ordained as a priest at the end of October.

Church and government leaders in France are at odds over whether priests should be required to report the abuse of minors if they learn about it in the sacrament of confession.

"It is not a matter of beatifying or canonizing a papacy," insisted Cardinal Beniamino Stella, postulator of the late pope's sainthood cause.

The Archdiocese of Denver said Oct. 10 that Catholics "continue to pray for the conversion of those who carry out acts of desecration against our churches, statues and religious symbols."

The president of the Polish bishops' conference said that in meetings with a Vatican official, several church leaders criticized "disproportionate punishments" inflicted on bishops accused of cover-ups in comparison with convicted abusers.

Christian freedom means respecting other cultures and traditions rather than finding ways to impose, Pope Francis said.

Evacuated in August as the Taliban regained control of Afghanistan, the head of the now-interrupted Catholic mission said this is a time of "advent," waiting for God to reveal how the church can be present in the country again.

Pope Francis has signed a decree recognizing a miracle attributed to the intercession of Pope John Paul I, clearing the way for his beatification.

Salvadoran bishops released details on the January beatifications of Rutilio Grande, Manuel Solórzano, Nelson Rutilio Lemus and Cosme Spessotto, but also encouraged participation locally, to curb COVID-19 infections.

Pope Francis named Msgr. Diego Giovanni Ravelli as the new master of papal liturgical ceremonies, the Vatican said.

The archbishop confirmed the Biden-pope meeting indirectly: "It would be an anomaly if he did not meet the pope while in Rome," especially since Biden is the first Catholic president in 58 years.

People should ask themselves whether their faith has become a "commercial relationship" with God or if it is a relationship built on freedom, love and generosity, Pope Francis said.

As Pope Francis launched the consultation process for the 2023 Synod of Bishops at the Vatican Oct. 9-10, the Catholic Church in Australia was closing out an exercise in the process of "synodality," which the pope has described as "walking together."

Members gathered for the first assembly of Australia's Plenary Council have backed calls to ensure the Catholic Church in the country more fully embraces its liturgical diversity, particularly the rich presence of Eastern churches.

The Catholic Church must move to action to protect children and to guarantee justice for victims and survivors, said Archbishop Charles J. Scicluna.

Vatican says secretary of state will head the delegation to the U.N. climate conference in November.

Pope Francis said he intends to declare as a doctor of the church St. Irenaeus of Lyon, the second-century theologian known for his defense of orthodoxy amid the rise of gnostic sects.