News & Commentary

A group of Russian pilgrims prays during a rosary led by Archbishop Paolo Pezzi of Moscow, near a statue of St. John Paul II outside Rome's Gemelli Hospital .

Pope’s chest X-ray confirms his improvement, doctors say

Pope Francis' condition continues to be stable and a chest X-ray "confirmed the improvements recorded in the previous days," his doctors said, but without saying his double pneumonia had cleared up completely.
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Pope to nurses, midwives: ‘Thank you for your service’

The coronavirus pandemic has drawn well-deserved attention to nurses and midwives, who are among "the saints next door," dedicated to helping people in some of the most joyful or painful moments of their lives, Pope Francis said.
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Soviet prisoners of conscience petitioned John Paul II for help

Soviet political prisoners from various backgrounds begged St. John Paul II's help in secret messages after his 1978 election, according to a former inmate in recollections published for the late pope's hundredth birthday.
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Advocates fight traffickers who thrive despite pandemic

Advocates fighting human traffickers are alerting children, parents and vulnerable adults that the coronavirus pandemic has pushed traffickers into new venues, potentially endangering more people to being exploited.
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Church shows creativity ministering during pandemics

The Catholic Church's acceptance of a ban on gathering for public worship and following other painful COVID-19 restrictions reflects its long-held understanding that faith, service and science are not at war with one another.
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Italy grants temporary residency to migrant farmworkers

In an effort to curb the exploitation of migrant laborers and boost its crippling agriculture industry, the Italian government has granted temporary residency to agricultural workers without proper immigration documents.
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Priests ‘Walk for the Poor’ to raise money, pray for all hit by virus

As four priests of the Archdiocese of Washington started out on a three-day, 54-mile "Walk for the Poor," they wanted those suffering from the impact of the coronavirus to know they are not alone, that Jesus is with them.
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