.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)")
December 20, 2018
'Everything changes' with Christ's birth, Pope Francis says
VATICAN – The Annunciation – the Angel Gabriel announcing to Mary that she will bear God's son -- was such a tremendous, history-changing event that preaching about it is extremely difficult, Pope Francis said.
Published in
Reflections
December 19, 2018
Christmas is not just a cozy holiday but a chance to turn tables, Pope Francis says
VATICAN – Christmas will not be authentic if people get caught up in a frenzy of shopping, presents and meals, all while ignoring the poor and forgetting who the celebration is really all about, Pope Francis said.
Published in
Faith
December 18, 2018
Ask for grace to seek truth in dreams, be silent like St. Joseph, Pope Francis says
VATICAN – While St. Joseph was a practical, down-to-earth man, he had enough faith to be open to God speaking through dreams, Pope Francis said at morning Mass.
Published in
Reflections
December 18, 2018
Pope assigns Italian journalists to key posts in Vatican communications
VATICAN – Pope Francis made new appointments to the Dicastery for Communication, naming Andrea Tornielli, an Italian journalist, as its "editorial director" and Andrea Monda, an Italian journalist and religion teacher, as editor-in-chief of the Vatican newspaper, L'Osservatore Romano.
Published in
International
VATICAN – Before traveling to Rome for a major Vatican summit on the clerical sex abuse crisis and child protection, each participating bishop should meet with survivors of abuse, said the committee organizing the meeting.
Published in
International
VATICAN – In today's climate of mistrust, rejection and nationalism, the world urgently needs peacemakers and politicians who protect and lovingly serve others, Pope Francis said in his annual message for the World Day of Peace Jan. 1.
Published in
International
December 17, 2018
Death penalty is inhuman, ignores mercy, Pope Francis says
VATICAN – The death penalty is an inhumane form of punishment that ignores the primacy of mercy in the name of justice, Pope Francis said.
Published in
International
VATICAN – With Christmas just over a week away, visitors came to St. Peter's Square with their Baby Jesus figurines for a traditional blessing by the Pope.
Published in
Faith
December 17, 2018
Pope Francis celebrates 82nd birthday with pediatric patients
VATICAN – If the Holy Family lived in Rome and the baby Jesus had a cold or flu, Mary and Joseph certainly would bring him to the Vatican pediatric clinic for help, Pope Francis said.
Published in
International
December 14, 2018
The key to solving migration crisis is education, Pope Francis says
VATICAN – As the celebration of Christmas draws near, the plight of the Holy Family calls to mind the sufferings of the many men, women and children escaping war and persecution, Pope Francis said.
Published in
International
VATICAN – Protecting human dignity and human rights must always be at the heart of any action by world leaders to confront the many humanitarian crises afflicting today's world, Pope Francis said.
Published in
International
December 12, 2018
Mary raises up the abandoned, Pope Francis says at Mass
VATICAN – Just as she did hundreds of years ago from a small hill in Tepeyac, Mexico, Mary accompanies the downtrodden and the lowly like a mother caring for her children.
Published in
Reflections
December 12, 2018
Three Roman Curia advisers end service on Pope's Council of Cardinals
VATICAN – Three members of Pope Francis' Council of Cardinals have officially ended their service as papal advisers on the reform of the Roman Curia.
Published in
Vatican
December 11, 2018
Jesus gives us joy even in martyrdom, Pope Francis says
VATICAN – God sends his consolation to those in need of reassurance, even when they are facing death, Pope Francis said.
Published in
Reflections
VATICAN – Advent is a time for people to think about what they can change about themselves so that they can sow the seeds of peace, justice and fraternity in their daily lives, 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.