Below is the full text of Pope Francis’ address during the extraordinary Urbi et Orbi (to the City and the World) blessing he delivered on Friday evening while praying for an end of the coronavirus. The plenary indulgence attached to the Urbi et Orbi blessing ... More »
Pope Francis’ apostolic exhortation, Querida Amazonia, generated a great deal of commentary immediately after its publication in February. Mike Pothier argues that it is necessary to read the text reflectively to find its treasures and assess its weaknesses. H... More »
Fr. Ernesto Cardenal (1925-2020) was a Nicaraguan priest, revolutionary and poet who died on 1 March. In his youth he joined the Sandinista National Liberation Front and participated in an unsuccessful insurrection against the then dictator Anastacio Somoza. L... More »
Bishop José Luís Ponce de León, the bishop of Manzini in eSwatini has produced a short video in which he encourages the faithful to embrace Pope Francis’ message of reconciliation this Lent. The need for conversion is greater than ever before, says the Holy Fa... More »
The recently published Apostolic Exhortation by Pope Francis, at surface value, focuses almost exclusively on the environment. Martin van Nierop highlights some of the passages that most clearly communicate the spirit of Querida Amazonia, but leaves us with th... More »
The Pope’s eagerly awaited post-synodal apostolic exhortation Querida Amazonia was released on 12 February, and responds to the 6-26 October 2019 Synod on the Amazon. Dr. Annemarie Paulin-Campbell notes the general theme of inclusivity but notes that the docum... More »
The Vatican released Pope Francis’ apostolic exhortation Querida Amazonia on 12 February, responding to the 2019 Synod on the pastoral challenges in the Amazon region. Over the next few weeks, spotlight.africa will publish several commentaries of the text. The... More »
The Southern African Bishop’s conference met with President Cyril Ramaphosa in January, during which they presented the new pastoral plan in the context of South Africa’s current challenges. Fikile-Ntsikelelo Moya expresses his hope that the Bishops were succe... More »
Our contemporary definition of freedom has become a self-serving pursuit. Anthony Aduaka SJ argues that this definition has gone astray and needs to be re-evaluated to include responsibility and an understanding of the role we have – and the role “freedom” has... More »
The Church awaits Pope Francis’ response to the topics discussed at the Amazonian Synod, including priestly celibacy. Meanwhile, Cardinals Robert Sarah and Joseph Ratzinger have emphasised celibacy as a necessary condition for valid priesthood. Anthony Egan SJ... More »
Michaela van Nierop relates how growing up in a Catholic home and attending a Protestant school left her frustrated because the two religious traditions share the same foundation but rarely seemed to find common ground. This experience left her unreceptive to ... More »
A soon-to-be released book by Cardinal Robert Sarah (with initial contributions by Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger) examines, among other things, celibacy and the priesthood. The timing of the publication is crucial, preceding a much-awaited response from Pope Franc... More »