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FAITH/STORIES

Pope Francis, in interview, suggests church could tolerate some civil unions

Pope Francis, in interview, suggests church could tolerate some civil unions

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VATICAN CITY - Pope Francis suggested the Catholic Church could tolerate some types of nonmarital civil unions as a practical measure to guarantee property rights and health care. He also said the church would not change its teaching against artificial birth control but should take care to apply it with "much mercy."

Far from the television cameras, the movie stars and the crowds of jet-setting international tourists which feature so prominently in Rio de Janeiro’s carnival to start the Lenten season, neighbourhood associations known as “bloco” stage their own carnival celebrations in a poor neighbourhood near downtown Sao Paulo.

The opportunity presented by Lent

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Perhaps we haven’t considered Lent in terms of opportunity. Most of us picture opportunity knocking in the form of a new job, a surefire investment, a vacation, an adventure. Fasting, penance, charity, prayer are given to us as duties, obligations, tasks.

Cardinal Walter Kasper

Cardinal outlines possible paths to Communion for divorced, remarried

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VATICAN CITY - The Catholic Church needs to find a way to offer healing, strength and salvation to Catholics whose marriages have failed, who are committed to making a new union work and who long to do so within the Church and with the grace of Communion, Cardinal Walter Kasper told the world's cardinals.

Pope urges sympathy, outreach to couples whose marriages fail

Pope urges sympathy, outreach to couples whose marriages fail

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VATICAN CITY - Those who recognize marriage as a sacrament, a divine blessing and a reflection of God's love for humanity should have even greater sympathy for husbands and wives whose relationships have failed, Pope Francis said.

Pope Francis prays during his general audience in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican Feb. 26.

Pope Francis says Church needs better bishops

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VATICAN CITY - In another strongly worded message to the Catholic hierarchy, Pope Francis told the Vatican body that vets nominees for bishops that they need to find him better candidates to send to dioceses around the world.

Pope Paul VI

Vatican theologians OK alleged miracle attributed to Pope Paul VI

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ROME - Vatican theologians have given their approval to a miracle attributed to the intercession of Pope Paul VI, moving him a step closer to sainthood.

Benedict rejects rumors on why he resigned as “simply absurd”

Benedict rejects rumors on why he resigned as “simply absurd”

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VATICAN CITY - As the anniversary of his surprising resignation approaches, Pope Benedict XVI has rejected as “simply absurd” the speculation that he was forced to step down, and he said he still wears the distinctive white papal cassock for “purely practical reasons.”

The surprising afterlife of Pope Benedict XVI

The surprising afterlife of Pope Benedict XVI

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VATICAN CITY - When Pope Benedict XVI officially left the Vatican in a helicopter a year ago this week (Feb. 28), becoming the first pontiff in 600 years to resign, many in his conservative fan base were aghast, even angry.

Pope Francis lashed out at public indifference to the many wars raging around the globe on Feb. 25 at the daily Mass he celebrates in the chapel of the Vatican guesthouse where he lives.

Pope Francis blasts arms dealers, decries indifference to war

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VATICAN CITY - Pope Francis lashed out at public indifference to the many wars raging around the globe, with especially harsh words for arms makers who he said profit from the violence and suffering.

Pope Francis presents the red biretta to new Cardinal Gerald Lacroix of Quebec during a consistory in St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican Feb. 22.

Lacroix vows to remain ‘grounded with my people’

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VATICAN CITY - Canada’s newest cardinal has pledged to not let his new position take away from what he does best: being a servant of his people.

Vatican City consumes more wine per capita than any other country

Vatican City consumes more wine per capita than any other country

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ROME - Tiny Vatican City consumes more wine per capita than any other country in the world, according to information from the California-based Wine Institute.

Cardinal George Pell of Sydney arrives for Pope Francis' Mass with new cardinals in St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican Feb. 23. The Vatican announced Feb. 24 that Pope Francis has appointed Cardinal Pell to head a new Vatican office overseeing Vatican finances.

Pope Francis establishes panel, with lay members, to oversee Vatican finances

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VATICAN CITY - In a move reflecting both his drive to reform the Vatican bureaucracy and his oft-stated desire to include laypeople in the leadership of the Church, Pope Francis established a new panel, to include almost as many lay members as clerics, to oversee the finances of the Holy See and Vatican City State.

Retired Pope Benedict XVI greets Pope Francis at the conclusion of a consistory at which Pope Francis created 19 new cardinals in St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican Feb. 22. Pope Benedict's presence at the ceremony marked the first time he had joined Po pe Francis for a public liturgy.

Pope Francis, with retired Pope Benedict present, creates new cardinals

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VATICAN CITY - On a feast day commemorating the authority Jesus gave to St. Peter and his successors -- the popes -- Pope Francis created 19 new cardinals in the presence of retired Pope Benedict XVI.

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