Vatican City
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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,” […] Full Story
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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 […]
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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 […] Full Story
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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 […]
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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 […] Full Story
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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
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People need ‘ecological conversion,’ pope says, asking scientists to lead
By CAROL GLATZ, Catholic News Service
Published December 1, 2016VATICAN CITY (CNS)—Humanity does not own God’s gift of creation and has no right to pillage it, Pope Francis said. “We are not custodians of a museum and its masterpieces that we have to dust off every morning, but rather collaborators in the conservation and development of the existence and biodiversity of the planet and […] Full Story
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Time of mercy: Holy doors close, but mission of mercy continues
By CINDY WOODEN, Catholic News Service
Published December 1, 2016VATICAN CITY (CNS)—The Year of Mercy brought more than 20 million pilgrims to Rome, but for Pope Francis, the idea always was that the celebration of God’s mercy would be local: have people experience God’s love in their parishes and send them out into the world to commit random acts of mercy. While concrete works […]
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Proclaim Christ the king of mercy, pope says at end of Holy Year
By CINDY WOODEN, Catholic News Service
Published December 1, 2016VATICAN CITY (CNS)—Following Christ the King, whose regal power is love and mercy, means the whole church and each Christian must “follow his way of tangible love,” Pope Francis said. Celebrating the feast of Christ the King Nov. 20 and officially closing the extraordinary jubilee celebration of the Year of Mercy, Pope Francis insisted, “we […] Full Story
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Pope to interfaith leaders: Mercy is core of true religion
By CINDY WOODEN, Catholic News Service
Published November 17, 2016VATICAN CITY (CNS)—Authentic religions help people understand that they are, in fact, loved and can be forgiven and are called to love and forgive others, Pope Francis said. “We thirst for mercy, and no technology can quench that thirst,” the pope told Jewish, Christian, Muslim, Buddhist, Sikh and other religious leaders. “We seek a love […] Full Story
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Top Vatican official congratulates Trump, offers prayers
By CINDY WOODEN, Catholic News Service
Published November 9, 2016VATICAN CITY (CNS)—Congratulating Donald Trump for his victory in the U.S. presidential election, the Vatican secretary of state expressed hope that people would work together “to change the global situation, which is a situation of serious laceration, serious conflict.” Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Pope Francis’ top aide, spoke about the election early Nov. 9 during a […] Full Story
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Vatican releases instruction on burial, cremation
By CINDY WOODEN, Catholic News Service
Published November 3, 2016VATICAN CITY (CNS)—Professing belief in the resurrection of the dead and affirming that the human body is an essential part of a person’s identity, the Catholic Church insists that the bodies of the deceased be treated with respect and laid to rest in a consecrated place. While the Catholic Church continues to prefer burial in […] Full Story
