This week has been eventful in the Vatican, with important news from the Holy Father and the Vatican that are worth mentioning. In this edition of Vaticano Updates, we will take a look at the top five stories that made headlines in the Vatican and the Catholic Church.
European Continental Assembly of the Synod in Prague
The Continental Assembly of the Synod in Europe took place in Prague, Czech Republic, from February 5th to 12th. 200 participants attended the event to promote dialogue at the continental level on the text of the Document for the Continental Stage. The aim of the event was to “more accurately formulate open questions, to better substantiate and deepen the insights coming from the local churches.”
Holy Father meets Order of Malta
From January 25th to 29th, 111 members of the Order of Malta assembled in the Vatican to elect new leadership in an extraordinary chapter general convened by Pope Francis last year. The pontiff thanked the members for their contributions and told them, “You have written a very important page of history for the Order of Malta; thank you, you can be proud of it.” Pope Francis had approved the order’s new constitutional charter and regulations last year.
World Day for Consecrated Life: Religious have a ‘special role’ in the Church
On the 27th World Day for Consecrated Life, Pope Francis recalled the special role religious brothers and sisters have in the Catholic Church. In a written message for February 2nd, the Pope wrote that this special role stems “from the special gift you have received: a gift that gives your witness a special character and value, by the very fact that you are wholly dedicated to God and his kingdom, in poverty, virginity, and obedience.”
Archbishop Gänswein celebrates Mass for Benedict XVI one month after pope’s death
Archbishop Georg Gänswein celebrated Mass at the tomb of St. Peter to mark one month since the death of Pope Benedict XVI. Gänswein, the pope emeritus’ longtime personal secretary, offered the Mass in the presence of a small group of people. In his homily, Gänswein said Benedict, “one of the greatest and most influential theologians of all time on the Chair of Peter, put himself under the protection of a saint for whom there was no theology, only adoration.”
New bishop for Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux in Louisiana
Pope Francis has appointed Bishop Mario E. Dorsonville, an auxiliary bishop for the Archdiocese of Washington, to lead the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux in Louisiana. Bishop Dorsonville, who was born in Bogotá, Colombia, and is 62 years old, succeeds 59-year-old Archbishop Shelton Fabre, who was transferred to the Archdiocese of Louisville in Kentucky by Pope Francis in March 2022.
In conclusion, these are the top five stories from the Vatican and the Catholic Church that took place in the past week. We hope this article has kept you updated on the latest news and events in the Vatican and the Catholic Church.
