FAITH/STORIES
Pope Francis arrives in Iraq, promoting peace, tolerance, equality
By Cindy Wooden, Catholic News ServiceBAGHDAD -- To consolidate peace and ensure progress, the government and people of Iraq must never treat anyone as a second-class citizen and must work each day to promote harmony, Pope Francis said.
Benedict XVI discusses his resignation, Francis' trip to Iraq in interview
By Cindy Wooden, Catholic News ServiceVATICAN CITY -- Although it took obvious effort to pronounce each word and sometimes his secretary repeated what he said to make it clear, retired Pope Benedict XVI spoke to an Italian newspaper about his retirement and about Pope Francis' planned trip to Iraq.
VATICAN CITY -- People should fast from gossiping and spreading hearsay as part of their Lenten journey, Pope Francis said.
Women of Faith conference balances the spiritual and feminine
By Wendy-Ann Clarke, The Catholic RegisterDorothy Pilarski is only half joking when she urges the women in her mother’s group to use their kitchen counters as a pulpit.
Vatican official insists religious services are 'essential services'
By Catholic News ServiceVATICAN CITY -- For believers, the ability to practice their faith and receive spiritual guidance are "the highest of essential services," and pandemic practices over the past year have shown they are not automatically super-spreader events, the Vatican foreign minister said.
Cardinals Sarah, Comastri retire from Vatican posts
By Carol Glatz, Catholic News ServiceVATICAN CITY -- Pope Francis accepted the resignations of 75-year-old Cardinal Robert Sarah, prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Sacraments, and 77-year-old Cardinal Angelo Comastri, archpriest of St. Peter's Basilica and vicar for Vatican City State.
Fight temptation with faith, prayer, penance, Pope Francis says at Angelus
VATICAN CITY -- Christians must never engage in dialogue with the devil, but instead must fight against temptations with the same spiritual weapons Jesus used in the desert, Pope Francis said.
Pope Francis marks 90th anniversary of Divine Mercy apparition
By Junno Arocho Esteves, Catholic News ServiceVATICAN CITY -- Marking the 90th anniversary of the apparition of Jesus to St. Faustina Kowalska, Pope Francis wrote a letter to Catholics in Poland expressing his hope that Christ's message of divine mercy would remain "alive in the hearts of the faithful."
Push on to pray million rosaries for peace
By Quinton Amundson, The Catholic RegisterA team of more than 20 young Catholic ambassadors is working feverishly to rouse believers of Christ young and old across the world to participate in a global mission to pray the Hail Mary one million times by Easter Sunday.
Vatican mandates COVID vaccine for employees
By Carol Glatz, Catholic News ServiceVATICAN CITY -- As a last resort, the Vatican may sanction employees who refuse to get a COVID-19 vaccine for non-medical reasons, according to a new Vatican decree.
The changing parish
By Michael Swan, The Catholic RegisterIn announcing another reorganization and consolidation of parishes, Quebec City Archbishop Cardinal Gérald Lacroix sought to focus the conversation on “our ability to fulfill our essential mission.”
In Iraq, Pope Francis hopes to encourage Christians, build bridges to Muslims
By Dale Gavlak, Catholic News ServiceAMMAN, Jordan -- On his historic visit to Iraq in March, Pope Francis hopes to encourage his Christian flock, badly bruised by sectarian conflict and brutal Islamic State attacks, while building further bridges to Muslims by extending fraternal peace.
Pope Francis gives a woman a vote in next synod of bishops
By Cindy Wooden, Catholic News ServiceVATICAN CITY -- Xaviere Missionary Sister Nathalie Becquart will not be the first woman undersecretary of a major Vatican office, but she will be the first woman with a right to vote at a meeting of the Synod of Bishops.