Catholic

Ecuador’s highest court on Wednesday approved same-sex marriage in a landmark ruling in the traditionally Catholic and conservative South American country.

The senator representing Abia North in the Senate, Dr Orji Uzor Kalu, has said his interest in the peace process in the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela was borne out of the need to come to the aid of the suffering masses of the country.

The Pittsburgh Diocese of the Catholic Church in the United States has suspended Nigerian priest Cyprian Duru from ministry, after accusation of rape and legal action by 68 year-old retired English teacher Kathy Coll.

Russian President Vladimir Putin will visit Pope Francis for the third time in the first week of July, the Vatican spokesperson, Alessandro Gisotti confirmed on Thursday.

President Muhammadu Buhari has commiserated with the Catholic Pontiff, Pope Francis, President and members of the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria, and the entire Catholic community in the country, on the passage of the Bishop Emeritus of Sokoto, Most Rev Kevin Joseph Aje.

Pope Francis apologised to the Roma people on Sunday for the Roman Catholic Church’s “discrimination” against them as he wrapped up a visit to Romania.

Commercial activities in Awka and environs was partially shut down on Thursday following the coincidence of sit-at-home called by pro-Biafran groups and Ascension Thursday observed as Holy Day by Catholic faithful.

Pope Francis is being urged by experts to take greater care when referring to “hypocritical” Pharisees, a stereotype that fuelled centuries of bad blood between Catholics and Jews.

Sri Lanka’s Catholic Church will televise a private Sunday mass after cancelling regular services over fears of a repeat of Easter suicide bombings that killed 257 people, a spokesman said.

Northern Ireland police said that two men have been arrested over the killing of journalist Lyra McKee in the city of Londonderry, also known as Derry, on Thursday.

All of Sri Lanka’s Catholic churches have been ordered to stay closed and suspend services until security improves after deadly Easter bombings, a senior priest told AFP on Thursday.

Philippine rescuers raced Tuesday to reach some two dozen people still feared buried under a building near Manila that collapsed a day earlier in a deadly earthquake, as a powerful second tremor hit the nation.

Near simultaneous explosions in at least three Sri Lankan churches and three luxury hotels have killed at least 138 people and wounded over 400.

Catholics worldwide trooped out in their numbers to commemorate the story of the Old Rugged Cross on Good Friday.

Investigators think an electrical short circuit may have caused the fire at the Notre Dame Cathedral, according to a judicial police official.

French President Emmanuel Macron on Thursday hailed as “exemplary” hundreds of firefighters who saved Notre-Dame in the devastating blaze, as efforts intensified to ensure there was no further damage to the still fragile cathedral.

Pope Francis is ushering in the most solemn period in the Catholic liturgical calendar by celebrating a Holy Thursday Mass, made more poignant this year following the devastation of Paris’ Notre Dame Cathedral.

Shards of stained glass from priceless medieval windows, and a gaping hole above the choir area where the spire crashed down: daylight reveals the extent of damage at Notre-Dame cathedral on Tuesday morning as firefighters put out the last smouldering remains of the fire.