Angelique Walker-Smith is senior associate for Pan African and Orthodox Church engagement at Bread for the World. This week, she speaks to the impact of the death of Pope Francis in Africa and the upcoming Africa Day on May 25.
Tag: Pope Francis
Posted inINTERNATIONAL
Robert Prevost, first American pope in history of the Catholic Church, will take the name Leo XIV
By Nicole Winfield Robert Prevost, a missionary who spent his career ministering in Peru and leads the Vatican’s powerful office of bishops, was elected the first American pope in the 2,000-year history of the Catholic Church. Prevost, a 69 member of the Augustinian religious order, took the name Leo XIV. He appeared on the loggia […]
Posted inReligion
‘Do not mock us’: Catholic critics decry US president’s publishing of an AI image of himself as pontiff amid mourning for Pope Francis
The 47th president sparked outrage by posting an AI-generated image of himself dressed as the pope during the official mourning period for Pope Francis, drawing rebukes from Catholic leaders and international media just days before the papal conclave begins. Critics, including Italian officials and U.S. Catholic groups, called the act offensive and disrespectful, accusing the president of politicizing a sacred moment for global Catholics.
Posted inReligion
What is a conclave? What to know about the secretive process to elect the next pope
The papal conclave, beginning May 7, is a secretive, centuries-old Vatican process in which cardinals under age 80 vote—sequestered inside the Sistine Chapel—to elect a new pope by a two-thirds majority, with white smoke and bells signaling the decision.
Posted inINTERNATIONAL
Millions mourn Pope Francis
Pope Francis, the first pope from South America, was known for his humble and non-traditional gestures, and his passing has prompted reflection on his powerful legacy and the unfinished hopes of Black Catholics seeking recognition for African-American sainthood.
Posted inReligion
A Black pope? Francis made it a possibility
Pope Francis, who died at age 88, leaves behind a legacy of advocacy for marginalized communities, including Black people, through actions like appointing the first African-American cardinal and condemning racism as a sin. His inclusive leadership reshaped the Catholic Church’s global power dynamics and opened the possibility for the election of the first Black pope.
Posted inINTERNATIONAL
Pope Francis, first Latin American pontiff who ministered with a charming, humble style, dies at 88
Pope Francis, the first Latin American and Jesuit pope, died on April 21 at age 88, leaving behind a transformative yet polarizing legacy marked by his humility, compassion for the marginalized, and progressive reforms that challenged conservative Catholic traditions. While he inspired many with his focus on social justice, interfaith dialogue, and a “poor church for the poor,” his papacy also stirred controversy over his approach to sexual abuse scandals, LGBTQ+ inclusion, and church doctrine.
Posted inINTERNATIONAL
The US has revoked visas for South Sudanese while civil war threatens at home
The Trump administration has revoked all U.S. visas for South Sudanese nationals, citing the country’s failure to accept deportees—an action South Sudan criticized as unfair and based on a mistaken identity. This move threatens to return individuals to a nation facing renewed civil unrest and underscores the stark shift in U.S. policy toward a country it once helped to independence.
Posted inNational News
Pope Francis in critical condition with early kidney failure but remains alert as prayers pour in
By Nicole Winfield The Associated Press ROME (AP) — Pope Francis remained in critical condition Feb. 23 and blood tests showed early kidney failure but he remains alert, responsive and attended Mass, the Vatican said, as the 88-year-old pontiff battles pneumonia and a complex lung infection. In a late update, the Vatican said Francis hadn’t […]
Posted inCommentary
Commentary: On the wrong side of theology: Why it’s time to say goodbye to the Catholic Church
After 72 years as a Roman Catholic, Ralph Moore has decided to leave the Church due to its lack of progress on issues such as ordaining women, racial discrimination, sexism, and sexual abuse, and its refusal to allow women or married persons to become priests.
Posted inWord In Black
Here’s why faith communities are honoring grandparents
Faith communities are celebrating the vital role of grandparents in family life, honoring their contributions with citations, letters, and prayers, emphasizing their importance in a complex world.
Posted inColumnists
Saying goodbye to 2023: The good and the bad
By Ralph E. Moore Jr. Let’s see, we went from one war in Europe (Russia invading Ukraine) to another major war in the Middle East (Israel and Hamas) – twice the horror. Pope Francis and Rev. William Barber have been very clear moral leaders in opposition to these outbreaks of violence. On Christmas Day, Pope […]