Pope Francis to nurses, midwives: 'Thank you for your service to humanity'
By Cindy Wooden, Catholic News ServiceVATICAN CITY -- The coronavirus pandemic has drawn well-deserved attention to nurses and midwives, who are among "the saints next door," dedicated to helping people in some of the most joyful or painful moments of their lives, Pope Francis said.
The spiritual frontline amid pandemic
By Fr. Yaw AcheampongOn a cold afternoon in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, I took my shopping trolley to go for some groceries.
Pope Francis postpones World Meeting of Families, World Youth Day
By Cindy Wooden, Catholic News ServiceVATICAN CITY -- Pope Francis has agreed with a recommendation by the Dicastery for Laity, the Family and Life to postpone by one year the next gatherings of the World Meeting of Families and World Youth Day.
Pope Francis calls for universal basic income
By Cindy Wooden, Catholic News ServiceVATICAN CITY -- Pope Francis has joined a growing movement that believes the COVID-19 crisis should become a catalyst to consider a universal basic wage to guarantee everyone a minimum income.
Pope Francis calls for a 'contagion' of Easter hope
By Cindy Wooden, Catholic News ServiceVATICAN CITY -- In an Easter celebration like no other, Pope Francis prayed that Christ, "who has already defeated death and opened for us the way to eternal salvation," would "dispel the darkness of our suffering humanity and lead us into the light of his glorious day, a day that knows no end."
Easter proclaims the victory of life even amid pandemic, Pope Francis says at Easter Vigil
By Cindy Wooden, Catholic News ServiceVATICAN CITY -- In a dark and nearly empty St. Peter's Basilica, Pope Francis blessed a fire, lit the Easter candle and called Christians to keep kindling sparks of hope, knowing that Jesus has risen and death will not have the last word.
On Good Friday papal preacher reminds COVID-19 not divine punishment
By Junno Arocho Esteves, Catholic News ServiceVATICAN CITY -- The coronavirus is not some form of divine punishment but a tragic event that, like all suffering in one's life, is used by God to awaken humanity, said the preacher of the papal household.
On Holy Thursday, Pope Francis thanks God for world's priests
By Catholic News ServiceVATICAN CITY -- Unable to invite Rome's priests to mark Holy Thursday in St. Peter's Basilica, Pope Francis thanked all priests for their service and called those who died ministering to the sick and health care workers part of the community of "saints next door."
Pandemic is prime time for conversion, Pope Francis says in interview
By Cindy Wooden, Catholic News ServiceVATICAN CITY -- The COVID-19 quarantines, lockdowns and stay-at-home orders are the perfect opportunity for conversion: for individuals, for the church and for governments, Pope Francis said in an interview.
Pope Francis moves Good Friday collection for Holy Land to September
By Junno Arocho Esteves, Catholic News ServiceVATICAN CITY -- With Holy Week celebrations closed to the public due to the coronavirus pandemic, Pope Francis postponed the traditional Good Friday collection for the Holy Land to September.
Pope Francis gives world extraordinary blessing amid COVID-19 crisis
By Cindy Wooden, Catholic News ServiceVATICAN CITY -- The worldwide coronavirus pandemic is not God's judgment on humanity, but God's call on people to judge what is most important to them and resolve to act accordingly from now on, Pope Francis said.