Vatican News

‘Beauty can lead to faith’ – an interview with the director of the Vatican Museums

barbara jatta, the first woman to direct the vatican museums in their 512-year history, says that she grew up amid the smells of solvent. he...
Desmond O'Grady

It’s been a bad year for human rights. But there are still reasons to hope

"the people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned.” with those words ...
Benedict Rogers

Where next for Ukraine's new Orthodox Church?

urgent restoration work is under way at st sophia cathedral in kiev. with its stunning 11th-century frescoes and mosaics, it is here that th...
Konstantin von Eggert

The staggering artistic legacy of Pope Julius II

pope julius ii, born giuliano della rovere, has come down to us as “the warrior pope”. this is with good reason: his pontificate, which last...
Stephen Withnell

Letters & emails

the true significance of altar rails sir – mr b robinson (letter, december 7) asks whether we can have our altar rails back. the answer is i...
The Catholic Herald

Despite the superficial materialism, December in New York is still magical

The secular hijacking of Christmas can be frustrating, but beneath the glitter and sentimentality are love and happiness
R.R. Reno

Diary: Introducing Americans to the three-hour lunch

when the catholic herald team arrived to launch our 130-year-old magazine in america, i thought we were primarily on an intellectual mission...
William Cash

Rome at Christmas: a not-so-silent night

Christmas in Rome is jam-packed with crowds, cribs and roasted chestnuts
Christopher R. Altieri

Armenian Apostolic Church appoints first-ever representative in Rome

the armenian apostolic church, one of six in the oriental orthodox communion, will have a fixed representative in rome, similar to the easte...
Andrea Gagliarducci/CNA

Vatican urges bishops to meet abuse victims ahead of February summit

organizers of the vatican’s february meeting on sexual abuse have sent a letter to the participating bishops asking them to meet with abuse ...
Hannah Brockhaus/CNA