FAITH/STORIES
Synod working document expands scope of family issues, pastoral needs
By Laura Ieraci, Catholic News ServiceVATICAN CITY - The working document for this fall's Synod of Bishops on the Family called for expanded discussion and pastoral solutions to challenges such as how economic disparity and environmental degradation affect families as well as the impact of infertility, aging and disability.
Pope Francis contemplates Shroud of Turin, calls it 'icon of love'
By Laura Ieraci, Catholic News ServiceVATICAN CITY - It took place in silence and lasted only a few minutes, but Pope Francis' time of prayer and contemplation before the Shroud of Turin was marked with gestures of reverence and tenderness.
[Read the Pope's encyclical on the environment here.]
VATICAN CITY - The earth, which was created to support life and give praise to God, is crying out with pain because human activity is destroying it, Pope Francis says in his long-awaited encyclical, Laudato Si', on Care for Our Common Home.
Pope Francis: Seek forgiveness for shutting out refugees
By Rosie Scammell, Religion News ServiceVATICAN CITY - Pope Francis said people who shut out refugees should seek forgiveness June 17, after clashes on Italy’s borders as European countries try to push back against a wave of migrants fleeing by boat from Libya.
Read encyclical on care for creation with 'open heart,' Pope asks world
By Carol Glatz, Catholic News ServiceVATICAN CITY - Appealing to the entire world, Pope Francis urged everyone to read his upcoming encyclical on the care of creation and to better protect a damaged earth.
Vatican outraged by encyclical leak
By Michael Swan, The Catholic RegisterThe most anticipated papal encyclical in history has anticipated itself. What an angry Vatican spokesman called an “intermediate draft” of the letter from Pope Francis on the environment was leaked by an Italian magazine three days before its official launch.
The new evangelization depends on parish renewal
By Deborah Gyapong, Canadian Catholic NewsOTTAWA - Parish renewal is the key to the new evangelization and the survival of the Church, say organizers of the Summer Institute of New Evangelization.
Pope Francis: ‘Let us modify our relationship with natural resources’
By Rosie Scammell, Religion News ServiceVATICAN CITY - People must change their lifestyles and attitudes to help defeat hunger, Pope Francis said June 11, a hint of what may be coming in his much-anticipated environmental encyclical next week.
Pope Francis to open 30-bed homeless shelter a few steps from Vatican walls
By Rosie Scammell, Religion News ServiceVATICAN CITY - Pope Francis will open a homeless shelter on the edge of Vatican City, the latest move by the pontiff to help poor people in Rome.
Pope OKs plan to investigate, judge bishops who fail to act on abuse
By Carol Glatz, Catholic News ServiceVATICAN CITY - Pope Francis has approved new procedures for the Vatican to investigate and judge claims of "abuse of office" by bishops who allegedly failed to protect minors and vulnerable adults from sex abuse.
New Arabic-language Vatican guidebook aims to explain Catholic culture
By Rosie Scammell, Religion News ServiceVATICAN CITY - The Vatican has released a new Arabic-language guidebook, the first of its kind, which aims to bring the culture of the Catholic Church to a new audience.
Pope Francis warns mission societies against becoming NGOs
By Laura Ieraci, Catholic News ServiceVATICAN CITY - The mission-oriented agencies of the Church must guard against operating like nongovernmental organizations, empty of Christ's presence, Pope Francis said.
Pope helps homeless, poor in Rome make pilgrimage to Shroud of Turin
By Cindy Wooden, Catholic News ServiceVATICAN CITY - With financial assistance from Pope Francis, a Rome parish led 50 homeless and poor people on a pilgrimage to see the Shroud of Turin June 4 and has provided the money needed for another Rome parish to do the same a week later.