VATICAN – God handed down his commandments not for people to hypocritically follow the letter of the law with a proud and righteous heart, but for people to recognize the truth of their weaknesses and acknowledge their need for help, healing and salvation, Pope Francis said.
Published in
Faith
November 19, 2018
Helping the poor is duty, not a fad, Pope Francis says
VATICAN – As the rich get richer, the increasing misery and cries of the poor are ignored every day, Pope Francis said.
Published in
Faith
November 14, 2018
Lies obstruct relationships, love, Pope Francis says
VATICAN – Lying or being inauthentic is seriously wrong because it hinders or harms human relationships, Pope Francis said.
Published in
Faith
November 13, 2018
Archbishop Vigano urges U.S. bishops to act as 'courageous shepherds'
VATICAN – Archbishop Carlo Maria Viganò sent Tuesday a message to the bishops of the United States, who are holding a plenary assembly, encouraging them to act as courageous shepherds in the face of the sex abuse crisis.
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International
ROME – Pope Francis' call for a missionary church that is focused on preaching the Gospel will be the guiding principle of the apostolic constitution that will govern the Roman Curia, the secretary of the Pope's international Council of Cardinals said.
Published in
International
November 13, 2018
Archbishop Scicluna named adjunct secretary of CDF
VATICAN – Pope Francis named Archbishop Charles Scicluna of Malta, arguably the Catholic Church's most respected abuse investigator, to be adjunct secretary of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.
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Vatican
BALTIMORE – At the start of the annual fall meeting of the U.S. bishops in Baltimore, Archbishop Christophe Pierre encouraged the U.S. bishops to work hard together to restore trust and bring about church reform amid the current crisis in the church.
Published in
International
VATICAN – Even in societies increasingly marked by divisions and prejudice, Catholics gather every Sunday "in the Lord's name and acknowledge that they are brothers and sisters," Pope Francis said.
Published in
Faith
November 12, 2018
Bishops must be 'blameless' servants of God, not businessmen, Pope says
VATICAN – A bishop must be "blameless" and at the service of God, not of cliques, assets and power, especially if he is ever to "set right" what needs to be done for the church, Pope Francis said.
Published in
Reflections
VATICAN – The bells of St. Peter’s Basilica rang out in unison with thousands of other church bells around the world Sunday as Pope Francis commemorated the 100 year anniversary of the end of World War I.
Published in
International
November 9, 2018
Sacraments are gifts, not for sale, Pope says at Mass
VATICAN – The sacraments are gifts from God that are given freely and are not a way for the church to fill up its coffers to cover expenses, Pope Francis said.
Published in
Reflections
November 9, 2018
Call out injustice, put people first, Pope tells journalism students
VATICAN – Break through every "wall" of gloom and resignation and help the world realize people need to take care of one another because they are all part of one human family, Pope Francis told Catholic journalists.
Published in
International
November 8, 2018
At the synod on youth, Canada’s Emilie Callan felt she was heard
The Synod of Bishops on young people is over but Emilie Callan will be unpacking a month full of memories for a long time.
Published in
International
VATICAN – As the Christmas season draws near, the Vatican postal service prepared a unique set of commemorative stamps designed by a talented, yet unlikely, artist: a prisoner serving a life sentence.
Published in
International
November 6, 2018
Have zero tolerance to child abuse, Pope tells French bishops
VATICAN – Pope Francis encouraged bishops in France to be determined in their fight against child abuse and implement "zero tolerance" against known abusers.
Published in
International