Catholic Pilgrims

Senior Catholic priest and rector of a famous Christian pilgrim centre in Malayattoor near Kochi, Fr Xavier Thelakkat, was today stabbed to death allegedly by a former sacristan of the parish, police said here.

Thousands of Catholic pilgrims, many sick or disabled, are gathering at a shrine in the French town of Lourdes under exceptional security after recent extremist attacks.

Pope Francis today launched an extraordinary Catholic Jubilee year by opening a "Holy Door" in the walls of St Peter's, embracing a 700-year-old tradition while urging the Church to reach out and embrace the modern world with mercy.

Christian pilgrims from around the world today joined Palestinian co-religionists in a solemn Easter procession through the walled Old City of Jerusalem.

Pope Francis on Wednesday called for greater solidarity in the world in his first New Year blessing as pontiff in front of crowds of pilgrims on St Peter's Square.

Pope Francis returned to Rome late Sunday after leading a giant beach mass in Brazil for three million pilgrims, ending his historic trip to reignite Catholic passion with pleas for a humbler Church.

Pope Francis swept into St Peter's Square on Tuesday to greet throngs of pilgrims before a sumptuous ceremony in which Latin America's first pontiff will receive the formal symbols of papal power.

The Catholic Church has awoken with no leader following Benedict XVI's resignation, in which he pledged obedience to his successor and described himself as "simply a pilgrim" starting the final part of his life.

Many of the Catholics packed into St. Peter's Square On Sunday expressed a sense of malaise about seeing Pope Benedict give his last weekly blessing before resigning from a position traditionally seen as a commitment until death.

Senior Catholic priest and rector of a famous Christian pilgrim centre in Malayattoor near Kochi, Fr Xavier Thelakkat, was today stabbed to death allegedly by a former sacristan of the parish, police said here.

Thousands of Catholic pilgrims, many sick or disabled, are gathering at a shrine in the French town of Lourdes under exceptional security after recent extremist attacks.

Pope Francis today launched an extraordinary Catholic Jubilee year by opening a "Holy Door" in the walls of St Peter's, embracing a 700-year-old tradition while urging the Church to reach out and embrace the modern world with mercy.

Christian pilgrims from around the world today joined Palestinian co-religionists in a solemn Easter procession through the walled Old City of Jerusalem.

Pope Francis on Wednesday called for greater solidarity in the world in his first New Year blessing as pontiff in front of crowds of pilgrims on St Peter's Square.

Pope Francis returned to Rome late Sunday after leading a giant beach mass in Brazil for three million pilgrims, ending his historic trip to reignite Catholic passion with pleas for a humbler Church.

Pope Francis swept into St Peter's Square on Tuesday to greet throngs of pilgrims before a sumptuous ceremony in which Latin America's first pontiff will receive the formal symbols of papal power.

The Catholic Church has awoken with no leader following Benedict XVI's resignation, in which he pledged obedience to his successor and described himself as "simply a pilgrim" starting the final part of his life.

Many of the Catholics packed into St. Peter's Square On Sunday expressed a sense of malaise about seeing Pope Benedict give his last weekly blessing before resigning from a position traditionally seen as a commitment until death.