.jpg "People cheer as Pope Francis arrives to celebrate the closing Mass of World Youth Day at Campus Misericordiae in Krakow, Poland, July 31. (CNS photo/Paul Haring)")
.jpg "World Youth Day pilgrims cheer as Pope Francis leads the July 30 prayer vigil at the Field of Mercy in Krakow, Poland. (CNS photo/Paul Haring)")
.jpg "World Youth Day pilgrims wait for Pope Francis to arrive for a July 30 prayer vigil at the Field of Mercy in Krakow, Poland. (CNS photo/Bob Roller)")
.jpg "Pope Francis uses incense as he celebrates Mass with priests, religious and consecrated persons at the St. John Paul II Shrine in Lagiewniki, a suburb of Krakow, Poland, July 30. (CNS photo/Paul Haring)")
.jpg "Pope Francis celebrates Mass with priests, religious and consecrated persons at the St. John Paul II Shrine in Lagiewniki, a suburb of Krakow, Poland, July 30. (CNS photo/Paul Haring)")
.jpg "Pope Francis blesses children during a visit to the Children's University Hospital in Krakow, Poland, July 29. (CNS photo/L'Osservatore Romano via Reuters)")
.jpg "Bishops and priests attend the opening Mass for World Youth Day July 26 at Blonia Park in Krakow, Poland. (CNS photo/Bob Roller)")
.jpg "Relics of Sts. Faustina Kowalska and John Paul II are carried into the opening Mass for World Youth Day in Krakow, Poland, July 26. (CNS photo/Jaclyn Lippelmann, Catholic Standard)")
VATICAN – Catholics cannot place blame for the sexual abuse crisis on "those who came before us" in an attempt "to present ourselves as 'pure,'" said the editorial director of the Vatican media outlets.
Published in
International
VATICAN – In a world of different religions, cultures and languages, art has the capacity to bring people together and inspire them to take action in addressing critical challenges, said a Vatican official.
Published in
Arts News
March 11, 2019
Benedictine abbot leads Pope, Roman Curia in Lenten retreat
VATICAN – When Pope Francis asked 50-year-old Benedictine Abbot Bernardo Gianni to lead his Lenten retreat, the abbot said he told the Pope he felt "very inadequate."
Published in
Faith
VATICAN – When facing temptation, Christians should follow Jesus' example by not engaging in fruitless talk with the father of lies, Pope Francis said.
Published in
Faith
VATICAN – Answering the Lord's call demands the courage to take a risk, but it is an invitation to become part of an important mission, Pope Francis said.
Published in
Faith
VATICAN – Lent is a time to ask for God's grace to chip away at hypocrisy, which is seen in the natural human attempt to appear "worthier than we are," Pope Francis said.
Published in
Reflections
VATICAN – Engaging in any form of anti-Semitism is a direct contradiction with the Christian faith, Pope Francis said.
Published in
International
March 7, 2019
God is purifying the church with 'unbearable' pain of abuse scandal, Pope Francis says
ROME – The clerical abuse scandal has caused everyone in the Catholic Church "pain and unbearable suffering," Pope Francis said, but it also is a call to repentance and the renewal of the church.
Published in
Faith
ROME – Marked with ashes, Christians set off on a Lenten journey where they strive to leave behind everything that will turn to dust and instead focus on drawing closer to God and God's promise of eternal life, Pope Francis said.
Published in
Faith
VATICAN – After moving the Vatican celebration of the World Day of Migrants and Refugees from January to September, Pope Francis wants Catholics to understand how concern for migrants and refugees is part of a much broader Christian concern for people in need.
Published in
International
March 4, 2019
Give up gossiping for Lent, Pope Francis suggests
ROME – Lent is a good time to concentrate on fighting the urge to gossip about others and instead trying to correct one's own faults and defects, Pope Francis said.
Published in
Reflections
VATICAN – What makes a politician "Catholic" is not party affiliation, but dedication to promoting the common good, particularly through listening to and empowering people who often are overlooked, Pope Francis said.
Published in
International
February 28, 2019
Victims shed harsh light on sex abuse at Vatican summit
The abuse summit began with the voices of the abused … five testimonies gathered from around the world.
Published in
International
February 28, 2019
Editorial: The work begins
The remarkable summit on sex abuse has ended but its work is far from done.
Published in
Editorial
VATICAN – The fruitful friendship and dialogue between Jews and Christians must go beyond the world of experts and academia, Pope Francis said.
Published in
Faith
WYD Blog
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Call to arms
If you did not feel empowered by Pope Francis' homily during the welcoming ceremonies at World Youth Day, then you weren't really listening. The…
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Jesus calls us here to meet him
There’s so much I could say about World Youth Day: I could probably write a short book about my experiences. There are so many…
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Jesus I trust you
Two weeks ago I left my home in Mission, BC, about an hour outside of Vancouver, and embarked on my pilgrimage to Kraków, Poland.…
WYD PhotoBlog
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Jean's Photo Diary
July 26, 2016: The shrine of the Black Madonna was opened to World Youth Day pilgrims so that they could venerate the miraculous image up close. (Photo by Jean Ko Din)
Follow our reporter Jean Ko Din as she photographs her journey to Krakow, Poland for the 2016 World Youth Day.