exclamation

Important notice: To continue serving our valued readers during the postal disruption, complete unrestricted access to the digital edition is available at no extra cost. This will ensure uninterrupted digital access to your copies. Click here to view the digital edition, or learn more.

Subscribe to this RSS feed
Pope Francis heads East, pointing to a new future for his Western Church

Pope Francis heads East, pointing to a new future for his Western Church

Pope Francis departs Aug. 14 on a five-day trip to South Korea, his first to Asia and the start of an important new papal focus on the region: In January, Francis will return to visit Sri Lanka and the Philippines, and a trip to Japan — where the Pope wanted to go as a young priest — is reportedly under consideration.

Australian Cardinal George Pell, prefect of the Vatican Secretariat for the Economy, celebrates Mass in late March in Sydney.

Pope Francis' finance chief talks Vatican reform

VATICAN CITY - Pope Francis wants a "poor Church for the poor," but that "doesn't necessarily mean a Church with empty coffers," said Cardinal George Pell, "and it certainly doesn't mean a Church that is sloppy or inefficient or open to being robbed."

The Belvedere Garden with its bushes and flowers carefully trimmed into geometric shapes is one of the historic sections of the papal villas in Castel Gandolfo, Italy, that Pope Francis ordered to be open to the public.

With no Pope in residence, Vatican opens gardens of papal villa

CASTEL GANDOLFO, Italy - The aisle is paved with stone from an ancient Roman road; the apse is made of carefully trimmed evergreen bushes; the columns are tall, thin cypress trees; and the nave is a lily pond, complete with gold fish.

A Catholic ceremony takes place at the historic Chon Jin Am site in Gwangju, South Korea, June 24. The country is set to host about 30 countries for a five-day Asian Youth Day event that is focused on formation and spiritual life, particularly for youth leaders. The event will coincide with Pope Francis' visit to that country, where he is scheduled to beatify 124 Korean martyrs.

Pope Francis' Korea trip a chance for Catholics to renew faith

NORTHVILLE, Mich. - When St. John Paul II canonized 103 Korean martyrs in 1984 in Seoul, South Korea, Dr. Alexius Hong was there to attend the canonization Mass.

Pope Francis sent a papal delegation in July to Paraguay to investigate the activities of the Rev. Carlos Urrutigoity (pictured), a priest accused of sex abuse in Pennsylvania, and on July 30 the Vatican removed him from his position.

Pope Benedict XVI OK’d abusive priest in Paraguay, local bishop says

A showdown between Pope Francis and a conservative bishop in Paraguay is heating up as the bishop rejected charges that he sheltered a priest accused of sexual misconduct, and claimed that Pope Benedict XVI himself vouched for the suspect cleric just days before his election as pope in 2005.

The Congregation for Divine Worship and Discipline of the Sacraments has urged bishops to clamp down on singing, moving around and other casual expressions of affection when the sign of peace is exchanged during Mass.

Vatican urges priests to clamp down on excessive emotions during the sign of peace

VATICAN CITY - In an effort to insure a more sober ritual, the Vatican has urged bishops to clamp down on singing, moving around and other casual expressions of affection when the sign of peace is exchanged during Mass.

Changing needs, changing focus: Councils advise, encourage church

Changing needs, changing focus: Councils advise, encourage church

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

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

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

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

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.

Page 205 of 255