Ivan Yaroshko

The concept of Limbo, often pictured as a quiet, intermediate state for souls who died without the chance for salvation, has long been part of popular Catholic imagination. Images of unbaptized infants existing in a state of natural happiness but deprived of heaven have been particularly persistent. Yet, a crucial question demands clarity: did Limbo ever actually hold the status of a formal, defined doctrine within the Catholic Church?

Joseph Oyewole

We live in an age marked by deep cultural shifts, spiritual confusion and growing indifference to faith. Many young people grow up without strong catholic foundations and without seeing faith lived out authentically in the home. We are witnessing what some described as a “generational amnesia” of faith. Fewer young Catholics attend Mass, understand the Church’s teachings, or even identify with their faith at all. While many factors contribute to this trend, one of the most significant is the breakdown in the catechesis in the home.

Jony Sagayaraj

In Tamil Nadu, Catholic youth are redefining what it means to live a life of faith. While older generations grew up with processions, parish festivals, and catechism classes rooted in tradition, today’s youth are integrating modern technology, social awareness, and global Catholic identity into their spiritual lives.

Pope Francis pastoral vision

Joseph Oyewole

When Pope Francis urged priests to “smell like the sheep,” he was not merely crafting a memorable phrase, he was articulating a bold vision for a church deeply rooted in the lives of its people. This simple yet striking metaphor captures the heart of his pastoral mission in a call for shepherds to walk alongside their flock, embrace their struggles and reflect the compassion of Christ amidst the realities of their daily existence.

The Oxford English Dictionary adds eleven new words from the Philippines

Genesis Labana

Looking for a word to describe the intense feeling when you see particularly a chubby cheeked baby or fluffy haired dog or cat, the irresistible urge to pinch their cheeks or squeeze them tightly? Filipinos have a perfect word for that: Gigil (pronounced ghee-ghil). This Tagalog word is now included in the Oxford English Dictionary (OED), according to their website post, as part of its March 2025 update.

First used in Philippine English in the 1990s, gigil is a pithy name that perfectly captures the paradoxical emotion. It is a feeling so intense that it can manifest physically through clenched hands, gritted teeth, or even trembling. Besides its use as a noun, it can also be an adjective to describe the person experiencing it. Gigil is just one of the eleven new words from the Philippines added to the prestigious Oxford English Dictionary in its quarterly update.

Douglas Milton Logu Soosaithasan

In preparation for the Jubilee Year of the Church, celebrated under the theme of the Pilgrimage of Faith, the Italian government has undertaken numerous renovation projects to restore and highlight the beauty of Rome’s ancient monuments. Among these initiatives is the restoration of the historic pharmacy, the “Spezieria di Santa Maria della Scala,” which has long attracted tourists and enthusiasts interested in exploring the traditional practices and remedies of herbal medicine.

Closed to the public since October 1, 2024, the pharmacy remains inaccessible during its restoration, which is being meticulously coordinated by the Special Superintendence of Archaeology, Fine Arts, and Landscape of Rome.

Charlie Carpio Bardaje

“Pope Francis is a papal communicator, like no other,” says Valentina Alazraki, a Mexican journalist during the third communications conference of the Spanish Conference of Religious held in Madrid. But she is not the first one to affirm it. Many communication experts recognize his special way of conveying his message to the world. With his natural use of simple yet powerful gestures, people understood who is Francis as a pope and what kind of pontificate the world could expect from him.