A young man touches the cheek of Pope Francis during the pontiff’s weekly audience in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican May 14. (CNS photo/Claudio Peri, EPA)
Pope Francis, with retired Benedict, canonizes Sts. John and John Paul
A massive crowd, an estimated one million people, is seen as Pope Francis celebrates the canonization Mass for Sts. John XXIII and John Paul II in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican April 27. (CNS photo/Paul Haring) VATICAN CITY — Canonizing two recent popes in the presence of his immediate predecessor, Pope Francis praised […]
Father Kenneth Doyle: Heaven without my children?
Q Is the happiness of heaven dependent on human factors? Specifically, when I die and — hopefully — get to heaven, how could I be eternally happy if my children were not to make it with me? (The way things are right now, that is a distinct possibility.) How could I ever be at peace […]
Father John Catoir: Juggling the difficulties of life with grace
Life has been falsely compared to a juggling act, where the juggler tosses many balls in the air with ease and keeps them all circulating magically until he or she sets them down in perfect order. Real life is not at all like that. In fact, in real life, most of us will make mistakes […]
Manaolana | An award-winning graphic novel tells a story of faith and rebellion in China
NEW YORK — “Boxers & Saints” (First Second Books), a two-volume graphic novel written and drawn by Gene Luen Yang, is an example of comic art at its best. Author Yang is a practicing Catholic who teaches computer science at Bishop O’Dowd High School in Oakland, Calif., (where Bishop Larry Silva graduated). But “Boxers & […]
Vatican spokesman: Pope’s phone call didn’t change church teaching
VATICAN CITY — Reports that Pope Francis told an Argentine woman civilly married to a divorced man that she can receive Communion “cannot be confirmed as reliable,” said Jesuit Father Federico, the Vatican spokesman. Julio Sabetta, 50, wrote on his Facebook page that Pope Francis phoned his wife, Jacquelina Lisbona, April 20 at their home […]
Pope Francis at Easter: Love gives life; share it with others
VATICAN CITY — Pope Francis urged Christians to remember how they first encountered Christ and to share his love and mercy with others, especially through acts of caring and sharing. Proclaiming the good news of Jesus’ resurrection means giving concrete witness “to unconditional and faithful love,” he said April 20 before solemnly giving his blessing […]
Pope Francis on Good Friday: Evil will not have the last word
ROME — Standing in the midst of a giant cross outlined with small torches, Pope Francis said the cross is a reminder of how much evil people are capable of and how much love Jesus had for a sinful humanity. “It was a heavy cross like the night for those who are abandoned, heavy like […]
Pope Francis on Holy Thursday: Serve others with love
VATICAN CITY — In the humble act of washing his disciples’ feet, Jesus is showing all Christians how he wants them to serve others with love, Pope Francis said. “This is the legacy that Jesus leaves us,” and he wants it to be passed down through people’s loving service to others, he said. During the […]
Pope Francis goes to confession: Bless me, Father
Leading a penitential liturgy in St. Peter’s Basilica, Pope Francis surprised his liturgical adviser by going to confession during the service. After an examination of conscience March 28, the pope and 61 priests moved into confessionals or to chairs set up against the walls to offer the sacrament to individual penitents. However, as Msgr. Guido […]