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Europe News

Folk dancing and dyed eggs as Bulgaria's Ruse celebrates Easter

In Bulgaria, both Orthodox and Catholic Christians celebrate Easter, with the latter usually coming a few days before. Every so often, such as this year, the two take place on the same day.

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Catholic faithful mark Palm Sunday in Peru and Guatemala

Peru's Catholics celebrated Palm Sunday with a procession that commemorates the Christian belief of the triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem.

Culture news

Balladyna: The classic Polish play to be made as a gothic horror film

Polish director Jan Komasa has revealed that his interpretation of the classic school reading book will be transformed into a gothic horror film.

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Filipino Catholics observe Ash Wednesday with tradition of ash cross

Catholic devotees in Manila lined up outside Baclaran Church for Ash Wednesday, receiving ash crosses made from blessed palms, marking the start of Lent.

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Vatican

Pope Francis off mechanical ventilation, signalling improvement

The 88-year-old pontiff has been hospitalised since 14th February with pneumonia in both lungs and breathing difficulties.

Culture news

Construction begins of record-breaking Virgin Mary statue in Poland

In the Polish village of Konotopa, near Toruń, the construction has begun of a Virgin Mary statue that will measure more than 55 meters in height, making it taller when finished than the Christ the Redeemer monument in Rio de Janeiro.

Vatican

Openly gay men can now become priests, Vatican signals

New guidelines released by the Italian Bishops’ Conference on Friday brings the ordination of openly gay men to the Catholic priesthood closer.

Belarus

Catholic priest in Belarus sentenced to 11 years as crackdown tightens

'The harsh sentence is intended to intimidate and silence hundreds of other priests ahead of January's presidential election,' human rights activist Pavel Sapelka said.

Europe News

Christian faithful celebrate Christmas at Masses throughout Europe

Masses were organised all over the continent, and thousands of Christian worshippers attended to mark the festive occasion.

Gaza

Israeli strikes kill at least 22 people across the Gaza Strip

Israeli strikes across the Gaza Strip overnight and into Sunday killed at least 22 people, including five children, Palestinian medical officials said.

Culture news

Vatican to publish new magazine with Pope replying readers’ questions

The magazine, as well as the livestream of St. Peter's tomb in the Vatican, are part of the outreach programme for the 2025 Jubilee.

Art

Son of a bot! AI Jesus hologram takes confessionals in Swiss church

"Father, forgive them for they have glitched..."

Culture news

'God's influencer': First millennial to be made saint next year

Carlo Acutis, “the patron saint of the internet”, will become the first millennial to be canonised by the Catholic church.

Belgium

Pope Francis condemns Catholic Church's 'shameful' abuse in Belgium

Earlier on Friday, Belgium's prime minister blasted the pontiff for the Catholic Church's horrific legacy, demanding "concrete steps" to come clean with the past and put victims' interests ahead of those of the institution.

Belgium

Pope to face appalling Catholic abuse legacy on Belgium trip

Revelations of Belgium's horrific abuse scandal have dribbled out in bits since 2010, when the country's longest-serving bishop was allowed to resign without punishment, after admitting he had sexually abused his nephew.

Experiences

Lourdes to Fatima: Inside the lucrative world of religious tourism

This week, the Vatican officially approved religious pilgrimages to Međugorje in Bosnia.

Bosnia and Herzegovina

Vatican backs devotion at Bosnian shrine where Virgin Mary 'appeared'

The Vatican did not rule that the accounts that children and teenagers saw Mary in the village of Međugorje in 1981 were authentic, but it said that the spiritual experience of visiting the shrine justified pilgrimages there.

Europe News

Swiss councillor apologises for firing gun at Mary and Jesus poster

Party expulsion proceedings have been launched against the councillor, and her employment at a consultancy has also been terminated.

Timor-Leste

Pope calls for protection of young people during visit to Timor-Leste

It is an indirect acknowledgment of the abuse scandal involving Nobel Peace Prize-winning independence hero, Bishop Carlos Ximenes Belo.

Papua New Guinea

Pope visits Catholics in remote coastal town in Papua New Guinea

Pope Francis is the second pope to visit Papua New Guinea, on the second leg of his four-nation trip through Southeast Asia and Oceania.