Category: Europe
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Pope Francis responds to critics of his comments on women in Belgium
By CNA Staff Aboard the papal plane, Sep 29, 2024 / 12:00 pm Aboard the papal plane to Rome on Sunday, Pope Francis responded to criticism of remarks he made about women during a Sept. 28 visit to a Catholic university in Louvain, Belgium, saying it is an “obtuse mind” that intentionally misunderstands his position.…
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Pope Francis lauds Belgian king who chose to abdicate rather than sign abortion law
By Courtney Mares Vatican City, Sep 28, 2024 / 14:15 pm Pope Francis lauded Belgian King Baudouin for choosing to temporarily abdicate the throne rather than sign a law legalizing abortion during a visit to the Catholic king’s tomb on Saturday in Belgium. The pope also expressed hope that the sainthood cause for King Baudouin,…
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Pope Francis sells out Belgium stadium for Sept. 29 beatification Mass in just 90 minutes
By Hannah Brockhaus Vatican City, Aug 22, 2024 / 07:00 am Tickets for Pope Francis’ Mass in King Baudouin Stadium in Brussels at the end of September sold out in record time on Monday. After becoming available for free online, 32,000 tickets for the Sept. 29 Mass were snatched up in just 90 minutes, surprising…
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The Sistine Chapel was consecrated to Our Lady of the Assumption: 5 things to know
By Joe Bukuras CNA Staff, Aug 15, 2024 / 06:00 am On Aug. 15, 1483, Pope Sixtus IV consecrated the Sistine Chapel to Our Lady of the Assumption. Today, as we celebrate the solemnity of the Assumption of Mary, let’s take a closer look at this historic chapel. One of the most popular tourist attractions…
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Belgium town to host Marian celebration ‘Virga Jesse’ again after 7 years
By Emma Silvestri Paris, France, Aug 10, 2024 / 07:00 am For the past 340 years in the town of Hasselt in northeastern Belgium, people have been celebrating a major Marian event every seven years — honoring the “Virga Jesse” through processions, liturgies, and cultural initiatives. This year, tens of thousands of people are expected…
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Is Edith Stein a doctor of the Church? No, but she could be one soon
By Jonah McKeown CNA Staff, Aug 9, 2024 / 06:00 am Aug. 9 is the feast day of St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross, also known as Edith Stein. A convert from Judaism at the age of 30, she later entered the Carmelite order and died in the Nazi concentration camp at Auschwitz in 1942.…
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Pope Francis makes surprise visit to amusement park
By Almudena Martínez-Bordiú ACI Prensa Staff, Jul 31, 2024 / 16:32 pm Pope Francis left the Vatican on Wednesday afternoon for Ostia, a seaside town not far from Rome, to greet Sister Geneviève Jeanningros and the employees of the Summer Park Festival at Luna Park. According to the Holy See Press Office, the pontiff visited…