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ope Francis, right, embraces retired Pope Benedict XVI during a ceremony in the Vatican gardens July 5. During the service, Pope Francis blessed a new statue of St. Michael the Archangel and recited separate prayers to consecrate Vatican City to St. Jo seph and to St. Michael.

Pope consecrates Vatican City to St. Joseph, St. Michael the Archangel

VATICAN CITY - With retired Pope Benedict XVI sitting next to him, Pope Francis formally recited separate prayers to consecrate Vatican City to St. Joseph and to St. Michael the Archangel.

Canadian Cardinal Marc Ouellet, prefect of the Congregation for Bishops, reads a press bulletin during a new conference regarding the canonization efforts for Blessed John Paul II and Blessed John XXIII July 5 at the Vatican. Pope Francis signed a decre e recognizing the miracle needed for the canonization of Blessed John Paul II and has asked the world's cardinals to vote on the canonization of Blessed John XXIII, even in the absence of a miracle.

Encyclical illustrates continuity of two papacies, officials say

VATICAN CITY - Presenting Pope Francis' new encyclical and acknowledging how much of it was prepared by retired Pope Benedict XVI, top Vatican officials hailed it as a unique expression of the development of papal teaching and unity in faith.

A Polish woman holds a prayer card featuring Blessed John Paul II during a Mass celebrated in his hometown of Wadowice, Poland, May 1, 2011, the day of his beatification. The late pontiff will be declared a saint, the Vatican said July 5, after officials approved a second miracle attributed to his intercession.

Pope clears the way for the canonizations of John Paul II, John XXIII

VATICAN CITY - Pope Francis signed a decree clearing the way for the canonization of Blessed John Paul II and has decided also to ask the world's cardinals to vote on the canonization of Blessed John XXIII, even in the absence of a miracle.

This is the cover of the English edition of Pope Francis' first encyclical, "Lumen Fidei" ("The Light of Faith"). The encyclical was released at the Vatican July 5.

'Lumen Fidei' at a glance

VATICAN CITY - Here at a glance are the main points of Pope Francis' encyclical "Lumen Fidei" ("The Light of Faith"), released July 5.

Canadian Cardinal Marc Ouellet, prefect of the Congregation for Bishops, holds a copy of Pope Francis' first encyclical, "Lumen Fidei" ("The Light of Faith"), during a news conference for its release at the Vatican July 5.

Excerpts from Pope Francis' encyclical 'Lumen Fidei'

VATICAN CITY - Here are excerpts from Pope Francis' first encyclical, "Lumen Fidei" ("The Light of Faith"), released July 5:

Copies of Pope Francis' first encyclical, "Lumen Fidei" ("The Light of Faith"), are seen at the the Vatican press office July 5.

In first encyclical, pope celebrates faith as the light of human life

VATICAN CITY - Pope Francis' first encyclical, "Lumen Fidei" ("The Light of Faith"), is a celebration of Christian faith as the guiding light of a "successful and fruitful life," inspiring social action as well as devotion to God, and illuminating "every aspect of human existence," including philosophy and the natural sciences.

Through Christ the universe is united

15th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C) July 14 (Deuteronomy 30:10-14; Psalm 69; Colossians 1:15-20; Luke 10:25-37)

Blessed John Paul II gestures to the crowd at World Youth Day in Denver in 1993. Although the process is not complete and is supposed to be secret at this point, Italian media reported that the canonization of the late pontiff is a step closer after an a lleged miracle was accomplished through the intercession of the late Pope.

Saints' congregation reportedly acts on causes of JP II, John XXIII

VATICAN CITY - The cardinals and archbishops who are members of the Congregation for Saints' Causes met July 2 and, according to Italian news reports, took steps to advance the sainthood causes of Blesseds John Paul II and John XXIII.

Fr. Fructuoso Garcia, who will leave Canada after 41 years on July 4, stands with pride in front of a large poster displaying the 2,000 phone numbers he’s memorized to gain publicity for his fundraising efforts that support churches in Latin America.

Ex-pat priest goes home

TORONTO - After 41 years of celebrating Mass in the Greater Toronto Area, Fr. Fructuoso Garcia is getting ready to hang up his collar and return home to Spain.

Heaven is our only reward

14th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C) July 7 (Isaiah 66:10-14; Psalm 66; Galatians 6:14-18; Luke 10:1-12, 17-20)

Fr. Andrew Greeley gave us hope

As a young seminarian in the late 1960s, I was very taken by the writings of Andrew Greeley, a priest in Chicago, who was churning out books on popular spirituality.

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