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FAITH/STORIES

Even the prisoner can partake in the Year of Mercy. The Pope has decreed that the inmate’s cell door is equal to a holy door for this Year of Mercy

Mercy and indulgences, love and freedom

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The daily pilgrimage of every prisoner takes on new meaning this year, thanks to Pope Francis and the Jubilee Year of Mercy that began on the feast of the Immaculate Conception, Dec. 8. From now until the end of November 2016, each time a prisoner walks across the threshold of his jail cell mercy and relief from the pain of sin awaits.

Pope Francis leaves in procession after celebrating Mass marking the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe in St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican Dec. 12.
December 12, 2015

Pope Francis celebrates Mass on Our Lady of Guadalupe

Pope Francis celebrated Mass on the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe on Saturday evening, saying Mary “has experienced the divine mercy, and has hosted the very source of this mercy in her womb: Jesus Christ.”

Pope reaffirms new annulment reforms as they come into effect

Pope reaffirms new annulment reforms as they come into effect

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VATICAN CITY - As reformed rules for marriage annulment cases came into effect, Pope Francis said the new norms are to be adhered to in order to help bring healing to failed marriages.

Czech Rabbi Karol Efraim Sidon lights the menorah of Hanukkah inside Europe's oldest active synagogue, The Old New Synagogue, in Prague, Czech Republic, in this Dec. 2, 2010, file photo. Although Catholics are called to witness to their faith, the church "neither conducts nor supports" any institutional missionary initiative directed toward Jews, according to a new document from a Vatican commission

Catholics shouldn’t try to convert Jews, says new Vatican document

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VATICAN CITY - The Vatican has said that Catholics should witness to their faith but not undertake organized efforts to convert Jews, a significant step forward in the once tense relations between the two faiths.

People walk past an image of a Menorah projected on a wall surrounding the Old City of Jerusalem Dec. 8. Although Catholic are called to witness to their faith, the church "neither conducts nor supports" any institutional missionary initiative directed toward Jews, according to a new document from a Vatican commission.

New Vatican document reflects on relations between Catholics, Jews

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VATICAN CITY - Catholics are called to witness to their faith in Jesus before all people, including Jews, but the Catholic Church "neither conducts nor supports" any institutional missionary initiative directed toward Jews, says a new document from a Vatican commission.

Msgr. Antoine Camilleri, undersecretary for relations with states and head of the Vatican delegation to the Moneyval plenary, is pictured during a 2013 news conference in Rome.

Vatican continues steps to fight serious financial crime, agency says

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VATICAN CITY - The Holy See and Vatican City State have continued to strengthen their institutional, legal and operational frameworks for combating money laundering and the financing of terrorism, an international monitoring organization said.

Pope Francis presents a rose at an icon of Mary and the child Jesus as he begins his general audience in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican Dec. 9.

Pope Francis: The church needs this Holy Year of Mercy

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VATICAN CITY - The Catholic Church needs the extraordinary Holy Year to become an effective witness of God's divine mercy, Pope Francis said.

Piazza di Spagna

Pope venerates statue of the Immaculate Conception in Rome square

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VATICAN CITY - Concluding the feast of the Immaculate Conception and the opening of the Holy Door, Pope Francis prayed that through Mary, Christians may recognize the victory of divine mercy over sin.

December 8, 2015
Pope Francis raises the Book of the Gospels as he celebrates the opening Mass of the Holy Year of Mercy in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican Dec. 8.

Homily for Inauguration of the Jubilee

On Tuesday, the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Pope Francis solemnly inaugurated the Jubilee Year of Mercy with the celebration of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.

“This Extraordinary Holy Year is itself a gift of grace,” the Pope said in his homily  To pass through the Holy Door means to rediscover the infinite mercy of the Father who welcomes everyone and goes out personally to encounter each of them.”

The full text of Pope Francis’ prepared homily for the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception and the Inauguration of the Jubilee of Mercy can be found below:

Pope Francis opens the Holy Door of St. Peter's Basilica to inaugurate the Jubilee Year of Mercy at the Vatican Dec. 8.

Holy Year is a reminder to put mercy before judgment, Pope says

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VATICAN CITY - On a cloudy, damp morning, Pope Francis' voice echoed in the atrium of St. Peter's Basilica: "Open the gates of justice." With five strong thrusts, the pope pushed open the Holy Door, a symbol of God's justice, which he said will always be exercised "in the light of his mercy."

Members of the Carabinieri, the Italian military police force, stand guard as people leave Pope Francis' Angelus blessing in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican Nov. 22.

Pope Francis to inaugurate Holy Year of Mercy amid security concerns

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VATICAN CITY - Pope Francis will open the Catholic Church’s jubilee on mercy on Tuesday, a nearly year-long event that is expected to bring millions of pilgrims to Rome despite security concerns and logistical challenges.

Italian laywoman Francesca Chaouqui, a member of the former Pontifical Commission for Reference on the Organization of the Economic-Administrative Structure of the Holy See, arrives for the third hearing of the"VatiLeaks" case at the Vatican Dec. 7.

Vatican officials to be called to testify at 'VatiLeaks' trial

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VATICAN CITY - Vatican judges have granted a request by one of the defendants to have several prominent Vatican officials take the stand and testify in the so-called "VatiLeaks" trial regarding the leaking and publication of confidential documents.

Pope Francis gestures as he leads his Angelus from the window of his studio overlooking St. Peter's Square at the Vatican Dec. 6.

Stopping climate change, poverty go hand-in-hand, says Pope

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VATICAN CITY - Heads of states at the U.N. climate change conference in Paris must do everything possible to mitigate the effects of both climate change and poverty "for the good of our common home," Pope Francis said.

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