Corpus Christi: 30,000 people expected to turn out for festival in Bolivia stadium 

After a four-year hiatus, the Corpus Christi festival is returning on Thursday, May 30, 2024, to Gilberto Parada Stadium in the town of Montero, Bolivia, where it is expected to draw the attendance of approximately 30,000 people, as in previous years. / Credit: Our Lady of Mercy parish in Montero, BoliviaACI Prensa Staff, May 28, 2024 / 15:20 pm (CNA).After a four-year hiatus, the Corpus Christi festival is returning this year to Gilberto Parada Stadium in the town of Montero, Bolivia, where it is expected to draw the attendance of approximately 30,000 people, as in previous years.The festival is scheduled to take place on Thursday, May 30. Entertainment will be provided by more than 500 students from local schools who are preparing outfits and choreography as part of the occasion.Members of the Congregation of Conventual Franciscans of the Our Lady of Mercy Parish in Montero are in charge of the festival and have high hopes that this year the stadium will be filled to capacity...

Vatican apologizes after pope's derogatory remark on gay men in Catholic seminaries

Pope Francis waves to pilgrims gathered in St. Peter's Square for his Wednesday general audience on May 22, 2024, at the Vatican. / Credit: Vatican MediaRome Newsroom, May 28, 2024 / 12:35 pm (CNA).The Vatican on Tuesday issued an apology after Pope Francis' use of an offensive word in Italian regarding seminarians who identify as gay.Matteo Bruni, the Holy See spokesman, said in Tuesday's press statement that the Holy Father was "aware of the articles recently published about a conversation, behind closed doors, with the bishops" of the Italian Episcopal Conference (CEI).Italian media reported that Pope Francis had met with the CEI on May 20 in the Vatican's Synodal Hall. At that meeting the pope was asked about the admission of declared gay men to the seminary. Telling the bishops that gay men should not be admitted to priestly formation, the pope argued "there is too much 'frociaggine' in seminaries," a slur translated as "faggotry" or "faggotness." Bruni told jour...

From Hinduism to Catholicism: How Blessed Carlo Acutis inspired a man to convert

Rajesh Mohur pictured with Carlo Acutis on the day of his confirmation. / Credit: Photo courtesy of Ignatius PressRome Newsroom, May 27, 2024 / 07:00 am (CNA).On May 23, Pope Francis recognized a miracle attributed to the intercession of Blessed Carlo Acutis, paving the way for him to become the first millennial saint.The Italian computer-coding teenager who died of cancer in 2006 is known for his great devotion to the real presence of Jesus in the Eucharist. His witness inspired his own parents to return to practicing the Catholic faith and his Hindu au pair to convert and be baptized.The following is an adapted excerpt from the book "Blessed Carlo Acutis: A Saint in Sneakers" by CNA Rome Correspondent Courtney Mares.Blessed Carlo Acutis inspired the son of a Brahman Hindu priest to be baptized as a Catholic through the young boy's joyful witness to Jesus' presence in the Eucharist and his love for the poor.In an interview, Rajesh Mohur shared the story of his spiritual journe...

No reason to be cynical about celebrity conversions, Bishop Barron and others say

Russell Brand, Candace Owens, and Shia LeBeouf. / Credit: Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for The Recording Academy; Jason Davis/Getty Images; and Pascal Le Segretain/Getty ImagesAnn Arbor, Michigan, May 27, 2024 / 06:00 am (CNA).The phenomenon of celebrity conversions to the faith has taken center stage, especially on social media, and they have been widely welcomed by prominent Catholic clergy and commentators.Going viral on X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, Facebook, and other platforms has been news about popular actors and political activists, among others, who have joined the Catholic faith or otherwise announced their conversions to Christianity.Their ranks include actor Shia LaBeouf, who was raised by a Jewish mother but entered the Catholic Church in 2023 and was confirmed by Bishop Robert Barron. LaBeouf, 37, played the title character in "Padre Pio," the 2022 movie about the famed Italian friar who received the stigmata. Political commentator and media personality Candace Ow...

6 easy activities to help children understand Memorial Day

Flags for Memorial Day in the United States of America. / Credit: ShutterstockNational Catholic Register, May 27, 2024 / 04:00 am (CNA).Memorial Day marks the cultural beginning of summer in the United States, and in the midst of all the fun of the three-day weekend, it's easy for kids to think of this holiday as representing nothing more than the end of school and the beginning of barbecue and pool party season. So here are some ideas that gently introduce children to the deeper meaning of Memorial Day.1. Create a memorial flower boat.This is an easy but beautiful craft that uses materials that you probably have lying around the house. Though it is based on the Navy's tradition of floating flowers out into the ocean to recall sailors whose lives were lost at sea, it could be used to honor fallen soldiers from any branch of the military.2. Write a letter to a soldier.Talk to your children about what our men and women in uniform do for our country, then have them write a letter ...

'It pains me to leave': Pope Francis accepts resignation of Argentinian archbishop

Former La Plata Archbishop Gabriel Antonio Mestre / La Capital Mar del PlataWashington, D.C. Newsroom, May 27, 2024 / 08:37 am (CNA).The Holy See on Monday said Pope Francis had accepted the resignation of La Plata, Argentina Archbishop Gabriel Antonio Mestre, after the prelate had served in that role for less than a year. The Vatican said in a press statement on Monday that the Holy Father "has accepted the resignation from the pastoral care of the metropolitan archdiocese of La Plata, Argentina, presented by Archbishop Gabriel Antonio Mestre." The archbishop had been appointed to that role in July of last year and installed in September.The Holy See did not give a reason for Mestre's resignation. In a statement posted to the archdiocese's Facebook on Monday, meanwhile, Mestre said that he was "conscious of my weakness and the human weakness of the beautiful Church that is my home and my family" as he resigned. "A few days ago, the Holy See summoned me to Rome to talk about so...

Where children are hungry: famine hot spots and Catholic groups that are helping

A woman and a girl in Tigray walk with supplies. The founder and CEO of the global school-feeding charity Mary's Meals visited northern Ethiopia in March and confirmed reports of a widespread hunger crisis unfolding rapidly in Tigray in the aftermath of a two-year civil war and ongoing drought.  / Credit: Armstrong Studios/2024CNA Staff, May 27, 2024 / 08:00 am (CNA).Every night around the world approximately 350 million people, including a vast number of children, go to bed hungry. That's according to the World Food Program (WFP), a major aid organization within the United Nations, which further estimates that nearly 49 million people are "on the brink of famine."Widespread hunger crises in some countries have lasted for many years, such as those in places like Ethiopia and Yemen. Other widespread hunger crises have exploded in some countries, such as Ukraine and Gaza, relatively recently. Regardless, famine and starvation remain largely underreported given the seriousnes...

'It pains me to leave': Pope Francis accepts resignation of Argentinian archbishop

Former La Plata Archbishop Gabriel Antonio Mestre. / Credit: La Capital Mar del PlataCNA Staff, May 27, 2024 / 08:37 am (CNA).The Holy See on Monday said Pope Francis had accepted the resignation of La Plata, Argentina, Archbishop Gabriel Antonio Mestre after the prelate had served in that role for less than a year. The Vatican said in a press statement on Monday that the Holy Father "has accepted the resignation from the pastoral care of the metropolitan archdiocese of La Plata, Argentina, presented by Archbishop Gabriel Antonio Mestre." The archbishop had been appointed to that role in July of last year and installed in September.The Holy See did not give a reason for Mestre's resignation. In a statement posted to the archdiocese's Facebook on Monday, meanwhile, Mestre said he was "conscious of my weakness and the human weakness of the beautiful Church that is my home and my family" as he resigned. "A few days ago, the Holy See summoned me to Rome to talk about some aspects o...

Be proud of your uniform, committed to peace, pope tells military

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Entrusting to God's mercy all of their comrades-in-arms who have died serving their countries and defending peace, Pope Francis urged Catholic members of the military to let their faith inform their service."The world needs you, especially at this dark moment in our history. We need men and women of faith capable of putting weapons at the service of peace and brotherhood," said the papal message to thousands of soldiers, sailors, marines, airmen and cadets making a pilgrimage to the Shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes in France.The annual International Military Pilgrimage to Lourdes, held May 24-26 this year, involves some 15,000 current, retired and wounded members of the military from 40 nations -- including members of the Vatican's Swiss Guard. They are joined by military chaplains and bishops who head their nations' military ordinariates, including Archbishop Timothy P. Broglio of the U.S. Archdiocese for the Military Services, president of the U.S. Conference of...

Youth Ministry Congress emphasizes need to listen to young people

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- As young delegates and the coordinators of youth and young adult ministry from the world's bishops' conferences gathered near Rome, an archbishop asked them: "How can we be a church that young people come back to, not a church they leave? How can our young people find hope and courage in the church and transform their lives?"The questions were posed by Archbishop Peter Chung Soon-taick of Seoul, South Korea, host of World Youth Day 2027, during the Vatican-sponsored International Youth Ministry Congress May 23 in Ciampino, just south of Rome.The Dicastery for Laity, the Family and Life convoked the three-day congress to consider answers to the archbishop's questions as they marked the fifth anniversary of Pope Francis' exhortation to young people, "Christus Vivit," reviewed World Youth Day 2023 in Lisbon, Portugal, and looked forward to the Holy Year 2025 jubilee of young adults and, more remotely, to WYD in Seoul.The theme for the gathering was "Synodal Youth ...