hand and heart

The recent post office troubles have impacted our regular fundraising efforts. Please consider supporting the Register and Catholic journalism by using one of the methods below:

  • Donate online
  • Donate by e-transfer to accounting@catholicregister.org
  • Donate by telephone: 416-934-3410 ext. 406 or toll-free 1-855-441-4077 ext. 406

FAITH/STORIES

Italian laywoman Francesca Chaouqui, arriving for the third hearing of the"VatiLeaks" case at the Vatican Dec. 7, 2015. On July 4, Vatican lead prosecutor asked the court give Chaouqui a three years and nine months jail-term.

Prosecutors request jail time for defendants at Vatican trial

By

VATICAN CITY – As the Vatican trial of five people accused of complicity in leaking private documents moved toward a conclusion, Vatican prosecutors requested that four of the five defendants be convicted and that three of them serve jail time.

Pope Francis speaks to journalists aboard his flight from Rome to Yerevan, Armenia, June 24. Answering a reporter's question at the Vatican on July third, the Pope says critics won't stop him from pursuing his vision for the Church.

Pope says critics won't stop him from pursuing vision for church

By

VATICAN CITY – Pope Francis said he will continue pressing for a church that is open and understanding despite opposition from some clerics who "say no to everything."

Franciscan friars wait for the arrival of Pope Francis outside the Portiuncola, the small stone chapel inside the Basilica of Santa Maria deli Angeli in Assisi, Italy, in this Oct. 4, 2013, file photo. Pope Francis plans to make a "simple and private" visit to the Portiuncola Aug. 4. The stone chapel was rebuilt by St. Francis.

Pope Francis to highlight divine mercy on visit to Assisi chapel

By

VATICAN CITY – To mark the 800th anniversary of the "Pardon of Assisi," an indulgence earned by visiting faithful who confess their sins and make a sincere promise of repentance, Pope Francis will visit a stone chapel rebuilt by St. Francis of Assisi.

Father William J. Brunner, of the Diocese of Green Bay, Wis., celebrates Mass in May aboard the Navy warship USS America docked in San Diego. Father Brunner, who holds the rank of lieutenant, is one of the Navy's newest chaplains

Priests see difference between parish ministry and military chaplaincy

By

SAN DIEGO – There is something distinctive about the chapel where Father William J. Brunner now celebrates Mass. It floats. To be more precise, it's in a space aboard the U.S. Navy's warship USS America docked in San Diego.

Pope Francis answers questions from journalists aboard his flight from Yerevan, Armenia, to Rome June 26. The Pope said during his in-flight press conference that the church should apologize to gays

Is Pope Francis a Lone Ranger on apologizing to gays?

By

When Pope Francis said this week that the church should ask forgiveness from gay people for the way it has treated them, he sparked yet another round of global headlines about how his unpredictable papacy is changing Catholicism.

Above the entrance gate to Auschwitz I in Oswiecim, Poland, is the Nazi slogan "Arbeit macht frei" ("Work sets you free"). Pope Francis is set to visit the concentration camp July 29 as part of his trip to Poland for World Youth Day 2016.

Pope will pray, not speak, on Auschwitz visit

By

VATICAN CITY – Tears and not words. Prayers and not greetings. During his trip to Poland for World Youth Day, Pope Francis will go to the Auschwitz-Birkenau Nazi death camp. He said he wants to go alone and say nothing.

Bishop Bernard Fellay, superior of the Society of St. Pius X, is pictured in 2012. Fellay says Pope

SSPX head claims Pope is encouraging error

By

VATICAN CITY – The superior general of the traditionalist Society of St. Pius X said Pope Francis, rather than denouncing errors in Catholic doctrine, has "encouraged" them.

June 29, 2016
Pope Francis leaves in procession after celebrating Mass with new archbishops from around the world in St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican June 29.

Full text from Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul Homily

In his homily for the Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul, Pope Francis focused on the themes of “closing” and “opening” in the lives of the two patrons of Rome.

Pope Francis and Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople greet a small crowd after delivering a blessing in Istanbul Nov. 30. 2014.

Catholic, Orthodox must show each other mercy, Pope says

By

VATICAN CITY – Professing the same faith in the mercy of God, Catholics and Orthodox must do more to ensure mercy marks the way they treat each other, Pope Francis told a delegation from the Orthodox Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople.

Pope Francis greets retired Pope Benedict XVI during a June 28 ceremony at the Vatican marking the 65th anniversary of the retired pope's priestly ordination.

Retired Pope Benedict XVI says he 'feels protected' by Pope Francis

By

VATICAN CITY – In his first public address in almost a year, retired Pope Benedict XVI expressed his sincere gratefulness to Pope Francis, saying that his goodness "from the first moment of your election, in every moment of my life here, touches me deeply."

Pope Francis accepted the resignation of Latin Patriarch Fouad Twal of Jerusalem and appointed Franciscan Father Pierbattista Pizzaballa, former "custos" of the Holy Land, as apostolic administrator of the patriarchate. Father Pizzaballa is pictured in a 2011 photo.

Former Holy Land 'custos' named apostolic administrator of Jerusalem

By

VATICAN CITY – Pope Francis has accepted the resignation of Latin Patriarch Fouad Twal of Jerusalem and appointed Franciscan Father Pierbattista Pizzaballa, former "custos" of the Holy Land, as the apostolic administrator of the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem.

June 27, 2016
Pope Francis speaks as he visits the Armenian Apostolic Cathedral at Etchmiadzin in Vagharshapat, Armenia, June 24.

Full text from Mass in Gyumri, Armenia

Speaking at Holy Mass Saturday in Gyumri, Armenia, Pope Francis recalled the “terrible devastation” wrought by the massive 1988 earthquake that killed tens of thousands of people and gave thanks “for all that has been rebuilt.”

Homeless five years ago, Nick Beckett is now working his way to a degree in criminology at the University of Toronto.

Covenant House setting a new path for homeless youth

By

TORONTO – Nick Beckett is an impressive young man in his third year at the University of Toronto working towards a criminology degree. As he makes his way through exams, he’s also heading up a new non-profit which aims to provide a home and transitional programs to young people who age out of the child welfare system.

Page 159 of 269