By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service VATICAN CITY — Being religious does not automatically mean someone is compassionate, and yet for a Christian compassion is a clear sign of following Christ, Pope Leo XIV said. “Before being a religious matter, compassion is a question of humanity! Before being believers, we are called to be human,” […]
Pope Leo XIV calls for ‘a united church’ at inaugural Mass
By Justin McLellan Catholic News Service VATICAN CITY — Launching his papacy with a call for reconciliation and communion, Pope Leo XIV formally began his ministry as the successor of St. Peter by calling for “a united church, a sign of unity and communion, which becomes a leaven for a reconciled world.” “In this our […]
Funeral of Pope Francis: Late pontiff believed that ‘church is a home for all’
Catholic News Service VATICAN CITY — Pope Francis was “a pope among the people, with an open heart toward everyone,” said Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, dean of the College of Cardinals, as he presided over the funeral of the pope, who died April 21 at the age of 88. And the people — an estimated […]
Pope Francis leaves hospital, with recovery to continue
By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service ROME — Immediately before leaving Rome’s Gemelli hospital after more than five weeks of treatment for breathing difficulties, double pneumonia and infections, Pope Francis greeted hundreds of people who gathered outside the hospital March 23. With a very weak voice, Pope Francis thanked the crowd, waving his hands and […]
Temperance is enriching, not dull, Pope Francis says
By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service VATICAN CITY — Exercising the virtue of temperance is not a recipe for a boring life, Pope Francis said, but rather it is the secret to enjoying every good thing. If one wants “to appreciate a good wine, savoring it in small sips is better than swallowing it all […]
Christmas spirit in the air as Vatican unveils Nativity scene, tree
By Junno Arocho Esteves Catholic News Service VATICAN CITY — The annual unveiling of the Vatican’s Christmas tree and Nativity scene brought some much-needed warmth to people’s hearts as winter approached. Hundreds of people in St. Peter’s Square Dec. 7 applauded as white curtains unfurled, revealing a 52-foot wide artistic representation of Jesus’ birth made […]