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Copies of Pope Francis' apostolic exhortation on the family, "Amoris Laetitia" ("The Joy of Love"), are seen during the document's release at the Vatican April 8. The exhortation is the concluding document of the 2014 and 2015 synods of bishops on the family.

Moving Vatican II forward

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Pope Francis’ long meditation on love in the family does more than sum up two meetings of the world’s bishops in Rome in 2014 and 2015. Francis is bringing a new spark to an old fire.

Cardinal Thomas Collins at the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity in January.

Collins’ misgivings allayed by final Synod document

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TORONTO – In six months Cardinal Thomas Collins’ misgivings about the 2015 Synod on the Family have been banished by a deeply scriptural Synod summation from Pope Francis.

Astronaut Mike Hopkins works with a pair of free-flying satellites in the International Space Station's Kibo laboratory Nov. 4, 2013. Hopkins was able to observe his Catholic faith through prayer and taking holy Communion throughout his flight.

For Catholic astronauts, flying to space doesn't mean giving up the faith

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WASHINGTON - On the International Space Station there's a place, while filled with robotic equipment, where astronauts like to hang out. Called the Cupola, the small module has seven large bay windows that give crew members a panoramic view of Earth.

The cover of Time magazine on April 8, 1966 — Good Friday nonetheless —asked if God was dead. Five decades later, a new poll shows 89 per cent of Americans believe in God.

50 years ago, Time asked if God was dead? Millions today would say no

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WASHINGTON - It hit like the proverbial ton of bricks: the Time magazine cover story of April 8, 1966 — Good Friday that year — asking, “Is God Dead?”

Archbishop Paul-André Durocher, president of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops, is pictured in Rome Oct. 8, 2014. Archbishop Durocher, who represented the Canadian church at the 2014 and 2015 synods on the family, said the new text invites people to rediscover and protect the beauty of marriage and the family.

Canadian bishops point to "Amoris Laetitia" in fight against euthanasia

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OTTAWA — Canada’s Catholic bishops are glad to count Pope Francis as an ally in their fight against euthanasia. The bishops were anxious to point out how strong the Pope rejects euthanasia in his post-synodal exhortation Amoris Laetita: On Love in the Family, Apr. 8, noting in its teachings its rejection of euthanasia.

Austrian Cardinal Christoph Schonborn speaks during a news conference for the release of Pope Francis' apostolic exhortation on the family, "Amoris Laetitia" ("The Joy of Love"), at the Vatican April 8. The exhortation is the concluding document of the 2014 and 2015 synods of bishops on the family.

Document on family develops doctrine, doesn't change it, says Schonborn

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VATICAN CITY - Pope Francis' document on the family reflects an "organic development" of Church teaching and doctrine, said Vienna Cardinal Christoph Schonborn, theologian and participant in both Synods that dealt with the topic.

A family prays after arriving for Sunday Mass in 2011 at St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Alexandria, Va.

Gestures, spirituality are essential in family life, Pope says

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VATICAN CITY – Simple gestures such as a kind look or a morning kiss and family prayer can strengthen couples in living out their vocation to marriage, Pope Francis said in his apostolic exhortation.

Cardinal Lorenzo Baldisseri, general secretary of the Synod of Bishops, and Austrian Cardinal Christoph Schonborn, holds a copy of Pope Francis' apostolic exhortation on the family, "Amoris Laetitia" ("The Joy of Love"), during a news conference for the document's release at the Vatican April 8. The exhortation is the concluding document of the 2014 and 2015 synods of bishops on the family.

Share truth of family with mercy, Pope says in apostolic exhortation

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VATICAN CITY – The same mercy and patience that are essential for building a strong family must be shown to those whose families are in trouble or have broken up, Pope Francis said in his highly anticipated post-synodal apostolic exhortation.

Refugees and migrants sit in front of a Hellenic Coast Guard vessel March 22 following a rescue operation on the Greek island of Lesbos. Pope Francis will go to Lesbos April 16 with Orthodox leaders to highlight the plight of refugees.

Pope to visit Lesbos to highlight plight of refugees

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VATICAN CITY - In an effort to highlight the dramatic situation of refugees left in limbo on the Greek island of Lesbos, Pope Francis and other Christian leaders will meet with the migrants April 16.

Pope Francis speaks as he leads a prayer service on the eve of the feast of Divine Mercy in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican April 2.

Pope asks for new Catholic institutions of mercy, charity

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VATICAN CITY - Pope Francis asked Catholic dioceses around the world to set up a permanent memorial of the Year of Mercy by establishing a hospital, home for the aged or school in an under-served area.

People wait in line outside the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist before the opening of the public exposition of the Shroud of Turin in Turin, Italy, April 19. The shroud, believed by many to be the burial cloth of Jesus, is on display from April 19 through June 24, 2015.

Only 50 per cent of Italians call themselves Catholic

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ROME - Italy may be the spiritual home of 1.2 billion members of the Catholic Church around the world, but a new poll shows only 50 per cent of Italians consider themselves Catholic.

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