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.

Faith

A girl hugs Pope Francis in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican May 15.

Church should be less serious, more loving, says Pope

By

VATICAN CITY - The Catholic Church needs to revive its loving and tender side, which gets lost when the Church becomes too serious, Pope Francis said.

A priest listens to a confession during Mass in 2012 at the Temple of Divine Providence in Warsaw, Poland. Archbishop Rino Fisichella, president of the Pontifical Council for Promoting New Evangelization, said he repeatedly hears that "many people have b een going to confession and many have said that, while they hadn't gone in a long time, they felt touched by the words of Pope Francis."

Archbishop says people returning to confession because of Pope

By

VATICAN CITY - The head of the Vatican office promoting new evangelization said that while he does not like the terms "Francis effect" or "Francis bump," it is true that "Pope Francis has touched the hearts and minds of many people."

Pope Francis told sisters from around the world that the Catholic Church needs religious women and that religious women need to be in harmony with the faith and teachings of the Church.

Pope tells sisters the Church needs them, they need the Church

By

VATICAN CITY - Pope Francis told 800 superiors of women's orders from around the world that the Catholic Church needs religious women and that religious women need to be in harmony with the faith and teachings of the Church.

A boy carries a large crucifix as his confraternity arrives for a Mass with Pope Francis in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican May 5. The pope praised confraternities as a means of transmitting and cultivating the faith but said popular piety must be prac ticed in communion with the pastors of the church.

Pope celebrates diversity of popular piety, unity of church

By

VATICAN CITY - Pope Francis celebrated popular piety as a means of transmitting the faith and cultivating it in ordinary Catholics but said such piety must be practiced in communion with the hierarchy in order to maintain the church's unity.

Pope Francis greets the crowd outside after praying the rosary at the Basilica of St. Mary Major in Rome May 4. The pope led the crowd in chanting "Viva la Madonna" (Long live the mother of God). At right is Cardinal Agostino Vallini, papal vicar for Rome.

Mary is a mother who helps Christians grow, Pope says at rosary

By

ROME - Mary is a mother who helps Christians grow, face the difficulties of life and use their freedom to make lasting commitments, Pope Francis said.

Retired Pope Benedict XVI greets Pope Francis at the Vatican May 2. The 86-year-old retired pontiff, who had been staying at the papal summer villa in Castel Gandolfo since retiring Feb. 28, returned to the Vatican to live in a monastery in the Vatican Gardens.

Pope Francis welcomes Benedict back to Vatican

By

VATICAN CITY - For the first time in history, the Vatican is home to a pope and a retired pope.

Blessed Maria Guadalupe Garcia Zavala, also known as "Madre Lupita," the Mexican co-founder of the Handmaids of St. Margaret Mary and the Poor, is pictured in an undated portrait. She will be canonized May 12.

Mexico's soon-to-be-saint recalled for her ministry to poor, sick

By

GUADALARJARA, Mexico - A shy woman stopped to pray in front of statue of Blessed Maria Guadalupe Garcia Zavala while visiting the Santa Margarita Hospital. She knew little about the founder of the facility, who will be canonized May 12, but, like many, she had heard stories from hospital patients who say the soon-to-be-saint still walks the halls providing care, attention and miracles to those in need.

A sign with a dove symbolizing the Holy Spirit is seen as Pope Francis greets the crowd after celebrating a Mass at which he confirmed 44 people in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican April 28. Those confirmed included two young people from the United Stat es and two from Ireland.

Pope tells young to 'swim against the tide; it's good for the heart'

By

VATICAN CITY - Administering the sacrament of Confirmation to 44 people, including two teenagers from the United States and two from Ireland, Pope Francis encouraged them to "swim against the tide; it's good for the heart."

Cardinal Thomas Collins said that the new evangelization isn't about condemning our culture but healing it.

Support of abortion, euthanasia arise out of the ‘illusions’ of compassion: Collins

By

TORONTO - The new evangelization isn't about condemning our culture but healing it, Cardinal Thomas Collins told an audience of doctors, nurses and health care ethicists at the annual Cardinal Ambrozic Lecture in Toronto.

Salvadoran Archbishop Oscar Romero is pictured in a 1979 photo in San Salvador. The official promoter of the sainthood cause of the late archbishop indicated April 22 that the cause would be moving forward. Archbishop Romero was shot dead March 24, 1980, as he celebrated Mass. His assassination came during the Salvadoran Civil War.

Vatican official says Archbishop Romero's sainthood cause 'unblocked'

By

VATICAN CITY - Archbishop Vincenzo Paglia, president of the Pontifical Council for the Family and the official promoter of the sainthood cause of the late Archbishop Oscar Romero of San Salvador, said the process to beatify and eventually canonize the slain Salvadoran archbishop has been unblocked.

Ten priests lie prostrate during their ordination by Pope Francis in St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican April 21.

Pope ordains new priests, talks about learning to hear Jesus' voice

By

VATICAN CITY - Before ordaining 10 men to the priesthood, Pope Francis prayed privately with them in the sacristy and entrusted them to Mary's care.

Page 125 of 150