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Faith

Pope Francis leads his general audience in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican May 15, 2019. The pope has issued a new universal church law establishing procedures for reporting and investigating abuse within the church. The new church law goes into effect June 1.

Pope Francis releases new universal law on abuse reporting

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VATICAN CITY -- Pope Francis' latest effort to help the Catholic Church safeguard its members from abuse and hold its leaders accountable came in the form of a new universal law, "Vos estis lux mundi" ("You are the light of the world"), which takes effect June 1.

Pope Francis receives letters of credential from Filomena Mendes Mascarenhas Tipote, the new ambassador of Guinea Bissau to the Holy See, during a ceremony May 23, 2019, in the Clementine Hall of the apostolic palace at the Vatican.

Pope Francis tells new ambassadors to foster brotherhood, solidarity

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VATICAN CITY -- Nations, like individuals, have a "solemn duty" to care for the poor and to work together to promote development, Pope Francis told a group of ambassadors beginning their service at the Vatican.

Pope Francis prays during his general audience in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican May 22, 2019.

Pope Francis prays for Spanish missionary murdered in Central African Republic

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VATICAN CITY -- Pope Francis led thousands of pilgrims in prayer for a Spanish missionary sister killed in Central African Republic.

Pope Francis accepts a gift of artwork during an audience with members of the Foreign Press Association of Italy, at the Vatican May 18, 2019.

Fight fake news with humble search for truth, Pope Francis tells journalists

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VATICAN CITY -- The task of journalism is to seek the truth, which requires humility and freedom of the press, Pope Francis told foreign correspondents working in Italy.

Pope Francis arrives to lead his general audience in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican May 15, 2019.

Jesus is always ready to help free people from evil, pope says

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VATICAN CITY -- Christians recognize life's great paradox that so much evil and temptation exist in the world, but that God is always present, too, ready to help and give people the strength to persevere, Pope Francis said.

Pope Francis is pictured after delivering his Easter message and blessing "urbi et orbi" (to the city and the world) from the central balcony of St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican April 21, 2019. That day he prayed for Burkina Faso, and on May 13 he expressed his closeness to and prayers for the victims of a May 12 shooting at a Catholic Church there.

Pope saddened by church attack in Burkina Faso, Vatican spokesman says

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VATICAN CITY - Pope Francis expressed his closeness to and prayers for the victims of a shooting at a Catholic Church in Burkina Faso, which claimed the lives of six people.

A statue of Mary is seen outside St. James Church in Medjugorje, Bosnia-Herzegovina, in this Feb. 27, 2011, file photo. Pope Francis has decided to allow parishes and dioceses to organize official pilgrimages to Medjugorje; no decision has been made on the authenticity of the apparitions.

Not ruling on apparitions, pope allows pilgrimages to Medjugorje

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VATICAN CITY - Parishes and dioceses are now allowed to organize official pilgrimages to Medjugorje, Bosnia-Herzegovina, but it must be clear that the Catholic Church has not recognized as authentic the alleged Marian apparitions there.

The Basilica of St. Francis with its bell tower is pictured through corn in Assisi, Italy, Sept. 6, 2011. Pope Francis has invited young economists and entrepreneurs to take part in an initiative to be launched in Assisi March 26-28, 2020. The initiative seeks to find new ways to do business, promote human dignity and protect the environment.

Pope invites young people to pledge to build a new economy

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VATICAN CITY - Pope Francis has invited young economists and entrepreneurs around the world to help create a "new and courageous culture" that finds new ways to do business, promote human dignity and protect the environment.

Newly ordained priests stand as Pope Francis celebrates an ordination Mass in St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican May 12, 2019. The pope ordained 19 new priests.

Be merciful ministers of Christ, pope tells new priests

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VATICAN CITY - The priesthood is not a "cultural association or a union," but a ministry of mercy anchored on Christ's mission to bring hope to the downtrodden and comfort to those who suffer, Pope Francis told new priests.

Pope Francis gestures as he addresses more than 1,000 diocesan leaders, both clergy and laity, May 9, 2019, at the Basilica of St. John Lateran, the cathedral of the Diocese of Rome. Seated next to the pope is Cardinal Angelo de Donatis, vicar of Rome.

Pope: Without Holy Spirit, dioceses can become worldly businesses

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VATICAN CITY - A diocese that cares more about being an organized workplace rather than announcing the good news can fall prey to clericalism and distance itself from Christ, Pope Francis said.

Pope Francis listens to men sing during a meeting with Italy's Roma, Sinti and Gypsy communities at the Vatican May 9, 2019.

Never lose hope for a better future, pope tells Gypsy communities

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VATICAN CITY - Members of Italy's Gypsy communities must look to God to hold on to the hope of a future where they are no longer discriminated against or segregated, Pope Francis said.

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