World Church News

New Delhi (16 July) -- Federal Home Minister P. Chidambaram is to introduce a Mother Teresa commemorative coin to mark the nun's birth centenary next month, a Church official said.

VATICAN, June 16, 2010 (Zenit.org).- The moral theology of St. Thomas Aquinas is timely even today, says Benedict XVI, who pointed to the saint's emphasis on natural law.

MADRID, Spain, May 27, 2010--The official song for World Youth Day 2011 in Madrid was recently selected. The song, composed by Father Enrique Castro, with lyrics by Auxiliary Bishop Cesar Franco of Madrid, will debut on November 9 on the feast of Our Lady of Almudena at the Cathedral of Madrid.

ROME, May 7, 2010-The Philippine Embassy to the Holy See in coordination with the Pontificio Collegio Filippino and the Sentro Pilipino Chaplaincy has launched the "Quarant'Ore" or forty hours' prayer before the Blessed Sacrament for honest and peaceful elections in the Philippines.

MAKATI City, April 9, 2010- A coffee table book on the well-venerated patroness of the Bicol Region, Our Lady of Peñafrancia, was released yesterday during the launching rites held at the Yuchengco Museum, Makati City.

VATICAN, March 12, 2010-- When a priest sees himself as nothing more than a "social agent," he runs the risk of betraying the priesthood itself, says Benedict XVI.

Naga City (18 February 2010) -- The Commission on Biblical Apostolate (ComBibliA) headed by Fr. Jose Roberto Carpio held a Biblical Conference and Workshop at the Holy Rosary Major Seminary on February 6, 2010, attended by 70 lectors and catechists of the 16 parishes of the Archdiocese of Caceres and one religious congregation.

VATICAN, Jan. 26, 2010-- Pope John Paul II always took penitence seriously, spending entire nights lying with his arms outstretched on the bare floor, fasting before ordaining priests or bishops and flagellating himself, said the promoter of his sainthood cause.

VATICAN, Jan. 14, 2010-- Pope Benedict XVI made an appeal for provisions that would protect human development and families as he met with local elected officials in a private audience on Wednesday. The Holy Father also called for all of society to collaborate in educating youth for a "lofty vision of health and human sexuality."

VATICAN, Jan. 1, 2010-- Benedict XVI is urging those involved in violence of any kind to stop and reflect and thus embark on a path of peace.

VATICAN, Nov. 5, 2009-- The Vatican is set to host a unique seminar on how sports are related to building virtue and the spiritual life. Participants will hear from the former U.S. Olympic rower Susan Saint Sing and Edio Constantini, the president of the John Paul II Sports Foundation, among other speakers.