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Faith

In early May the Vatican stamp and coin office will release stamps marking retired Pope Benedict XVI's 90th birthday and important events in the life of the church spanning almost 2,000 years.

Vatican stamps mark Pope Benedict's birthday, Fatima apparitions

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VATICAN CITY – The Vatican stamp and coin office has big plans for early May: the release of stamps marking retired Pope Benedict XVI's 90th birthday and important events in the life of the church spanning almost 2,000 years.

Portuguese shepherd children Lucia dos Santos, centre, and her cousins, Jacinta, left, and Francisco Marto, seen in a file photo taken around the time of the 1917 apparitions of Mary at Fatima. Pope Francis will formally approve the canonization of Jacinta and Francisco April 20.

Pope to formally approve canonizations, including of Fatima seers

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VATICAN CITY – Pope Francis and cardinals present in Rome will formally approve the canonizations of two of the children who saw Mary in Fatima, a large group of Brazilian martyrs, three child martyrs from Mexico and two priests.

In an interview with Italian magazine LibertàCivili April 7, Pope Francis says the media needs to stop perpetuating negative stereotypes and explain the big picture regarding migration.

Stop perpetuating negative stereotypes on immigration, Pope tells media

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VATICAN CITY – Pope Francis said Friday that when it comes to solving the immigration crisis, the media needs to stop perpetuating negative stereotypes and explain the big picture, shedding light on the causes behind migration.

In an April 5 decree, the Pontifical Commission Ecclesia Dei gave permission for any priest of the Latin Rite to celebrate a votive Mass of the Immaculate Heart of the Blessed Virgin Mary on May 13, 2017 – the 100th anniversary of the first apparition of Our Lady at Fatima, Portugal.

Vatican approves special Fatima feast day Mass for Latin Rite

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VATICAN CITY – The Vatican office which governs the use of the extraordinary form of the Roman rite has given priests permission to say a special Mass for the feast of Our Lady of Fatima this year, noting the importance of the apparition's centenary.

An injured man receives treatment inside a field hospital in Douma, Syria, after April 3 airstrikes. A suspected chemical attack in a town in Syria's rebel-held Idlib province killed dozens of people April 3.

Pope horrified by 'unacceptable massacre' in Syria

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VATICAN CITY – Pope Francis strongly condemned a shocking chemical attack in Syria that left some 70 people, including at least 10 children, dead.

Canadian Jesuit Father Michael Czerny told a conference that more must to be done to combat child trafficking.

More must be done to combat child trafficking, Vatican official says

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VATICAN CITY – Children continue to fall victim to trafficking, while those who enslave and exploit them continue to avoid prosecution, a Vatican official said.

Pope Francis speaks April 4 to participants at a Vatican conference marking the 50th anniversary of Blessed Paul VI's encyclical on development, "Populorum Progressio." At left is Cardinal Peter Turkson, president of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace.

Manila Cardinal urges 'common security' approach to migration

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VATICAN CITY – A more Christian, as well as more effective, approach to the global migration crisis would be to move from a concern about "national security" to a concern for "common security," Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle of Manila told participants at a Vatican conference.

A letter published by the Vatican April 4 says Pope Francis will allow Catholic bishops to appoint priests to assist at SSPX marriages and formally receive the consent of the couples.

Pope approves provisions to recognize marriages of SSPX faithful

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VATICAN CITY – Continuing initiatives aimed at a reconciliation with the Society of St. Pius X, Pope Francis has made it possible for bishops to ensure the validity of marriages celebrated in the traditionalist communities.

Syrian refugees Ramy and Suhila and their children, Khodus, Rashid and Abdul Mejid, relax in Rome in 2016 after Pope Francis brought them with him from a refugee camp in Lesbos, Greece.

ISIS captive among new Syrian refugees welcomed by Pope Francis

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VATICAN CITY – The Vatican has taken in three new Syrian families, some members of which were ISIS prisoners before gaining freedom and fleeing the country.

A statue of Our Lady of Fatima is carried through a crowd in 2016 at the Marian shrine of Fatima in central Portugal.

Pope asks evangelization council to oversee Catholic shrines

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VATICAN CITY – Highlighting Catholic shrines' potential to strengthen the faith of Catholics and draw people to Christianity, Pope Francis transferred responsibility for coordinating the activity of shrines to the Pontifical Council for Promoting New Evangelization.

Pope Francis speaks April 4 to participants at a Vatican conference marking the 50th anniversary of Blessed Paul VI's encyclical on development, "Populorum Progressio."

Development must focus on dignity, officials say on 'Populorum Progressio' anniversary.

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VATICAN CITY – The Catholic Church's commitment to promoting justice, defending human dignity, building peace and promoting development is a response to a Christian vision of the world and its purpose, which ultimately is to reach happiness with God, Vatican officials said at a conference.

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