Pope Francis preaches during a Lenten penance service in St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican March 13. During a March 13 penance service, the pope announced an extraordinary jubilee, a Holy Year of Mercy, to be celebrated from Dec. 8, 2015, until Nov. 20, 2016. (CNS photo/Paul Haring) VATICAN CITY — Pope Francis announced […]
Pope Francis exhorts new cardinals to exercise charity with a sense of justice
New Cardinal Soane Mafi of Tonga greets pilgrims from his country after a consistory at which he was made a cardinal by Pope Francis in St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican Feb. 14. (CNS photo/Paul Haring) VATICAN CITY — In a Valentine’s Day ceremony to create 20 new cardinals, Pope Francis offered a meditation […]
Tears a proper, holy response to suffering, pope tells youths
Pope Francis embraces Glyzelle Palomar, 12, after she spoke during a meeting with young people at the University of Santo Tomas in Manila Jan. 18. Also pictured is Jun Chura, 14, who also spoke. (CNS photo/Paul Haring) MANILA, Philippines — The realities of life described by young people, especially the tearful question of a […]
Trip highlights pontiff’s tenacity, attention to details
Pope Francis celebrates Mass adjacent to the airport in Tacloban, Philippines, Jan. 17. (CNS photo/Paul Haring) MANILA, Philippines — New situations are opportunities to learn new things, even about the 78-year-old Pope Francis. After two days of watching the pope tenaciously keep his appointments in the Philippines despite pouring rain Jan. 17-18, one lesson […]
It’s all songs, hugs and kisses as Francis surprises ex-street kids
Pope Francis is pictured with youths at a home for former street children in Manila, Philippines, Jan. 16. (CNS photo/L’Osservatore Romano via Reuters) MANILA, Philippines — Pope Francis did not disappoint hundreds of former street children who were part of a massive campaign to show him one of the centers where they have found […]
Praying for the dead, pope asks special prayers for victims of war
VATICAN CITY — The early November feasts of All Saints and All Souls call Catholics to contemplate their ultimate destiny, hope in the eternal happiness of their beloved dead and remember the thousands of innocent people dying each day because of human evil and selfishness. Because human beings believe they are gods and the lords […]
‘Stop these crimes’: Pope Francis appeals for peace in Iraq
VATICAN CITY — Pope Francis condemned the actions of Islamic State militants in Iraq, saying that persecuting Christians and other minorities “seriously offends God and seriously offends humanity.” “One cannot generate hatred in God’s name,” he said Aug. 10. “One cannot make war in God’s name!” After reciting the Angelus, Pope Francis asked tens of […]
Pope Francis to new archbishops: Stay focused on following Jesus
Pope Francis raises the Book of the Gospels as he celebrates a Mass marking the feast of Sts. Peter and Paul in St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican June 29. The pope presented the pallium to 24 archbishops from around the world during the liturgy. The pallium is a woolen band worn around the shoulders […]
Pope, at charismatics rally, invites them to Vatican in 2017
ROME Meeting more than 50,000 Catholic charismatics in Rome’s Olympic Stadium, Pope Francis admitted he was not always comfortable with the way they prayed, but he knelt onstage as they prayed for him and over him by singing and speaking in tongues. “In the early years of the charismatic renewal in Buenos Aires, I did […]
Pope Francis’ homily: A Martian walks into church and asks to be baptized …
VATICAN CITY — Christians must recognize that they do not lead or guide the church, but that the Holy Spirit does and the Holy Spirit can be unpredictable, Pope Francis said. “If, for example, an expedition of Martians arrived tomorrow,” and one said he wanted to be baptized, “What would happen?” the pope asked May […]
