Catholic official praises move to waive vaccine patents (CNS) The Biden administration’s May 5 announcement that it supports waiving intellectual property protections for COVID-19 vaccines — as a means to expand the vaccine’s production and distribution — is a move the Vatican has been suggesting. At a February Word Trade Organization meeting, a Vatican representative said this step “would be a strong signal demonstrating real commitment and engagement and thus moving from declaration to action in favor of the entire human family…”
German bishop: ‘We are not schismatics’ (CNA) The chairman of the German Catholic bishops’ conference has insisted that the country’s Catholics are not “schismatics” seeking to “detach ourselves as the German national Church from Rome.” Bishop Georg Bätzing told ACI Stampa, CNA’s Italian-language news partner, that the Church in Germany remains close to Rome, despite tensions over same-sex blessings, Communion for Protestants, and the country’s “Synodal Way.” He said: “It is absolutely clear that there are matters that we can only discuss at the level of the Universal Church. We will contribute from Germany with our reflections…”
COVID crisis deepens in India (AP) Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi faced growing pressure Friday to impose a strict nationwide lockdown, despite the economic pain it will exact, as a startling surge in coronavirus cases that has pummeled the country’s health system shows no signs of abating…
Pope Francis greets new Swiss Guards (Vatican News) Greeting the 34 new Swiss Guards and their families in the Vatican on Thursday, the Pope recalled the history of the Corps and the work many young men have carried out with commitment and fidelity which continues today. He also spoke of members of the Guard that “have gone so far as to sacrifice their own lives to defend the Pope…”
“A UNIQUE CONTRIBUTION FOR THE SPIRITUALITY OF DEACONS.” —MOST REV. SHAWN MCKNIGHT, BISHOP OF JEFFERSON CITY
