FAITH/STORIES
Pope declares medieval mystic a saint, advances seven other causes
By Carol Glatz, Catholic News ServiceVATICAN CITY - Pope Francis advanced the sainthood causes of seven men and women, including a Canadian and an English founder of two religious orders for women.
Archbishop says synod theme shows importance of family for Pope
By Cindy Wooden, Catholic News ServiceVATICAN CITY - Pope Francis' decision to call an extraordinary Synod of Bishops on the family in 2014 demonstrates how important he believes the family is and the urgency he sees in responding to problems Christian families face, said the head of the Pontifical Council for the Family.
Pope calls synod to discuss families, divorce and remarriage
By Francis X. Rocca, Catholic News ServiceVATICAN CITY - The predicament of divorced and remarried Catholics will be a major topic of discussion when bishops from around the world meet at the Vatican in October 2014.
Legionaries of Christ renewal goes forward with January general chapter
By Cindy Wooden, Catholic News ServiceROME - Members of the Legionaries of Christ will begin their extraordinary general chapter Jan. 8 to elect new leaders and approve a new constitution, the key step in an effort to renew the order after revelations about the misconduct of their founder.
Holy, holy, holy: Pope talks about his favorite saints
By Carol Glatz, Catholic News ServiceVATICAN CITY - Who are the holy men and women Pope Francis looks up to? He revealed many of them in two recently published interviews.
In interviews, Pope Francis crafts a new genre of papal language
By Francis X. Rocca, Catholic News ServiceVATICAN CITY- When Pope Benedict XVI answered a journalist's 2010 question about condom use by offering a nuanced reflection on the ethical complexities of a hypothetical case, his words led to a worldwide media sensation, a clarification by the Vatican spokesman and a statement from the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith that the Pope had not changed Church teaching on contraception.
Have the courage to marry, start a family, pope tells youths in Assisi
By Cindy Wooden, Catholic News ServiceVATICAN CITY - In societies that trumpet individual rights, see everything as fleeting and see no value in sticking to something that's difficult, deciding to get married today takes courage, Pope Francis told young people in Assisi.
Pope, in Assisi, calls on Church to renounce 'spirit of the world'
By Francis X. Rocca, Catholic News ServiceUpdated 10/04/13
ASSISI, Italy (CNS) -- Making his first pilgrimage as Pope to the birthplace of his papal namesake, Pope Francis called on the whole church to imitate St. Francis of Assisi, embracing poverty and stripping itself of the "spirit of world."
Pope, cardinal advisers looking at major overhaul of Roman Curia
By Cindy Wooden, Catholic News ServiceUpdated: 10/03/13
VATICAN CITY - Pope Francis and his international Council of Cardinals are laying out plans to completely overhaul the Roman Curia, underlining its role of "service to the universal church and the local churches," the Vatican spokesman said.
Pope and advisory council discuss synod reform on first day
ByVATICAN CITY - Pope Francis and his eight cardinal advisers on Church governance spent much of their first day together discussing reform of the Synod of Bishops, but the Vatican downplayed expectations that their discussions would lead to major changes in the near future.
Humility, service attract people to church, not power, pride, Pope says
By Carol Glatz, Catholic News ServiceVATICAN CITY - As a series of consultations aimed at the reform of the Vatican bureaucracy began, Pope Francis told his group of cardinal advisers that humility and service attract people to the church, not power and pride.
Pope establishes advisory panel as permanent Council of Cardinals
By Francis X. Rocca, Catholic News ServiceVATICAN CITY - Pope Francis made his international advisory panel on Church governance a permanent council of cardinals, thereby emphasizing the importance and open-endedness of its work among his pontificate's various efforts at reform.
Pope to canonize Blessed John XXIII, John Paul II April 27
By Cindy Wooden, Catholic News ServiceVATICAN CITY - Recognizing that Blessed John XXIII and John Paul II have widespread reputations for holiness and that years of studying their lives and actions have proven their exceptional virtue, Pope Francis announced he would declare his two predecessors saints at a single ceremony April 27.