Pope opening Church to new possibilities
Catholics may be getting used to a Pope who says the unexpected. “Who am I to judge?” “The court is the leprosy of the papacy.” “Proselytism is solemn nonsense.” “How I would like a Church that is poor and for the poor.”
Pope declares medieval mystic a saint, advances seven other causes
VATICAN CITY - Pope Francis advanced the sainthood causes of seven men and women, including a Canadian and an English founder of two religious orders for women.
Archbishop says synod theme shows importance of family for Pope
VATICAN CITY - Pope Francis' decision to call an extraordinary Synod of Bishops on the family in 2014 demonstrates how important he believes the family is and the urgency he sees in responding to problems Christian families face, said the head of the Pontifical Council for the Family.
Pope calls synod to discuss families, divorce and remarriage
VATICAN CITY - The predicament of divorced and remarried Catholics will be a major topic of discussion when bishops from around the world meet at the Vatican in October 2014.
Legionaries of Christ renewal goes forward with January general chapter
ROME - Members of the Legionaries of Christ will begin their extraordinary general chapter Jan. 8 to elect new leaders and approve a new constitution, the key step in an effort to renew the order after revelations about the misconduct of their founder.
Holy, holy, holy: Pope talks about his favorite saints
VATICAN CITY - Who are the holy men and women Pope Francis looks up to? He revealed many of them in two recently published interviews.
In interviews, Pope Francis crafts a new genre of papal language
VATICAN CITY- When Pope Benedict XVI answered a journalist's 2010 question about condom use by offering a nuanced reflection on the ethical complexities of a hypothetical case, his words led to a worldwide media sensation, a clarification by the Vatican spokesman and a statement from the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith that the Pope had not changed Church teaching on contraception.
Have the courage to marry, start a family, pope tells youths in Assisi
VATICAN CITY - In societies that trumpet individual rights, see everything as fleeting and see no value in sticking to something that's difficult, deciding to get married today takes courage, Pope Francis told young people in Assisi.
Pope, in Assisi, calls on Church to renounce 'spirit of the world'
Updated 10/04/13
ASSISI, Italy (CNS) -- Making his first pilgrimage as Pope to the birthplace of his papal namesake, Pope Francis called on the whole church to imitate St. Francis of Assisi, embracing poverty and stripping itself of the "spirit of world."
Pope, cardinal advisers looking at major overhaul of Roman Curia
Updated: 10/03/13
VATICAN CITY - Pope Francis and his international Council of Cardinals are laying out plans to completely overhaul the Roman Curia, underlining its role of "service to the universal church and the local churches," the Vatican spokesman said.
Pope and advisory council discuss synod reform on first day
VATICAN CITY - Pope Francis and his eight cardinal advisers on Church governance spent much of their first day together discussing reform of the Synod of Bishops, but the Vatican downplayed expectations that their discussions would lead to major changes in the near future.