Vatican City
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Pray for peace, weep for world at war, Pope Francis implores
By CINDY WOODEN, Catholic News Service
Published November 26, 2015VATICAN CITY (CNS)—“Jesus wept.” Pope Francis opened his morning homily with those words as he spoke about the wars and violence engulfing numerous parts of the world. The Gospel reading for Nov. 19 began, “As Jesus drew near Jerusalem, he saw the city and wept over it, saying, ‘If this day you only knew what […]
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Pope says Year of Mercy will be time to heal, to help, to forgive
By CINDY WOODEN, Catholic News Service
Published November 26, 2015VATICAN CITY (CNS)—Mercy is what makes God perfect and all-powerful, Pope Francis said in his document officially proclaiming the 2015-2016 extraordinary Holy Year of Mercy. “If God limited himself to only justice, he would cease to be God, and would instead be like human beings who ask merely that the law be respected,” the pope […]
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Mysterious path of Beatitudes leads to happiness, pope says
By CINDY WOODEN, Catholic News Service
Published November 12, 2015ROME (CNS)—While the Beatitudes can seem counterintuitive, Jesus knew that the poor in spirit, those who mourn or are persecuted and those who work for peace and justice are those who are open to experiencing God’s love and mercy, Pope Francis said. Celebrating an evening Mass Nov. 1, All Saints Day, amid the tombs of […] Full Story
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Pope: World expects believers to work together for peace
By CAROL GLATZ, Catholic News Service
Published November 12, 2015VATICAN CITY (CNS)—The world expects all people of religious faith to work with everyone for a better future, Pope Francis told representatives of major religions. “We can walk together taking care of each other and of creation” in joint projects that fight poverty, war and corruption and help people live in dignity, he told them […]
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The deeper synod question: How should church relate to the wider world
By CINDY WOODEN, Catholic News Service
Published October 29, 2015VATICAN CITY (CNS)—Members of the Synod of Bishops on the family agree that Catholic families are the beating heart and busy hands of the church, but the tensions in the synod hall demonstrate that what they don’t agree on is a vision of the church and its primary attitude to the world. As the Catholic […] Full Story
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Synod had difficult moments as it tried to proclaim truth, pope says
By CINDY WOODEN, Catholic News Service
Published October 29, 2015VATICAN CITY (CNS)—The first task of the Catholic Church “is not to hand down condemnations or anathemas, but to proclaim the mercy of God,” Pope Francis told members of the Synod of Bishops on the family. At the end of the synod’s final working session Oct. 24, Pope Francis was honest about the differences of […]
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Synod report urges ‘accompaniment’ tailored to family situations
By CINDY WOODEN, Catholic News Service
Published October 29, 2015VATICAN CITY (CNS)—While not specifically mentioning the controversial proposal of a path toward full reconciliation and Communion for the divorced and civilly remarried, members of the Synod of Bishops on the family handed Pope Francis a report emphasizing an obligation to recognize that not all Catholics in such a situation bear the same amount of […]
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Pope asks forgiveness for scandals, warns of betraying children’s trust
By JUNNO AROCHO ESTEVES, Catholic News Service
Published October 29, 2015VATICAN CITY (CNS)—With 30,000 people gathered in St. Peter’s Square, Pope Francis asked forgiveness for scandals that have occurred within the church recently. “Before beginning my catechesis, I would like—in the name of the church—to ask your forgiveness for the scandals which have occurred recently both in Rome and at the Vatican,” the pope said. […]
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People face devil’s tricks daily; use God’s Word, pope says
By CAROL GLATZ, Catholic News Service
Published October 15, 2015VATICAN CITY (CNS)—Every day, the devil tries to trick and seduce people with promises of riches, grandeur and power, Pope Francis said. Satan “sows snares and is a seducer. He seduces with charm, with diabolical charm, he leads you to believe everything. He knows how to sell with this charm, he sells well, but he […]
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Synod changes: Making less time for speeches, more time for dialogue
By CINDY WOODEN, Catholic News Service
Published October 15, 2015VATICAN CITY (CNS)—Although the public is given glimpses of what happens inside the Catholic Church’s world Synod of Bishops, the meetings themselves take place behind closed doors. Celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, the Synod of Bishops has been the object of a continual hunt to balance creating a protected space where bishops could speak […] Full Story
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Pope: Synod is not parliament, rather an expression of the church
By CINDY WOODEN, Catholic News Service
Published October 15, 2015VATICAN CITY (CNS)—The world Synod of Bishops on the family is not a parliament where participants will negotiate or lobby, Pope Francis said, but it must be a place of prayer where bishops speak with courage and open themselves to “God who always surprises us.” Opening the first working session of the synod Oct. 5, […] Full Story
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Canadian asks synod to speak on women: against violence, for new church roles
By CAROL GLATZ, Catholic News Service
Published October 15, 2015VATICAN CITY (CNS)—Canadian Archbishop Paul-Andre Durocher of Gatineau, Quebec, said the synod should reflect on the possibility of allowing for female deacons as it seeks ways to open up more opportunities for women in church life. Where possible, qualified women should be given higher positions and decision-making authority within church structures and new opportunities in […]
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U.S. archbishop: Joyful families are best people to evangelize other families
By CINDY WOODEN, Catholic News Service
Published October 15, 2015VATICAN CITY (CNS)—The Synod of Bishops on the family must find ways to give Catholic families a leading role in evangelizing and supporting other families, the president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops told the synod. “Families who by the grace of God model tenderness, forgiveness and the joy of family life make marriage […]
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Connect homilies to real life, synod observer says
By CAROL GLATZ, Catholic News Service
Published October 15, 2015VATICAN CITY (CNS)—Families need to hear homilies that connect the Gospel to the troubles and joys they experience, said a synod participant. Maria Gomes, the Family and Life director at St. Mary’s Church in Dubai, and an observer at the Synod of Bishops on the family, said the typical scenario is “the priest just talks […]
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The famous popemobile: Pontiffs have hit the streets in style
By CAROL GLATZ, Catholic News Service
Published September 22, 2015VATICAN CITY (CNS)—There’s perhaps no other signature vehicle in the world more well-known than the popemobile. Tall and boxy or sleek and chic, it’s the one white ride that always catches people’s eye, mostly because of the special passenger waving inside. The popemobile is a specially modified vehicle that gives the pope enough elevation and […]
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Pope calls on Europe’s parishes, religious houses to take in refugees
By CAROL GLATZ, Catholic News Service
Published September 18, 2015VATICAN CITY (CNS)—Given the ongoing crisis of people fleeing from war and poverty, Pope Francis asked every parish and religious community in Europe to take in a family of refugees as a concrete sign of hope and God’s mercy. “The Gospel calls us, asks us to be near the least and the abandoned. To give […] Full Story
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Pope: Why do youth turn back on Jesus? Is church hiding him?
By CAROL GLATZ, Catholic News Service
Published September 17, 2015VATICAN CITY (CNS)—Why do so many young people leave the church after confirmation, Pope Francis asked bishops from Portugal. “There is no doubt that Jesus exists; but where are we hiding him?” the pope said. What is required is “a personal and pastoral conversion of pastors and faithful so that everyone can say truthfully and […]
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After study by special Vatican commission, Pope Francis simplifies annulment process for some cases
By CINDY WOODEN, Catholic News Service
Published September 8, 2015VATICAN CITY (CNS)—While a juridical process is necessary for making accurate judgments, the Catholic Church’s marriage annulment process must be quicker, cheaper and much more of a pastoral ministry, Pope Francis said. Rewriting a section of the Latin-rite Code of Canon Law and of the Code of Canons of the Eastern Churches, Pope Francis said […]
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For Year of Mercy, pope extends possibilities for absolution
By CINDY WOODEN, Catholic News Service
Published September 4, 2015VATICAN CITY (CNS)—In an extraordinary gesture for the Year of Mercy, Pope Francis has extended to priests worldwide the authority to absolve women for the sin of abortion and has decreed the full validity during the year of the sacrament of confession celebrated by priests of the traditionalist Society of St. Pius X. “This jubilee […]
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Pope: Balanced life includes time for family, work, prayer
By CINDY WOODEN, Catholic News Service
Published September 4, 2015VATICAN CITY (CNS)—Work is an important expression of human dignity and of caring for one’s family, but today there is a “dangerous tendency” to consider a worker’s family obligations as an obstacle to productivity and profit, Pope Francis said. “But let’s ask ourselves: What productivity? And for whom?” he said Aug. 19 at his weekly […]
