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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

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

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

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.

Jesus invites us to be one with the Father

Jesus invites us to be one with the Father

Fourth Sunday of Easter (Year C) April 17 (Acts 13:14, 43-52; Psalm 100; Revelation 7:9, 14b-17; John 10:27-30)

There are many ways to relate a series of events, poetic, scientific, artistic and journalistic modes among them. When most people hear the word “history” they think of a straight-forward narration of unvarnished “facts.” Nothing could be farther from the truth. There is no such thing as an unbiased or dispassionate narrator — everyone has a point to make, an axe to grind, an agenda to address or an ideology to advance. This should not really surprise anyone, and there is nothing nefarious or sinister about it. 

Pope Francis embraces Humberto and Claudia Gomez, who are married civilly but not in the church, during a meeting with families at the Victor Manuel Reyna Stadium in Tuxtla Gutierrez, Mexico, Feb. 15. Pope Francis' postsynodal apostolic exhortation on the family, "Amoris Laetitia" ("The Joy of Love"), was to be released April 8. The exhortation is the concluding document of the 2014 and 2015 synods of bishops on the family.

Papal exhortation expected to stress broader conception of family

VATICAN CITY - Pope Francis’ landmark text on the family, scheduled for release on Friday, is expected to encourage a more open attitude toward the non-nuclear family but contain no change in Church doctrine.

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

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.

According to a Belgian writer, "Sadness fills us like a water glass, but a glass can be emptied" unlike fear which has no release valve, says Fr. Rolheiser.

Naming our fear helps us live with it

Fear is the heartbeat of the powerless. So writes Cor de Jonghe. That’s true. We can deal with most everything, except fear. 

Pope Francis greets Lizzy Myers of Mansfield, Ohio, during his general audience in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican April 6. Myers, who has a disease that is gradually rendering her blind and deaf, met the Pope as part of her "visual bucket list."

Pope blesses eyes of Ohio girl going blind

VATICAN CITY - Pope Francis blessed the eyes of an American girl who suffers from a genetic condition that will make her blind, in a visit to the Vatican described as a “miracle” by her father.

Bishop Bernard Fellay, superior of the Society of St. Pius X, is pictured in 2012 at the society's headquarters in Menzingen, Switzerland.

Pope meets head of traditionalist Society of St. Pius X

VATICAN CITY - As discussions continue between Vatican officials and leaders of the traditionalist Society of St. Pius X, Pope Francis met at the Vatican with Bishop Bernard Fellay, head of the society.

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

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.

Pope Francis joined the photo-sharing site Instagram March 19 using the account "Franciscus." As of April 1 the Pope had more than 2 million followers. This is a screen capture of a post on his page.

Pope breaks record on Instagram

VATICAN CITY - With a simple tap, Pope Francis joined Instagram and quickly set a record for gaining one million followers.

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