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 to married couples: Be icons of God’s love
VATICAN CITY Through the sacrament of matrimony, married couples are called to be living icons of God’s love in the world, Pope Francis said; and when they fight — and all couples do — they don’t have “to call the United Nations,” but find simple words and gestures to say they are sorry. Concluding a […]
The Francis style: A plain cassock, a simple apartment, a cheap car, phone calls are all gestures that teach
Pope Francis steps into his Ford Focus car as he leaves a meeting with Italy’s President Giorgio Napolitano at the Quirinal presidential palace in Rome Nov. 14. (CNS photo/Paul Haring) VATICAN CITY From the moment Pope Francis, dressed simply in a white cassock, stepped out on the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica for the […]
Avanti!: The new refrain: Go forth. Evangelize. Serve the poor. Be audacious. Do not be afraid. Smile.
Pope Francis kisses a disabled man after spotting him in the crowd and having his popemobile stop as he rode through St. Peter’s Square March 19 ahead of his inaugural Mass at the Vatican. (CNS photo/L’Osservatore Romano) VATICAN CITY Pope Francis’ most frequent advice and exhortation to Catholics — from laypeople in parishes to bishops […]
Pope Francis, with Benedict present, creates new cardinals
VATICAN CITY — On a feast day commemorating the authority Jesus gave to St. Peter and his successors — the popes — Pope Francis created 19 new cardinals in the presence of retired Pope Benedict XVI. To the great surprise of most people present, the retired pope entered St. Peter’s Basilica about 15 minutes before […]