Hawaii Catholic Herald

Newspaper of the Diocese of Honolulu

Pope tells Swiss Guards to arm themselves with the Gospel and a rosary

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Swiss Guard recruits stand at attention during their swearing-in ceremony at the Vatican May 6. Thirty-two new recruits were sworn in on the anniversary of the 1527 attack in which 147 Swiss soldiers died defending the pope. (Photo by Paul Haring)   VATICAN CITY — Wearing armor and carrying medieval-era weaponry — halberds and swords […]

Mother and son: Pope Francis shares a personal and intimate devotion to Mary

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VATICAN CITY — From Easter to Pentecost — and especially during the Marian month of May — Catholics recite the “Regina Coeli” prayer “with the emotion of children who are happy because their mother is happy” that Jesus has risen from the dead, Pope Francis said. Although his devotion to the Mother of God is […]

‘Scandal’ of inequality, fear of marriage must be addressed

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VATICAN CITY — Two millennia after the “Gospel of the family” defeated an abusive social practice that humiliated women, the “radical equality” of spouses in Christian marriage must now bear “new fruit” in society, including “the right to equal pay for equal work,” said Pope Francis. This “disparity” between men and women in the workplace […]

Pope urges prayers, action on behalf of migrants, poor

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VATICAN CITY — The poor, migrants in search of a better life and the unemployed want what all human beings want: life, dignity and a chance to earn a decent living, Pope Francis said in several speeches urging compassion and assistance by both governments and individuals. Reciting the “Regina Coeli” prayer April 19, just hours […]

Pope Francis’ Paschal Message: Only with humility is Easter understood

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Pope Francis waves to the crowd during his Easter message and blessing “urbi et orbi” (to the city and the world) from the central balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican April 5. (CNS photo/L’Osservatore Romano via Reuters )   VATICAN CITY — To enter Christ’s empty tomb like the disciples and see that […]

Pope, washing inmates’ feet, asks them to pray for him

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Pope Francis kisses the foot of a female inmate at Rome’s Rebibbia prison April 2. (CNS photo/Reuters via L’Osservatore Romano)   VATICAN CITY — In a moving ceremony that recalled how Jesus loved the world so deeply that he lowered himself to serve and died for everyone’s sins, Pope Francis washed the feet of 12 […]

Pope Francis announces Holy Year of Mercy

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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 […]

Message of mercy: Let Jesus cleanse you of your sins, Pope Francis urges

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Pope Francis gives the homily while celebrating Mass at St. Mary Mother of the Redeemer Parish on the outskirts of Rome March 8. (CNS photo/Paul Haring)   VATICAN CITY — Christian faith and a moral life are responses to God’s mercy and not the result of “titanic” human effort, Pope Francis said. In meetings and […]