Hawaii Catholic Herald

Newspaper of the Diocese of Honolulu

Pope Francis urges Muslim leaders to condemn violence done in name of Islam

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ABOARD THE PAPAL FLIGHT FROM ISTANBUL — Pope Francis called on political and religious leaders across the Muslim world to condemn violence done in the name of Islam. The pope said he told Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan Nov. 28 that “it would be beautiful if all Islamic leaders — whether they be political leaders, […]

Praying for the dead, pope asks special prayers for victims of war

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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 […]

Synod ends affirming tradition, leaving controversies alive

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Pope Francis attends the morning session of the extraordinary Synod of Bishops on the family at the Vatican Oct. 18. (CNS photo/Paul Haring)   VATICAN CITY — After several days of animated debate over its official midterm report, the Synod of Bishops on the family agreed on a final document more clearly grounded in traditional […]

Pope Francis | Closing talk, Synod of Bishops: Be open to the God of surprises

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Here are extended excerpts from Vatican Radio’s translation of Pope Francis’ final address to the Synod Fathers, Oct. 18. Dear Eminences, Beatitudes, Excellencies, Brothers and Sisters, With a heart full of appreciation and gratitude I want to thank, along with you, the Lord who has accompanied and guided us in the past days, with the […]

Pope tells bishops at family synod to speak fearlessly, listen humbly

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Pope Francis talks with Cardinal Angelo Sodano, retired Vatican secretary of state, before the start of the afternoon session on the first working day of the extraordinary Synod of Bishops on the family at the Vatican Oct. 6. (CNS photo/Paul Haring)   Vatican City — Pope Francis opened the first working session of an extraordinary […]

Survivors of Albania’s dictatorship give witness, move pope to tears

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  Banners depict Albanian martyrs, most of whom died under communism, as Pope Francis arrives to celebrate Mass in Mother Teresa Square in Tirana, Albania, Sept. 21. (CNS photo/Paul Haring)   TIRANA, Albania — Two survivors of Albania’s communist crackdown against the church brought Pope Francis to tears with their stories during a vespers service […]

Manaolana | Building bridges: Pope helps launch worldwide student social network

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VATICAN CITY — The wisdom of “It takes a village to raise a child” has been lost as kids are either overprotected by permissive parents or neglected, Pope Francis said. “The educational partnership has been broken” as families, schools and society are “no longer united together for the child,” he said Sept. 4 after holding […]

Pope Francis phones family of slain U.S. journalist

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U.S. journalist James Foley is seen during a 2011 press conference in Boston. Pope Francis phoned Foley’s bereaved family after he was killed by Islamic State militants in Syria. (CNS photo/Steven Senne, AP photo via Marquette University) NEW YORK — Pope Francis phoned the bereaved family of James Foley, a U.S. journalist killed by Islamic […]

800,000 present as pope moves 124 martyrs closer to sainthood

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Pope Francis arrives to celebrate the Aug. 16 beatification Mass of Paul Yun Ji-chung and 123 martyred companions in Seoul, South Korea. (CNS photo/Paul Haring)  SEOUL, South Korea — Pope Francis placed 124 Korean martyrs on the last step toward sainthood in a beatification Mass Aug. 16 that brought elation to the 800,000 people in […]