Faith

Pope Francis accepts a relic of Blessed Junipero Serra from Archbishop Jose H. Gomez of Los Angeles at the conclusion of Mass celebrated at the Pontifical North American College in Rome May 2. It was the first papal visit to the U.S. seminary since 1980. The Pope said that while some people seem to relish the idea of listing Bl. Serra's defects, he wondered how many would have the courage he had to leave everything and preach the Gospel.

Pope defends Blessed Serra, prays for missionary zeal in Americas

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VATICAN CITY - People seem to enjoy finding the shortcomings of candidates for sainthood like Blessed Junipero Serra, but they should ask themselves if they would have his generosity and courage to leave everything behind to care for the poor and bring them the Gospel, Pope Francis said.

U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon addresses an April 28 summit on the moral dimensions of climate change and its impact on the poor. Also pictured is Italy's President Sergio Mattarella, lower left.

Vatican kicks off environmental push with climate change summit

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Top officials from the Vatican, the head of the United Nations and leading scientists came together at a summit Tuesday (April 28) in Vatican City to label the fight against man-made climate change as a “moral issue.”

U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon addresses an April 28 Vatican summit on the moral dimensions of climate change and its impact on the poor.

U.N. head looks to religions for 'moral leadership' on climate change

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VATICAN CITY - Promoting sustainable development and mitigating climate change will take more than just global policies and agreements, it will also take a strong, unified stance from the world's religions, the secretary-general of the United Nations said at the Vatican.

The Shroud of Turin is displayed during a preview for journalists at the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist in Turin, Italy, April 18. A public exposition of the shroud, believed by many to be the burial cloth of Jesus, runs from April 19 through June 24, 2015.

Turin expecting millions of pilgrims for shroud exposition

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TURIN, Italy - A thin white cloth draped over the glass-covered Shroud of Turin was pulled down and billowed to the floor, marking the official opening of the venerated icon’s exposition to the public.

French media are reporting that France’s potential ambassador to the Vatican, Laurent Stefanini, was rejected because he was homosexual. The French government is waiting on a response from the Vatican on whether Stefanini is accepted or rejected.

French media report ambassador to Vatican rejected because he is gay

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VATICAN CITY - Despite media reports that Pope Francis refused the candidate France proposed as its next ambassador to the Holy See — speculating that it is due to the fact Laurent Stefanini is homosexual — the French government has yet to receive an official response from the Vatican, said a spokesperson for the French government.

An Italian police bomb disposal vehicle is parked outside the U.S. Embassy to the Vatican in Rome Dec. 29, 2010.

Italians arrest suspected terrorists; Vatican says no current threat

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VATICAN CITY - Italian police arrested at least nine people in what officials described as a terrorist cell that had planned, in 2010, to strike at the Vatican with a suicide bomber.

Pope Francis has accepted the resignation of Bishop Robert W. Finn of Kansas City-St. Joseph, Mo., who was convicted in 2012 on one misdemeanor count of failing to report suspected child abuse. Bishop Finn is pictured in a 2014 photo at the Vatican.

Pope accepts resignation of Bishop Finn

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VATICAN CITY - Pope Francis has accepted the resignation of Bishop Robert W. Finn of Kansas City-St. Joseph, Missouri, who was convicted in 2012 on one misdemeanour count of failing to report suspected child abuse.

St. John Paul II greets Rabbi Elio Toaff in 1986 at Romeís main synagogue. Rabbi Toaff, who served as Rome's chief rabbi from 1951 to 2000, died April 19 at age 99.

Rome rabbi credited with fostering Jewish-Catholic relations dies

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VATICAN CITY - Rome's retired chief rabbi, who played a key role in fostering closer ties between Jews and Catholics, died April 19 at the age of 99.

Migrants arrive at Zefyros beach near the coast of the southeastern island of Rhodes, Greece, April 20. At least three people drowned the day after Pope Francis appealed for the international community to do more to prevent such migrant deaths.

Pope urges prayers, action on behalf of migrants, unemployed, poor

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VATICAN CITY - The poor, migrants in search of a better life and the unemployed want what all human beings want: life, dignity and a chance to earn a decent living, Pope Francis said in several speeches urging compassion and assistance by both governments and individuals.

Pope Francis meets with representatives of the U.S. Leadership Conference of Women Religious in his library in the Apostolic Palace at the Vatican April 16. The same day the Vatican announced the conclusion of a seven-year process of investigation and di alogue with the group to ensure fidelity to church teachings. The outcome resulted in revised statues approved by the Vatican.

Vatican, LCWR announce successful conclusion of process to reform group

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VATICAN CITY - The Vatican approved new statutes and bylaws for the U.S. Leadership Conference of Women Religious, ending a seven-year process of investigating the group and engaging in dialogue with its officers to ensure greater harmony with church teaching.

Boston Cardinal Sean O’Malley, president of the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors, asked the Pope and the Council of Cardinals to “take on the subject of accountability and responsibility” when it comes to those in leadership who fail to comply with child protection norms, says a Vatican spokesperson.

Pope, cardinal advisors discuss bishops' accountability in abuse cases

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VATICAN CITY - The question of accountability for bishops and religious superiors who fail to follow through on protecting minors from abuse was "put on the table" during the latest meeting between Pope Francis and his international Council of Cardinals, said the Vatican spokesman.

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