St. John Paul II

In the spotlight: Ukraine war, papal health, St. John Paul II

“Wars are easy to get into but usually difficult to extricate from. Since the Russian invasion of Crimea and its occupation of part of eastern Ukraine, an estimated 14,000 Ukrainian soldiers and civilians have died, and no end is in sight.”

Catholic bishops of England and Wales are planning a novena to St. John Paul in the nine days before second reading of an assisted suicide bill in the House of Lords, because the legislation will be considered Oct. 22, the saint’s feast day.

“How difficult it is to forget the bang of the would-be assassin’s gunshots, which in a single moment could have put an end to this extraordinary pontificate,” Cardinal Stanislaw Dziwisz said at a Mass marking the anniversary.

In the spotlight: Israeli-Palestinian conflict, attempted-assassination anniversary, Our Lady of Fatima

Although dogged for years by rumors of sexual impropriety, Theodore E. McCarrick was able to rise up the Catholic hierarchical structure based on personal contacts, protestations of his innocence and a lack of church officials reporting and investigating accusations, according to the Vatican summary of its report on the matter.

Photographer Giancarlo Giuliani exhibits photos from the pontificate of St. John Paul II in Rome.

“Our families have emerged as many people’s primary community during the COVID-19 pandemic. This fits the family’s natural role in society, but the change has not been easy. Many families have experienced new challenges amid COVID-19.”