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Pope Francis attends a meeting with the patriarchs and major archbishops of the Eastern Catholic churches in Syria, Iraq and and other parts of the Middle East, at the Vatican Nov. 21.

Pope prays for peace, full religious freedom for all in Middle East

VATICAN CITY - After a two-hour private meeting with the patriarchs and major archbishops of the Eastern Catholic churches, Pope Francis prayed for peace and full religious freedom throughout the Middle East.

Archbishop Fouad Tawl, the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, waves to the more than 6,000 parishioners, welcoming them to a special Mass to mark the start of the final week of the Year of Faith.

Year of Faith coming to an end

NAZARETH - Archbishop Fouad Tawl, the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, urged “faith and only faith” during a Mass celebrated Nov. 17 in the city of Jesus’ childhood to mark the final week of the Year of Faith.

Pope Francis embraces Vinicio Riva, 53, during his general audience in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican Nov. 6. Riva, who is afflicted with neurofibromatosis, said receiving the pope's embrace was like being in paradise. Riva is from a small village nea r Vincenza in northern Italy.

Pope's embrace was heavenly, says man with disfiguring disease

VATICAN CITY - For someone who has frequently been shunned and humiliated because of a disease that has severely disfigured his entire body, receiving the pope's loving embrace was like being in paradise.

On Nov. 26 the Vatican will publish "Evangelii Gaudium" ("The Joy of the Gospel”), Pope Francis' first apostolic exhortation.

Pope Francis' first apostolic exhortation to be published Nov. 26

VATICAN CITY - The Vatican will publish Pope Francis' first apostolic exhortation Nov. 26, two days after he formally delivers it to the church at a Mass concluding the 2012-13 Year of Faith.

Bishop Marcelo Sanchez Sorondo, chancellor of the academies, said Pope Francis had specifically asked him to have the academies study the problem of new forms of slavery, including the trafficking of people and human organs. After Pope Francis entrusted two Vatican academies to study the problem of human trafficking, a group of women religious asked the pope to raise greater awareness in the church about the issue by establishing a worldwide day of prayer and fasting.

Women religious ask pope for world day of prayer against trafficking

VATICAN CITY - After Pope Francis entrusted two Vatican academies to study the problem of human trafficking, a group of women religious asked the pope to raise greater awareness in the church about the issue by establishing a worldwide day of prayer and fasting.

Michael Swan in Istanbul, Turkey.

Getting to meet, understand the other: the path to peace

Interfaith dialogue doesn’t start with an exchange of creeds or comparison of theologies. It begins with friendship.

Pope Francis leads the Angelus from the window of his studio overlooking St. Peter's Square at the Vatican Nov. 1, the feast of All Saints.

Saints aren't superheroes, they just never strayed from God, pope says

VATICAN CITY - Saints aren't superheroes, they are regular people who just never left God's side after encountering Him and His love, Pope Francis said on the feast of All Saints.

Archbishop Lorenzo Baldisseri, Secretary General of the Synod of Bishops, asked Bishops around the world to take a realistic look at the situation of families under their care and at how effective pastoral and educational programs have been at promoting Church teaching on sexuality, marriage and family life.

Bishops asked to assess marriage, family life to prepare for synod

VATICAN CITY - Bishops around the world are being asked to take a realistic look at the situation of families under their care and at how effective pastoral and educational programs have been at promoting Church teaching on sexuality, marriage and family life.

Pope Francis will create his first cardinals during a consistory Feb. 22, the feast of the Chair of St. Peter.

Pope Francis set to create first batch of cardinals in February

VATICAN CITY - Pope Francis will create his first cardinals during a consistory Feb. 22, the feast of the Chair of St. Peter.

Pope Francis walks through flags of the Italian folklore group "Sestiere di Porta Tufilla" from Ascoli Piceno as he arrives to lead his general audience in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican Oct. 30.

In times of trouble, Pope says, call on the communion of saints

VATICAN CITY - Trials and doubts are part of everyone's faith journey, "even mine," Pope Francis said, but Christians know they can get through the hard times with help from God, other Christians and those in heaven.

Pope Francis talks with the outgoing Vatican secretary of state, Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, during the cardinal's farewell ceremony at the Vatican Oct. 15. Pope Francis acknowledged his contribution to the running of the Vatican.

Outgoing Vatican secretary of state stresses continuity between popes

VATICAN CITY - Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, who as Vatican secretary of state drew rising criticism for failures of the Vatican bureaucracy he oversaw, stepped down Oct. 15 with a speech praising the pontificate of retired Pope Benedict XVI and stressing its continuity with that of Pope Francis.

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