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FAITH/STORIES

Pope Francis accepted the Scotland Cardinal Keith O'Brien’s decision to renounce duties as a cardinal. While O’Brien can still keep the title of cardinal, he won’t be a papal advisor or be an elector of a future pope. He will retain the roles as a priest and retired bishop, according to the Vatican Press office.

Pope accepts cardinal's decision to renounce duties, rights of office

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VATICAN CITY - Pope Francis accepted Scotland Cardinal Keith O'Brien's decision to renounce all "duties and privileges" associated with being a cardinal.

Blessed Louis and Marie Zelie Guerin Martin, the parents of St. Therese of Lisieux, are pictured in a combination photo created from images provided by the Sanctuary of Lisieux in France. Pope Francis is expected to canonize the couple during the world Synod of Bishops on the family in October.

Pope recognizes miracle needed to declare French couple saints

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VATICAN CITY - Pope Francis has approved a miracle so that, for the first time, a married couple can be canonized together.

Kevin Reilly, left, a former NFL player whose arm and shoulder were amputated, and Darrell Miller, a former major league baseball player and director of the league's Urban Youth Academy, speaks at a Catholic Men of Faith Conference March 7 at St. Philip Church in Franklin, Tenn.

Catholic men urged to evangelize 'home front,' then go out to community

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FRANKLIN, Tenn. - The Catholic Church needs men to fully commit to their faith, and men have all they need from God "to be a force" for the church, a former major league baseball player told a men's conference in Franklin.

Pope Francis preaches during a Lenten penance service in St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican March 13. During a March 13 penance service, the pope announced an extraordinary jubilee, a Holy Year of Mercy, to be celebrated from Dec. 8, 2015, until Nov. 20 , 2016.

What does the Pope want: ‘All I want is to go out for a pizza!’

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The “Pope of the Interview” strikes again: Pope Francis has given a lengthy — and fascinating — interview to a Mexican television station, which broadcast it on March 13 to mark the second anniversary of his election.

Reforms launched by Pope Francis when he assumed the papacy two years ago are becoming bogged down in consultations and infighting.

Francis’ reforms run into strong headwinds

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VATICAN CITY - One reason the cardinals gathered in the Sistine Chapel elected Jorge Mario Bergoglio as Pope Francis two years ago was a brief but powerful speech the Argentine cardinal made shortly before the conclave in which he denounced the “theological narcissism” of the Roman Catholic Church.

Graves are seen in the Teutonic cemetery at the Vatican March 6. The history of the cemetery dates to Pope Leo III's grant of land to Charlemagne to build a hospice for pilgrims, a church, and a burial ground for German and Flemish pilgrims who died in Rome.

Historic cemetery inside Vatican walls a 'little piece of paradise'

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VATICAN CITY - A small, inconspicuous cemetery inside the Vatican walls made headlines recently with the burial of a Belgian homeless man, Willy Herteleer.

St. John Paul II pushes open the Holy Door and walks into St. Peter's Basilica on Christmas Eve 1999. Opening a sealed Holy Door is one of the traditions that usually marks a Holy Year.

At Lenten penance service, Pope announces Holy Year of Mercy

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VATICAN CITY - Pope Francis announced an extraordinary jubilee, a Holy Year of Mercy, to highlight the Catholic Church's "mission to be a witness of mercy."

Pope Francis deliver his blessing during his election night appearance on the central balcony of St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican March 13, 2013.

Anniversary interview: Pope talks about his election, papacy, future

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VATICAN CITY - When Pope Francis went out onto the balcony of St. Peter's Basilica for the first time, he said he did not prepare what he was going to say, but "I felt deeply that a minister needs the blessing of God, but also of his people."

A pilgrim goes to confession during World Youth Day in Rio de Janeiro July 23, 2013. Pope Francis told priests at the Vatican March 12 that hearing confession should be awe-inspiring and an opportunity to look at their own life.

Hearing confession is source of grace, conversion for priest, Pope says

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VATICAN CITY - Hearing a Catholic's confession should be awe-inspiring for a priest, an experience that makes him look at his own life and willingness to convert, Pope Francis told a group of seminarians, new priests and priests who hear confessions in the major basilicas of Rome.

Pope Francis meets with young people while visiting St. Mary Mother of the Redeemer Parish on the outskirts of Rome March 8.

Pope grants interview about his safety, politics, virtual relationships

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VATICAN CITY - A religious procession, a brainstorm session and a few glasses of wine led a group of residents gathered in a shantytown on the outskirts of Buenos Aires, Argentina, to come up with a plan to interview Pope Francis.

Pope Francis gives the homily while celebrating Mass at St. Mary Mother of the Redeemer Parish on the outskirts of Rome March 8.

Pope thanks women as dozens gather in Vatican to share faith stories

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VATICAN CITY - On International Women's Day, Pope Francis thanked women, "who in thousands of ways, witness to the Gospel and work in the church."

United Nations General Assembly

Vatican brings leaven of Gospel, experience of humanity to UN, says nuncio

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NEW YORK - The Vatican is a credible and admired presence at the United Nations because it speaks from practical experience, according to the Holy See's permanent observer to the UN.

An elderly woman becomes emotional as Pope Francis greets her as he arrives for a May 2014 weekly audience in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican. The most serious ailment the elderly face and the greatest injustice they suffer is abandonment, Pope Francis said.

Show value of life by affectionately caring for elderly, Pope says

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VATICAN CITY - The most serious ailment the aged face and the greatest injustice they suffer is abandonment, Pope Francis said.

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