Hawaii Catholic Herald

Newspaper of the Diocese of Honolulu

Vatican security always on high alert, chief says after IS threats

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VATICAN CITY — The head of Vatican security said Islamic State militants have threatened the Vatican, but there are no indications of any planned attack. The Vatican gendarmes, Swiss Guards and the Italian state police that patrol the perimeter of Vatican City State are always on high alert, said Domenico Giani, the commander of the […]

Pope Francis’ handy tips to prepare for a Lenten confession

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Pope Francis hears confession during a penitential liturgy in St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican March 28, 2014. Pope Francis surprised his liturgical adviser by going to confession during the service. (CNS photo/L’Osservatore Romano via Reuters)   VATICAN CITY — As Catholics are encouraged to make going to confession a significant part of their lives […]

Pope Francis has given sheep and shepherds a renewed emphasis

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A 13th-century mosaic of the Good Shepherd is seen in the Basilica of Santa Maria in the Trastevere neighborhood in Rome March 5. The biblical metaphor of the Christian leader as a shepherd has taken on renewed emphasis with Pope Francis’ call for clergy to be “shepherds living with the smell of sheep.” (CNS photo/Paul […]

Pope Francis: ‘Who, me? Yes, you’ … Judge yourself, not others

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VATICAN CITY — Drop the innocent look and the habit of judging others, Pope Francis said; recognizing one’s own faults and failings is the first requirement of being a good Christian. In fact, paradoxically, one finds peace and relief in judging one’s own sins, being merciful toward others and saying, “Who am I to judge?” […]

Pope plans to canonize St. Therese’s parents during family synod

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VATICAN CITY — Pope Francis is expected to canonize Blessed Louis and Zelie Martin, the parents of St. Therese of Lisieux, during the world Synod of Bishops on the family in October. Cardinal Angelo Amato, prefect of the Congregation for Saints’ Causes, leading a conference Feb. 27 on the role of saints in the life […]

Pope Francis: Don’t let meatless Fridays be selfish, soulless, seafood splurge

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Pope Francis elevates the Eucharist during Ash Wednesday Mass at the Basilica of Santa Sabina in Rome Feb. 18. (CNS photo/Paul Haring)   VATICAN CITY — Real fasting isn’t just restricting food choices, it must also include cleansing the heart of all selfishness and making room in one’s life for those in need and those […]

Pope Francis exhorts new cardinals to exercise charity with a sense of justice

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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

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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

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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 […]