Dicastery for Family Laity and Life Archives

Family ministry begins with listening, recognizing grace, cardinal says

Jan 8, 2021

Through baptism and the sacrament of marriage, Catholic families have a special grace and are a gift to the church even if, too often, that grace and gift have not been recognized, said Cardinal Kevin J. Farrell, prefect of the Dicastery for Laity, the Family and Life.

By Cindy Wooden

Vatican launches holiday campaign for elderly as nursing home deaths rise

Nov 28, 2020

In a new social-media campaign, the Vatican is encouraging young people to be creative is reaching out to the elderly, who constitute an increasing percentage of the lives claimed by the coronavirus pandemic.

By Elise Ann Allen

New date for local WYD suits needs of dioceses, Vatican official says

Nov 25, 2020

Pope Francis’s decision to move the local celebrations of World Youth Day from Palm Sunday to the feast of Christ the King addresses the pastoral needs of local churches, said Father Joao Chagas, head of the youth section of the Dicastery for Laity, the Family and Life.

By Junno Arocho Esteves

Latin American universities offer courses with Catholic lens on feminism

Jul 27, 2020

Catholic universities in Latin America concluded a two-week online course that studied the role of women and feminism through the lens of the social doctrine of the Catholic Church.

By Junno Arocho Esteves

Pope postpones World Meeting of Families, World Youth Day

Apr 20, 2020

Pope Francis has agreed with a recommendation by the Dicastery for Laity, the Family and Life to postpone by one year the next gatherings of the World Meeting of Families and World Youth Day.

By Cindy Wooden

Vatican calls for creative ways to protect elderly from loneliness

Apr 7, 2020

Local churches and individuals must do more to help and to protect the elderly from loneliness and infection during the coronavirus pandemic, a Vatican office said.

By Carol Glatz

Fighting abuse in lay movements: Vatican mandates norms, guidelines

Mar 1, 2020

The Vatican office that grants official recognition to international Catholic lay movements and organizations ordered the groups to develop detailed child-protection guidelines and norms for handling allegations of the abuse of minors and vulnerable adults.

By Cindy Wooden

Church must recognize the gifts of older Catholics, pope says

Jan 31, 2020

Old age “is not a disease, it’s a privilege,” and Catholic dioceses and parishes miss a huge and growing resource if they ignore their senior members, Pope Francis said.

By Cindy Wooden