Pope Francis' zucchetto is blown away by a gust of wind during his general audience in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican March 21.

Present in the Eucharist, Jesus transforms those who receive him, Pope says

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VATICAN – Despite the chill and gusts of wind in St. Peter's Square, Pope Francis welcomed the beginning of spring with an impromptu lesson about gardening and how to grow into being better Christians.
Robert Kinghorn: Young evangelists heed cries of the poor

Robert Kinghorn: Young evangelists heed cries of the poor

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Recently I found myself in the basement of a downtown church surrounded by a confirmation class of children, teachers and parents. The church sits in an area where the outreach of the Church on the Street is most challenging, and the class had responded to the call of Pope Francis in The Joy of the Gospel: “We cannot passively and calmly wait in our church buildings; we need to move from a passive ministry of mere conservation to a decidedly missionary pastoral mission.” 

Pope Francis blesses with a crucifix during an audience with people who have autism in Paul VI hall at the Vatican Nov. 2014.

The crucifix is for contemplation, not decoration, says Pope

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VATICAN – On Sunday Pope Francis said that the crucifix is not just something decorative to hang on the wall or wear, it is an important sign of our beliefs – and should be truly looked at and prayed before as the source of our salvation.
The statue of St. Peter is seen as Pope Francis leaves his general audience in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican March 14.

Pope Francis: How many people go beyond the mindless recitation of the Lord's Prayer?

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VATICAN – Forgiving those who have caused pain or offense is not easy, Pope Francis said.
Archbishop Luis Ladaria, prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, arrives for a news conference to present the document "Placuit Deo" at the Vatican March 1. The document, approved by Pope Francis, focuses on two errors the pope sees in a growing number of Christians.

Salvation of souls the primary purpose of pastoral care, Doctrine of Faith prefect says

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VATICAN – Promoting and defending Catholic teaching is itself a pastoral practice, said Archbishop Luis Ladaria Ferrer, S.J., the Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.
A clergyman hears confession from Pope Francis during a Lenten penance service March 9 in St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican. The service marked the start of the worldwide celebration of "24 Hours for the Lord," a period when at least one church in every diocese was invited to be open all night -- or at least for extended hours -- for confession and eucharistic adoration.

Confessors should seek to bring penitents closer to Jesus, Pope says

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By truly listening to the penitent during confession, "we listen to Jesus himself, poor and humble; by listening to the Holy Spirit, we put ourselves in attentive obedience, becoming listeners of the Word" in order to know what God wants to be done, he said.
Mary Marrocco: Lent is an opportunity to go beyond the noise

Mary Marrocco: Lent is an opportunity to go beyond the noise

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What’s the best way to wake a sleeper? Throw cold water? Tickle the feet or play loud music?

Pope Francis celebrates Mass Feb. 16 in the chapel of the Domus Sanctae Marthae at the Vatican.

Don't hold grudges; forgiveness comes from forgiving others, Pope says

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VATICAN – Christians must let go of resentments and forgive those who have wronged them so that they may experience God's forgiveness, Pope Francis.
Pope Francis venerates a Marian image outside the Basilica of St. Mary Major in Rome in this May 26, 2016, file photo. The Pope has instituted a new Marian feast honoring Mary as mother of the church. It will be celebrated every year on the Monday after Pentecost.

Pope adds feast of Mary, Mother of the Church to universal calendar

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VATICAN – Pope Francis has decreed that Latin-rite Catholics around the world will mark the feast of "the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church" on the Monday after Pentecost each year.
Pope Francis pointed out that when Jesus drove out the merchants and moneychangers from the temple, it wasn’t considered a violent act by those who witnessed it, but a typical action of prophets, who would often denounce abuses and excesses in the name of God.

The soul is God's temple, not your own, Pope warns

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VATICAN – Like Jesus cast out the merchants from the temple in Jerusalem, we should drive the desire for personal gain and advantage from our hearts, replacing it with love, Pope Francis said Sunday.
Pope Francis hears confession of a youth April 23, 2016 in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican.

Returning to the confessional takes 'a bit of courage'

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EDMONTON – Of all the sacraments, confession often appears to be the most intimidating, and most people tend to avoid it — sometimes for years, says Fr. Roger Niedzielski.
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