FAITH/STORIES
Pope celebrates diversity of popular piety, unity of church
By Francis X. Rocca, Catholic News ServiceVATICAN CITY - Pope Francis celebrated popular piety as a means of transmitting the faith and cultivating it in ordinary Catholics but said such piety must be practiced in communion with the hierarchy in order to maintain the church's unity.
Mary is a mother who helps Christians grow, Pope says at rosary
By Cindy Wooden, Catholic News ServiceROME - Mary is a mother who helps Christians grow, face the difficulties of life and use their freedom to make lasting commitments, Pope Francis said.
VATICAN CITY - For the first time in history, the Vatican is home to a pope and a retired pope.
Mexico's soon-to-be-saint recalled for her ministry to poor, sick
By David Agren, Catholic News ServiceGUADALARJARA, Mexico - A shy woman stopped to pray in front of statue of Blessed Maria Guadalupe Garcia Zavala while visiting the Santa Margarita Hospital. She knew little about the founder of the facility, who will be canonized May 12, but, like many, she had heard stories from hospital patients who say the soon-to-be-saint still walks the halls providing care, attention and miracles to those in need.
Pope tells young to 'swim against the tide; it's good for the heart'
By Cindy Wooden, Catholic News ServiceVATICAN CITY - Administering the sacrament of Confirmation to 44 people, including two teenagers from the United States and two from Ireland, Pope Francis encouraged them to "swim against the tide; it's good for the heart."
Support of abortion, euthanasia arise out of the ‘illusions’ of compassion: Collins
By Michael Swan, The Catholic RegisterTORONTO - The new evangelization isn't about condemning our culture but healing it, Cardinal Thomas Collins told an audience of doctors, nurses and health care ethicists at the annual Cardinal Ambrozic Lecture in Toronto.
Vatican official says Archbishop Romero's sainthood cause 'unblocked'
By Cindy Wooden, Catholic News ServiceVATICAN CITY - Archbishop Vincenzo Paglia, president of the Pontifical Council for the Family and the official promoter of the sainthood cause of the late Archbishop Oscar Romero of San Salvador, said the process to beatify and eventually canonize the slain Salvadoran archbishop has been unblocked.
Pope ordains new priests, talks about learning to hear Jesus' voice
By Cindy Wooden, Catholic News ServiceVATICAN CITY - Before ordaining 10 men to the priesthood, Pope Francis prayed privately with them in the sacristy and entrusted them to Mary's care.
Pope reaffirms call for reform of U.S. nuns’ group
By Carol Glatz, Catholic News ServiceVATICAN CITY - Pope Francis has reaffirmed the Vatican’s call for reform of the U.S.-based Leadership Conference of Women Religious.
Battle with the devil: Pope Francis frames the fight in Jesuit terms
By Cindy Wooden, Catholic News ServiceVATICAN CITY - In the teaching of Pope Francis, the devil has a more dastardly agenda than just convincing people to break one of the Ten Commandments; "the enemy" wants them to feel weak, worthless and always ready to complain or gossip.
Br. Anthony found his home in God
By Michael Swan, The Catholic RegisterEvery immigrant who ever came to Canada dreaming of something better, something worthy of their best hopes, struggled, wished they had never come and wanted to go home has a soul brother in Br. Anthony Kowalczyk.
Being Christian means acting, loving like Christ, Pope says at audience
By Cindy Wooden, Catholic News ServiceVATICAN CITY - A Christian isn't a person who simply follows some commandments, but is a person who tries to think like Christ, "act like him, love like him," Pope Francis said at his weekly general audience.
Pope names head of Franciscans to Vatican office overseeing religious
By Carol Glatz, Catholic News ServiceVATICAN CITY - In his first appointment to the curia, Pope Francis named the superior of the Franciscans as secretary of the Vatican office that oversees the world's religious orders.