Vatican City
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Pope: Jesus walks with those discouraged, with bowed heads
By CAROL GLATZ, Catholic News Service
Published June 1, 2017VATICAN CITY (CNS)—If it seems hard to find God in this world, it is because he chooses to be with the defeated and dejected and in places where most people are loath to go, Pope Francis said. “God does not like to be loved the way a warlord would like, dragging his people to victory, […]
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Don’t be rigid; Holy Spirit is gift of God who surprises us, pope says
By CINDY WOODEN, Catholic News Service
Published May 18, 2017VATICAN CITY (CNS)—God, who created the world, continues to work in it, surprising people and making some of them nervous, Pope Francis said. The phrase “it’s always been done this way” reflects an attitude that “kills,” the pope said May 8 at his early morning Mass. “This kills freedom. It kills joy. It kills fidelity […]
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In TED talk, pope urges people to make real connections
By KEANINE GRIGGS, Catholic News Service
Published May 5, 2017VATICAN CITY (CNS)—While searching for a connection today often means looking for Wi-Fi, Pope Francis said real connections between people are the only hope for the future. “How wonderful would it be if the growth of scientific and technological innovation would come along with more equality and social inclusion,” he said in a video talk […] Full Story
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Why be afraid when God is always showing the way, pope says
By CAROL GLATZ, Catholic News Service
Published May 4, 2017VATICAN CITY (CNS)—Christians always have hope, no matter how bleak, bad or uncertain the journey, because they know God is always by their side, Pope Francis said. In fact, “even crossing parts of the world (that are) wounded, where things are not going well, we are among those who, even there, continue to hope,” he […] Full Story
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Love Jesus in all who suffer, pope says on Palm Sunday
By CAROL GLATZ, Catholic News Service
Published April 20, 2017VATICAN CITY (CNS)—Jesus does not ask that people only contemplate his image, but that they also recognize and love him concretely in all people who suffer like he did, Pope Francis said. Jesus is “present in our many brothers and sisters who today endure sufferings like his own—they suffer from slave labor, from family tragedies, […] Full Story
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Risen Christ calls all to follow him on path to life, pope says
By CINDY WOODEN AND JUNNO AROCHO ESTEVES, Catholic News Service
Published April 20, 2017VATICAN CITY (CNS)—Jesus is the risen shepherd who takes upon his shoulders “our brothers and sisters crushed by evil in all its varied forms,” Pope Francis said before giving his solemn Easter blessing. With tens of thousands of people gathered in St. Peter’s Square April 16, the pope called on Christians to be instruments of […] Full Story | En Español
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Fatima at 100: Story of apparitions continues to attract attention
By JUNNO AROCHO ESTEVES
Published April 20, 2017VATICAN CITY (CNS)—While conversion and prayer are at the heart of Mary’s messages at Fatima, Portugal, the miracles and unexplained phenomenon that accompanied the events 100 years ago continue to intrigue believers and nonbelievers alike. The apparitions of Mary at Fatima in 1917 were not the first supernatural events reported there. Two years before Mary […] Full Story | En Español
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Saving lives must be first concern of immigration policy, pope says
By CINDY WOODEN, Catholic News Service
Published April 11, 2017VATICAN CITY (CNS)—The defense of the life, dignity and human rights of migrants and refugees must come before any other question when enacting migration policies, Pope Francis said. “The defense of human beings knows no limits,” the pope said in an interview with the journal of the Department for Civil Liberties and Immigration of the […] Full Story | En Español
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No secret: Last three popes share close bond to Fatima
By JUNNO AROCHO ESTEVES, Catholic News Service
Published April 10, 2017VATICAN CITY (CNS)—Recent popes have had a special affection for Our Lady of Fatima, but no pope’s connection can match that of St. John Paul II. “We cannot forget that he was saved by Our Lady of Fatima from the assassination attempt here in St. Peter’s. This is fundamental and central. It is never forgotten,” […]
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Pope: Hope against all hope; God promises the ‘impossible’
By CAROL GLATZ, Catholic News Service
Published April 6, 2017VATICAN CITY (CNS)—Hope is not built on people’s predictions, assurances or line of reasoning, Pope Francis said. Real Christian hope “is not based on our word, but on God’s Word” and promises of salvation and eternal life, the pope said during his general audience in St. Peter’s Square March 29. Continuing a series of reflections […] Full Story
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Church experience more than just a cut-and-run flash mob, pope says
By JUNNO AROCHO, Catholic News Service
Published March 24, 2017VATICAN CITY (CNS)—Young men and women can live a true experience of the church by joining together and reconnecting with the past, Pope Francis told Catholic young people. “The genuine experience of the church is not like a flash mob, where people agree to meet, do their thing and then go their separate ways,” the […] Full Story
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Pope: Even in dark times, don’t lose hope in God’s love
By JUNNO AROCHO ESTEVES, Catholic News Service
Published February 23, 2017VATICAN CITY (CNS)—Christians must never lose hope and should remind themselves that God loves them even at their worst, Pope Francis said. God’s love provides “security” both in difficult moments and even when “I have done something terrible and evil,” the pope said Feb. 15 during his weekly general audience. “No one can take this […] Full Story
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Pope: As Christians, live joyfully expecting to see the face of God
By CAROL GLATZ, Catholic News Service
Published February 9, 2017VATICAN CITY (CNS)—Christian hope isn’t about believing in something that may or may not come true, like hoping tomorrow’s weather will be pleasant, Pope Francis said. “Christian hope is the expectation of something that already has been fulfilled and that certainly will be attained for each one of us,” that is, knowing Christ died and […] Full Story
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Iraqi patriarch: Fast track for Christian refugees will fuel tensions
By CAROL GLATZ, Catholic News Service
Published January 30, 2017VATICAN CITY (CNS)—Giving priority to Christian refugees for settlement programs would be “a trap” that discriminates and fuels religious tensions in the Middle East, said Iraq’s Chaldean Catholic patriarch. “Every reception policy that discriminates (between) the persecuted and suffering on religious grounds ultimately harms the Christians of the East” and would be “a trap for […] Full Story
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Pope offers prayers for Trump as he becomes 45th U.S. president
By Catholic News Service
Published January 20, 2017VATICAN CITY (CNS)—Pope Francis sent best wishes and prayers to incoming President Donald J. Trump shortly after he took the oath of office. “I offer you my cordial good wishes and the assurance of my prayers that almighty God will grant you wisdom and strength in the exercise of your high office,” the pope’s message […] Full Story
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Magi’s journey reflects longing for God, pope says on Epiphany
By JUNNO AROCHO ESTEVES, Catholic News Service
Published January 12, 2017VATICAN CITY (CNS)—The Magi had the courage to set out on a journey in the hope of finding something new, unlike Herod who was full of himself and unwilling to change his ways, Pope Francis said. The Wise Men who set out from the East in search of Jesus personify all those who long for […]
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New Year calls for courage, hope; no more hatred, selfishness, pope says
By CAROL GLATZ, Catholic News Service
Published January 4, 2017VATICAN CITY (CNS)—Whether the new year will be good or not depends on us choosing to do good each day, Pope Francis said. “That is how one builds peace, saying ‘no’ to hatred and violence—with action—and ‘yes’ to fraternity and reconciliation,” he said Jan. 1, which the church marks as the feast of Mary, Mother […] Full Story
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Pope: Take a break from busy holidays to prepare for real Christmas
By CAROL GLATZ, Catholic News Service
Published December 22, 2016VATICAN CITY (CNS)—Make time to get ready for what Christmas really is about—the child born in Bethlehem signaling that “God is with us,” Pope Francis said. “This week let’s make sure we try to find some time to stop, be quiet and imagine Our Lady and St. Joseph who are going to Bethlehem,” he said […] Full Story
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Pope recognizes martyrdom of Oklahoma priest killed in Guatemala
By CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE
Published December 22, 2016VATICAN CITY (CNS)—Pope Francis has recognized the martyrdom of Father Stanley Rother of the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City, making him the first martyr born in the United States. The Vatican made the announcement Dec. 2. The recognition of his martyrdom clears the way for his beatification. Father Rother, born March 27, 1935, on his family’s […]
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Give flesh to the Gospel like Mary did, pope says on Guadalupe feast
By CINDY WOODEN, Catholic News Service
Published December 12, 2016VATICAN CITY (CNS)—Celebrating the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Pope Francis described Mary as a strong woman who inspires believers to give “flesh to the Gospel” in societies often marked by distrust and blindness. “To look at the Guadalupana is to remember that the presence of the Lord always passes through those who manage […] Full Story
