Faith

Changing needs, changing focus: Councils advise, encourage church

Changing needs, changing focus: Councils advise, encourage church

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VATICAN CITY - The Roman Curia did not have any "pontifical councils" until 1967, but since then they have become a popular structure for focusing attention on practical areas of life in the church and the world.

Changing needs, changing names: Reform of Curia is Vatican tradition

Changing needs, changing names: Reform of Curia is Vatican tradition

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VATICAN CITY - Pope Francis and his international Council of Cardinals continue to study the most effective and efficient way to organize the Roman Curia, a large bureaucracy with a long history of expansions and a few, short-term, attempts at consolidation.

Filipino boys walk along a dike near Manila, Philippines, July 29. Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle announced during a press conference that Pope Francis will visit the island nation January 15-19 and is likely to visit victims of Typhoon Haiyan.

Pope Francis to visit Philippines and Sri Lanka in January

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MANILA, Philippines - Philippine Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle confirmed July 29 that Pope Francis will visit Jan. 15-19, after spending several days in Sri Lanka.

Pope Francis smiles as he celebrates Mass at the Royal Palace of Caserta in Italy July 26. In an interview published in part in the Argentine weekly "Viva" July 27, Pope Francis listed his Top 10 tips for bringing greater joy to one's life.

Pope Francis reveals top 10 secrets to happiness

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VATICAN CITY - Slowing down, being generous and fighting for peace are part of Pope Francis' secret recipe for happiness.

Israeli soldiers meet July 25 after ending their duty inside the Gaza Strip, on the Israeli side of the border.

All is lost with war, says Pope Francis

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VATICAN CITY - It's time to stop war, fighting and conflicts, which do nothing but kill and maim, leaving children unexploded ordnance for toys and lives without happiness, Pope Francis said.

Pope Francis greets a woman during his visit with Giovanni Traettino, a Protestant pastor and his friend, in Caserta, Italy, July 28. Pope Francis said he knew people would be shocked that he would make such a trip outside of Rome to visit a group of Pen tecostals, "but I went to visit my friends."

Pope Francis meets 200 Pentecostals in Italy

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VATICAN CITY - His voice breaking with emotion, Giovanni Traettino, a Pentecostal pastor in southern Italy and longtime friend of Pope Francis, welcomed the Pope, "my beloved brother," to his partially built church in Caserta.

Vatican revising canon law on abuse penalties

Vatican revising canon law on abuse penalties

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VATICAN CITY - Church law has procedures and penalties for effectively dealing with allegations of clerical sexual abuse, but the Vatican is working to revise a section of the Code of Canon Law to make those norms and procedures clearer and, therefore, more effective, said the president of the Pontifical Council for Legislative Texts.

Pope Leo XIII is depicted seated in an official Vatican portrait circa 1878. The pope, credited with being the founder of Catholic social teaching, anonymously crafted Latin riddles for a Roman magazine.

Papal puzzler: Leo XIII anonymously published riddles in Latin

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VATICAN CITY - Going by the pseudonym "X," Pope Leo XIII anonymously crafted poetic puzzles in Latin for a Roman periodical at the turn of the 19th century.

Italy's flag is seen as Pope Francis greets people at Rome's Church of St. Gregory VII March 21 after a prayer service for victims of the Mafia.

Why is Pope Francis spending so much time going after the Mafia?

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VATICAN CITY - It began with the murder of an innocent three-year-old boy who burned to death in his grandfather’s car in a Mafia ambush in January. Pope Francis was so shaken by the death of Nicola “Coco” Campolongo that he spoke out against the ferocity of the crime and those behind it.

Malaysian youths gather in Petaling Jaya, Malaysia, July 18 for a candlelight vigil for passengers and crew of the Malaysian Airlines Flight MH17. Pope Francis offered prayers for the 298 passengers and crew members who died when the plane went down July 17 in eastern Ukraine.

Pope prays for victims of downed plane, urges peace in Ukraine

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VATICAN CITY - Though exactly what happened to Malaysian Airlines Flight MH17 remained unclear, Pope Francis offered prayers for the 298 passengers and crew members who died when it came down in eastern Ukraine.

An Iraqi man carrying a cross and a Quran attends Mass at Mar Girgis Church in Baghdad July 20. Pope Francis called for prayers, dialogue, and peace, as the last Iraqi Christians flee the Iraqi city of Mosul.

Pope calls for prayers as militants chase all Christians out of Mosul

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Updated 07/22/14

VATICAN CITY - As the last Iraqi Christians in Mosul fled the city, Pope Francis urgently called for prayers, dialogue and peace.

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