U.S. President Barack Obama shares a laugh with Pope Francis as he receives a copy of the pope’s apostolic exhortation, “Evangelii Gaudium” (“The Joy of the Gospel”), during a private audience at the Vatican March 27. (CNS photo/Stefano Spaziani, pool) VATICAN CITY In their first encounter, Pope Francis received U.S. President Barack Obama at the […]
Pope Francis to fathers: Be at your children’s side
VATICAN CITY — On the feast of St. Joseph, patron saint of the universal church and Jesus’ earthly father, Pope Francis urged all dads in the world to stick by their children’s side, teaching them, guiding them and loving them. “I ask that you have the grace to be very close to your children, letting […]
Pope Francis to the Mafia: Turn away now from the road to hell
ROME — Surrounded by survivors of innocent people killed by the Mafia, Pope Francis made an emotional appeal to Italian gangsters to give up their lives of crime and avoid eternal damnation. “Men and women of the Mafia, please change your lives, convert, stop doing evil,” the pope said at a prayer vigil March 21. […]
The Francis effect: Catholics love the pope, but for the lapsed, not enough to return to church
Pope Francis prays during his general audience in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican Feb. 26. (CNS photo/Tony Gentile, Reuters) WASHINGTON Pope Francis’ popularity began immediately after his March 13, 2013, election when he walked onto the balcony and humbly greeted the crowd in St. Peter’s Square. His appeal has been on a fast […]
Everything he does is evangelization: Hawaii observers find the Holy Father’s attraction extends beyond Catholicism’s borders
It may be too early to measure a “Pope Francis effect” in the Islands tangibly in numbers of new churchgoers or priestly vocations, but some local Catholics said the pontiff in his first year has nonetheless made a refreshing impact on the faithful and non-Catholics alike. Several diocesan staff who attended papal events in 2013 […]
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 […]
Notable & quotable: ‘Who am I to judge,” and other memorable sound bites from Pope Francis over the past year
VATICAN CITY In his formal documents, many speeches and unscripted morning homilies the past year, Pope Francis has given the church a bounty of memorable sound bites. Here’s a look at what could be the top 10 most quotable quotes. “Brothers and sisters, good evening. You all know that the duty of the conclave was […]
Top 10 things: His pet parrot, his job as a bouncer and other facts most people don’t know about Peter’s successor
Pope Francis holds a parrot handed to him by a pilgrim during his general audience in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican Jan. 29. (CNS photo/L’Osservatore Romano via Reuters) VATICAN CITY When Cardinal Jean-Louis Tauran walked onto the central balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica, telling the crowds in Latin: “I announce to you a […]
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 […]