VATICAN CITY — Always be merciful, just like Jesus, who came to forgive, not condemn, Pope Francis told new priests. “Always have in front of your eyes the example of the Good Shepherd, who didn’t come to be served, but to serve and to look for and save those who were lost,” he said in […]
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 […]
Pope Francis to seminarians: Don’t be princes; don’t give long, boring homilies
ADVICE TO SEMINARIANS Don’t be businessmen or princes; don’t give long, boring homilies VATICAN CITY — Pope Francis told seminarians not to become “orphan priests,” who are motherless without Mary; “businessman priests,” who are after money; or “prince priests,” who are aloof from the people. He also warned them not to give “boring homilies,” saying […]
Photo: Gentle touch
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 […]
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 […]
