Catholicism

A bust representing the leader of the Roman Catholic Church, Pope Francis, has been installed in the center of Tirana, Albania.

Albanian agency ATA is reporting that the unveiling ceremony was attended by state and religious dignitaries and citizens.

Pope Francis on March 15 approved sainthood for Mother Teresa, the missionary nun who became a global if controversial symbol of compassion for her care of the sick and destitute.

Pope Francis received on Saturday a SPC delegation that included Metropolitan Amfilohije, Bishop Irinej and former Ambassador to the Vatican Darko Tanaskovic.

A former nun claimed that she was forced to engage in self-flagellation and write her vows in her own blood while living in a convent in Italy.

In an interview with an Italian newspaper the woman claims that the nuns of Franciscan Sisters of the Immaculate were forced to take part in punishing rituals, as Daily Mail reports.

Pope Francis has signed off on the miracle needed to make Mother Teresa a saint, giving the nun who cared for the poorest of the poor one of the Catholic Church's highest honors just two decades after her death.

The way has been paved for Mother Theresa’s canonization after Pope Francis has approved a second miracle attributed to her. Kolkata Archbishop said, “We are very happy and overjoyed with this news, the city of Kolkata has been waiting for this day. We thank God of the great gift he bestowed on us with Mother Teresa.”

Josip Bozanic has described "the blessed Alojzije Stepinac" as "a reflection of the face of mercy in the Croatian people's modern history."

Bozanic is the Croatian Roman Catholic cardinal, who made this statement as part of his Christmas message published in Zagreb.

Pope Frances gave a sermon that was filled with frustration. He said: “Christmas is approaching: there will be lights, parties, Christmas trees and nativity scenes… it’s all a charade. The world continues to go to war. The world has not chosen a peaceful path.”

Tomislav Nikolic states that Pope Francis told him he did not want canonization of Croatian Cardinal Alojzije Stepinac to cause disagreements betweenChristians.

Nikolic told the Wednesday edition of Belgrade-based daily Blic that during his meeting with Pope Francis last month he presented his view of the role of Stepinac and the Catholic clergy in the Independent State of Croatia.

Pope Francis defended Oct. 4 marriage and heterosexual couples as he opened a synod on the family overshadowed by a challenge to Vatican orthodoxy by a gay priest.

During a mass to mark the three-week meeting of Roman Catholic bishops, the pope delivered a homily on "solitude, love between man and woman, and the family."