Catholic Church

The Dicastery for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life, known as a group within the Catholic Church that oversees matters relating to religious orders, issued a decree of suppression to the monastery Nov. 28.

The Catholic Church has approved for canonization its first millennial saint, Carlo Acutis. Known as God's Influencer, Acutis represents a new way to view sainthood in the modern era.

Now that Pope Francis has OK'd priests blessing same-sex couples, LGBTQ+ Catholics are figuring out how to ask for these blessings and whether they want them.

The Vatican has removed from office an outspoken, conservative bishop in Texas who's been openly critical of Pope Francis's reforms in the Catholic Church.

Catholic leaders are beginning a month-long meeting to discuss the church's relationship to laity. Among the topics: women in ministry and being more welcoming of divorced and LGBTQ+ Catholics.

Pope Francis suggests the Catholic church might accept same-sex partnerships as officials assemble in Rome for a synod. NPR's Leila Fadel talks to Kate McElwee of the Women's Ordination Conference.

NPR's Leila Fadel talks to Heidi Schlumpf of the National Catholic Reporter, about Pope Francis's reform agenda, and the impact of encouraging young parishioners to "shake things up."

"You don't hear about enslaved people at Mass or in Sunday school," says Rachel Swarns. Her new book tells the story of 272 enslaved people sold in 1838 to help save what is now Georgetown University.

The leader of the world's 1.3 billion Catholics has steered his church leftward after more than two decades of conservative leadership. Opposition within the Vatican is fierce.

He stressed that lack of charity with one another is also a sin and added that the Catholic Church should work to put an end to laws in some countries that criminalize homosexuality.