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Pope Francis speaks during the opening of the Diocese of Rome's annual pastoral conference at the Basilica of St. John Lateran in Rome June 16.

Too many couples do not understand marriage is for life, Pope says

ROME – Because most people today do not understand that sacramental marriage really is a bond that binds them to each other for life, many marriages today can be considered invalid, Pope Francis said.

The nineteen men and women, as part of the "special forces" in the fight against child abuse, graduated from Rome's Pontifical Gregorian University on June 14.

‘Special forces’ armed with skills to fight abuse

The Catholic Church has launched a new kind of "special forces" in the fight against child abuse.

Eric Myatt talks about the rejuvenation of small parishes at the Divine Renovation conference at Mount Saint Vincent University in Halifax on June 13.

Parish renewal conference draws worldwide audience to Halifax

HALIFAX – Size doesn’t really matter. That’s the hymn book Fr. James Mallon sings from and one of the principles he pushed at a two-day Divine Renovation conference that attracted more than 600 people from 11 countries to his city and his church in mid-June.

“Size is a relative thing, it depends on who you are standing beside,” said the slight, 5-foot-7, 164-pound priestly dynamo.

Christians and Hindus alike share a devotion to St. Anthony. The saint’s relics will be touring churches in the Toronto area from June 11-19.

St. Anthony a link in the interfaith chain

TORONTO – St. Anthony of Padua is known as the miracle worker saint. Many people ask for his intercession for the loss of material things, but also for loss of peace of mind or sense of direction. Those who seek his help are never lost, forgotten or left behind.

Dominican Sister Patricia Dual, holding a grandchild, poses with her family members in 2011 after celebrating her final profession of vows. Sister Patricia is part of a relatively small but significant segment of women entering religious life after having raised children. Like Sister Dual, some also have grandchildren.

Sisters who also are mothers bring new perspectives to religious life

GLENMOORE, Pa. – The way Sister Rita Cameron sees it, her grandchildren didn't lose a grandmother when she became a sister. They gained 106 great-aunts.

St. Mary Magdalene is shown meditating on the crucifix in this painted wooden sculpture that is part of The Sacred Made Real exhibit in 2010 at the National Galley of Art in Washington. Pope Francis is elevating her memorial day to a feast day

Pope elevates memorial of St. Mary Magdalene to feast day

VATICAN CITY – Recognizing St. Mary Magdalene's role as the first to witness Christ's resurrection and as a "true and authentic evangelizer," Pope Francis raised the July 22 memorial of St. Mary Magdalene to a feast on the Church's liturgical calendar, the Vatican announced. 

It’s been a year since the launch of Laudato Si’, Pope Francis’ environmental encyclical. The encyclical is credited with expanding the conversation on the enviromental degradation we have done to our planet.

One year later 'Laudato Si' gets to the heart of the matter

Revolution was once a bad word — even The Beatles were against it. But ever since the late Steve Jobs got hold of it and applied it to every new gadget to come off the Apple assembly line, the word has lost its threat and most of its meaning.

The local offices building of PricewaterhouseCoopers is seen in Luxembourg. On June 10, PwC signs a new contract with the Vatican as a consultant. This comes two months after after it's auditing process was suspended due to internal reasons at the Vatican.

Vatican signs new contract with external financial auditor

VATICAN CITY – After suspending an external audit led by PricewaterhouseCoopers, the Vatican has signed a new contract with the auditing firm asking only that it provide assistance and consulting services.

A file photo of Pope Francis leaves his general audience in St. Peter's Square. The Pope says euthanasia is not an act of compassion.

Pope calls euthanasia triumph of selfishness, not act of compassion

VATICAN CITY – Growing acceptance of euthanasia does not indicate increased compassion, but highlights the rise of a selfish "throwaway culture" that casts aside the sick, the dying and those who do not satisfy the perceived requirements of a healthy life, Pope Francis said. 

Pope Francis at St. Peter's Square at the Vatican June 8. Francis told congregants that "take-it-or-leave-it" style of evangelism is not the way to go.

Pope Francis: A ‘my-way-or-the-highway’ faith is heretical

VATICAN CITY – Pope Francis has called on Catholics to adopt a “healthy realism” in their approach to their faith, and he decried rigid idealists as heretics.

A bottle of red wine being poured. Pope Francis says that wine expresses the abundance of a wedding and the joy of the celebration.

A wedding without wine is ‘shameful!’ says Pope Francis

VATICAN CITY – Pope Francis has upended many traditions during his extraordinary pontificate, to the point that some have wondered whether he is really Catholic.

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