One by one 11 senior Churchmen, including two U.S. citizens—Cardinals Wilton D. Gregory of Washington and Silvano M. Tomasi, a former Vatican diplomat who has served in the Archdiocese of New York—knelt before Pope Francis to receive their red hats, a cardinal’s ring and a scroll formally declaring their new status and assigning them a “titular” church in Rome. more

In a 5-4 decision issued just before midnight Nov. 25, the Supreme Court lifted the pandemic restrictions on congregation sizes at houses of worship imposed by New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo. more

Pope Francis advanced the sainthood causes of 127 Spanish martyrs, three Italian religious women, an Italian archbishop and three priests. One priest distributed what would be valued today as $7 million in donations to people in need, including his own winnings from a soccer betting pool. more

Young people today should not waste their lives dreaming of obtaining trivial things that provide only a fleeting moment of joy but aspire to the greatness God wants for them, Pope Francis said. more

Although the task is daunting, young economists, researchers and entrepreneurs can hone their skills and share them in a way that will impact the world and create a brighter future for all, Pope Francis said. more

Although the Vatican knows Christmas may be very different this year because of the Covid-19 pandemic, it already has chosen its stamps and the Nativity scene and tree that will stand in St. Peter’s Square. more

While the coronavirus lockdowns and restrictions have interrupted people’s lives and brought suffering on a global scale, every individual—including the pope—has or will experience traumatic interruptions in their lives, Pope Francis said in a new book. more

Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s order limiting the size of a congregation for in-person services at Catholic churches and other houses of worship does not target religious gatherings on “the basis of their beliefs,” but is based on “the documented fact of their Covid-19 super-spreader potential.” more

Catholic schools in the archdiocese, along with several Catholic school parents, have filed a lawsuit seeking to compel the New York City Department of Education to live up to its legal obligation to provide Covid-19 testing for its students, as required by New York state law. The case was filed Nov. 18 in New York State Supreme Court on Staten Island. A hearing is set for Monday, Nov. 23, at 2:30 p.m. more

Cardinal Dolan was elected chairman of the Committee for Religious Liberty of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops after the result of voting by the bishops was announced Nov. 16, the first day of the USCCB’s annual fall general assembly, which is being held virtually in light of the Covid-19 pandemic. more

Pope Francis called President-elect Joe Biden early Nov. 12 to congratulate him on winning the U.S. presidential election. more

On Nov. 10, when the fate of the Affordable Care Act faced the Supreme Court for the third time since it was signed into law 10 years ago, the justices seemed willing to leave the bulk of the law intact even if they found one part of it to be unconstitutional. more

The following statement was released by Cardinal Dolan on the “McCarrick Report,” issued today by the Vatican. more

Vatican officials announced Nov. 6 that the Holy See will release Nov. 10 a long-awaited report on the investigation about the ascent to power of now-disgraced former U.S. Cardinal Theodore E. McCarrick. more

Plenary or full indulgences traditionally obtained during the first week of November for the souls of the faithful in purgatory can now be gained throughout the entire month of November, the Vatican said. more

People sometimes forget life’s ultimate purpose is to prepare for the kingdom of heaven, Pope Francis said. more

With Joe Biden now elected as the nation’s 46th president, it is “time for our leaders to come together in a spirit of national unity,” said Archbishop José H. Gomez of Los Angeles, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. more

Since the re-opening of our churches last summer, I’ve made it a point to visit, unannounced, various parishes, in order to celebrate Mass and spend some time with parishioners. At each visit, I am not allowed to enter the church until my temperature is taken; ushers are there to distribute face masks to anyone who has left theirs at home. Hand sanitizing stations are located around the church, and social distancing and crowd limitations are enforced. When Mass is over, I slip back into the church, and always find eight or so parishioners already hard at work, scrubbing and sanitizing the pews, door handles, and altar area before the next Mass. more

The Diocese of Brooklyn filed a lawsuit in federal court Oct. 8 against New York state, charging Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s new orders reducing church capacity violates the First Amendment’s guarantee of the free exercise of religion. more

The Catholic vote and the coronavirus subtly headlined the annual fundraiser of the Alfred E. Smith Memorial Foundation Oct. 1, livestreamed from the Manhattan residence of Cardinal Dolan due to Covid-19. more