Vatican City
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Silence is Christ’s response to lies, divisiveness, pope says at Mass
By CINDY WOODEN, Catholic News Service
Published September 6, 2018VATICAN CITY (CNS)—Jesus himself showed that the best way to respond to scandal and divisiveness is to stay silent and pray, Pope Francis said Sept. 3 as he resumed his early morning Masses with invited guests. “With people lacking goodwill, with people who seek only scandal, with those who look only for division, who want […] Full Story
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Vocations in Ireland have dwindled due to abuse scandal, pope says
By JUNNO AROCHO ESTEVES, Catholic News Service
Published September 6, 2018VATICAN CITY (CNS)—While the faith of Catholics in Ireland is strong, the scandal of abuse and cover-up by church leaders has caused a decline in vocations to the priesthood and religious life, Pope Francis said. During his weekly general audience Aug. 29, the pope led pilgrims in praying a “Hail Mary” to Our Lady of […] Full Story
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Is there truth in Archbishop Vigano’s text and how are Catholics to know?
By CINDY WOODEN, Catholic News Service
Published August 29, 2018VATICAN CITY (CNS)—Catholics in the pews and even priests in the Vatican are confused about the long document Archbishop Carlo Maria Vigano published claiming Pope Francis turned a blind eye to information he had about the sexual misconduct of now-Archbishop Theodore E. McCarrick. Pope Francis’ response to journalists Aug. 26 that they should read the […] Full Story
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Former U.S. nuncio alleges broad cover-up of McCarrick’s misdeeds
By JUNNO AROCHO ESTEVES, Catholic News Service
Published August 29, 2018VATICAN CITY (CNS)—A former apostolic nuncio to the United States accused church officials, including Pope Francis, of failing to act on accusations of abuse of conscience and power by now-Archbishop Theodore E. McCarrick. In an open letter first published by Lifesite News and National Catholic Register Aug. 26, Archbishop Carlo Maria Vigano, who served as […] Full Story
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Pope: Abuse victims’ outcry more powerful than efforts to silence them
By CINDY WOODEN, Catholic News Service
Published August 23, 2018VATICAN CITY (CNS)—“No effort must be spared” to prevent future cases of clerical sexual abuse and “to prevent the possibility of their being covered up,” Pope Francis said in a letter addressed “to the people of God.” “I acknowledge once more the suffering endured by many minors due to sexual abuse, the abuse of power […] Full Story | En Español
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Nuncio says U.S. bishops committed to addressing abuse scandal
By CINDY WOODEN, Catholic News Service
Published August 23, 2018VATICAN CITY (CNS)—The U.S. bishops are “deeply committed” to facing the reality of clerical sexual abuse and the history of covering it up, said the Vatican nuncio to the United States. “All of us bishops, priests and members of the church must find a real response to the problem. Just a juridical or organizational response […] Full Story
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Pope calls for respect for migrants amid rising number of deaths at sea
By JUNNO AROCHO ESTEVES, Catholic News Service
Published August 3, 2018VATICAN CITY (CNS)—With the rising death toll of migrants and refugees attempting the treacherous voyage across the Mediterranean Sea, Pope Francis urged world leaders to act to prevent further tragedy. “I make a heartfelt appeal to the international community to act decisively and promptly in order to prevent such tragedies from recurring and to guarantee […] Full Story
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Pope accepts Cardinal McCarrick’s resignation as cardinal
By CINDY WOODEN, Catholic News Service
Published August 3, 2018VATICAN CITY (CNS)—Pope Francis has accepted the resignation from the College of Cardinals of Cardinal Theodore E. McCarrick, retired archbishop of Washington, and has ordered him to maintain “a life of prayer and penance” until a canonical trial examines accusations that he sexually abused minors. The announcement came first from the U.S. Conference of Catholic […] Full Story
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Faith is lived with joyous gratitude, not slavelike duty, pope says
By CAROL GLATZ, Catholic News Service
Published July 5, 2018VATICAN CITY (CNS)—God always loves and generously gives first before asking for fidelity to his commandments—which are the words of a loving father showing people the right way to live, Pope Francis said. “Christian life is above all the grateful response to a generous father,” not a forced, joyless compliance to a series of obligations, […] Full Story
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Pope: In baptism, Holy Spirit, not magic, protects people from evil
By JUNNO AROCHO ESTEVES, Catholic News Service
Published May 2, 2018VATICAN CITY (CNS)—The sacrament of baptism isn’t a good luck charm but a gift from God that enables Christians to overcome evil, Pope Francis said. Those who receive the sacrament are given the strength to overcome “the temptation to separate from God, from his will, from communion with him (and) fall into the snares of […] Full Story
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Holiness means being loving, not boring, pope says in new document
By CINDY WOODEN, Catholic News Service
Published April 23, 2018VATICAN CITY (CNS)—God calls all Christians to be saints—not plastic statues of saints, but real people who make time for prayer and who show loving care for others in the simplest gestures, Pope Francis said in his new document on holiness. “Do not be afraid of holiness. It will take away none of your energy, […] Full Story
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Repentant sinners need merciful confessors, not inquisitors, pope says
By JUNNO AROCHO ESTEVES, Catholic News Service
Published April 19, 2018VATICAN CITY (CNS)—Priests must give hope to men and women seeking forgiveness, encouraging them in their struggles away from the slippery slope of sin, Pope Francis said. Being merciful in the confessional helps penitents return to God without fear, even if they repeatedly stumble or slip on a path that “is filled with stones and […] Full Story
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Pope: Christians may be sinners, but they can’t be corrupt
By CAROL GLATZ, Catholic News Service
Published April 11, 2018VATICAN CITY (CNS)—Though they may go to church and say they are people of faith, the corrupt and “mafioso” have absolutely nothing Christian about them, Pope Francis said. “They call themselves Christian, but they carry death in their souls and bring death to others,” the pope said during his weekly general audience in St. Peter’s […] Full Story
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Easter shows the power of love, which renews the world, pope says
By CINDY WOODEN, Catholic News Service
Published April 5, 2018VATICAN CITY (CNS)—Easter makes it clear that in the life of Jesus, but also in the lives of modern men and women, “death, solitude and fear” do not have the last word, Pope Francis said before giving his Easter blessing. “The words heard by the women at the tomb are also addressed to us: ‘Why […] Full Story
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Pope: At Mass, God accepts humble gifts, gives abundantly in return
By CAROL GLATZ, Catholic News Service
Published March 9, 2018VATICAN CITY (CNS)—God asks so little of people and yet, he gives so much in return, Pope Francis said. “He asks for our goodwill in daily life, he asks us for an open heart, he asks us to be willing to be better,” the pope said at his weekly general audience at the Vatican Feb. […] Full Story
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People have right to receive God’s word, so preach it well, pope says
By CAROL GLATZ, Catholic News Service
Published February 22, 2018VATICAN CITY (CNS)—Everyone who goes to Mass has the right to hear the word of God in all its fullness, which means it must be read well and explained well with “fervor,” Pope Francis said. People have the right to hear God’s word in a way that “knocks at the heart and changes hearts,” he […] Full Story
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Five years a pope: Francis’ focus has been on outreach
By CINDY WOODEN, Catholic News Service
Published February 22, 2018VATICAN CITY (CNS)—Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio was elected pope just a few days after telling the College of Cardinals that the Catholic Church faced a clear choice between being a church that “goes out” or a church focused on its internal affairs. After the cardinal from Buenos Aires, Argentina, was elected March 13, 2013, and […] Full Story
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Readings at Mass offer God’s ‘real-time’ help, pope says
By CAROL GLATZ, Catholic News Service
Published February 8, 2018VATICAN CITY (CNS)—Listening to the Scripture readings at Mass is hearing God speak directly to his people, offering spiritual sustenance and needed guidance for life’s difficult journey, Pope Francis said. For that reason, the prescribed texts should never be skipped or substituted during the Mass, lectors should read clearly and people should always listen with […] Full Story
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For New Year, pope urges help for refugees, respect for life
By CINDY WOODEN, Catholic News Service
Published January 12, 2018VATICAN CITY (CNS)—Pope Francis began the New Year praying the world would demonstrate a marked increase in solidarity and welcome for migrants and refugees. “Let’s not extinguish the hope in their hearts; let’s not suffocate their hopes for peace,” the pope said Jan. 1 before reciting the Angelus with a crowd gathered in St. Peter’s […] Full Story
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Guadalupe feast shows Mary’s closeness to those on margins
By JUNNO AROCHO ESTEVES, Catholic News Service
Published December 21, 2017VATICAN CITY (CNS)—The appearance of Our Lady of Guadalupe, which mirrored the indigenous people of the time, is a sign of Mary’s closeness to the marginalized, Pope Francis said. Like St. Juan Diego, who felt of no importance at being chosen by Mary because of his indigenous heritage, marginalized people in today’s world are often […] Full Story
