Vatican City
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Pope: God will judge people on care for poor, the planet
By CINDY WOODEN, Catholic News Service
Published May 28, 2015VATICAN CITY (CNS)—The powerful of the earth will face God’s judgment and will be asked to account for how they cared for the poor and how they cared for the environment so that it could produce food for all, Pope Francis said. “The planet has enough food for all, but it seems that there is […] Full Story
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Papal push: Caritas leader sees ‘Francis effect’ at work on the ground
By CINDY WOODEN, Catholic News Service
Published May 14, 2015VATICAN CITY (CNS)—Catholic charities around the world have no doubt about the reality of a “Francis effect” on their work. Because of the ongoing global economic crisis, most of the 164 national Catholic charities that form the Caritas Internationalis confederation report no significant increase in donations. However, the secretary-general of the Vatican-based network says Pope […]
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Pope: Newlyweds ‘courageous’; marriage is ‘great act of faith’
By CAROL GLATZ, Catholic News Service
Published May 14, 2015VATICAN CITY (CNS)—A Christian marriage isn’t just a big ceremony held in a church with nice flowers and everyone wearing fancy clothes and taking lots of pictures, Pope Francis said. Marriage is an act of faith between a man and woman who are both fragile and limited, but courageous enough to follow Christ and seek […]
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No boring homilies, pope tells 19 new priests at ordination
By CINDY WOODEN, Catholic News Service
Published May 1, 2015VATICAN CITY (CNS)—Ordaining 19 men to the priesthood, Pope Francis not only told them to make sure their homilies were not boring, but he offered them advice on how to ensure their preaching would touch people: Speak from your heart. Priests are called to nourish the faithful, he said, so they must ensure “that your […] Full Story
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Pope prays for quake victims, sends donation, urges solidarity
By CAROL GLATZ, Catholic News Service
Published April 30, 2015VATICAN CITY (CNS)—Pope Francis offered his prayers to all of those affected by a deadly earthquake in Nepal, encouraged rescue and emergency workers in their efforts and sent an initial donation of $100,000. More than 5,000 people were known to have been killed, as of April 28, and more than 1 million people were left […]
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Pope: Children are never a mistake, adults must sacrifice for them
By LAURA IERACI, Catholic News Service
Published April 16, 2015VATICAN CITY (CNS)—Children are never a “mistake” and no sacrifice is too great for an adult to make so that children can feel their worth, Pope Francis said. During his weekly general audience in a chilly, but sunny St. Peter’s Square April 8, the pope continued his series of talks about the family, dedicating a […]
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Term ‘genocide’ angers Turkey, while pope says memory leads to healing
By CAROL GLATZ, Catholic News Service
Published April 16, 2015VATICAN CITY (CNS)—Commemorating the 100th anniversary of the Armenian genocide, Pope Francis said atrocities from the past have to be recognized—not hidden or denied—for true reconciliation and healing to come to the world. However, Turkey’s top government officials criticized the pope’s use of the term “genocide”—citing a 2001 joint statement by St. John Paul II […] Full Story
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Pope warns religious against ‘crisis of quality’ in consecrated life
By LAURA IERACI, Catholic News Service
Published April 16, 2015VATICAN CITY (CNS)—Despite fewer vocations to consecrated life, those responsible for formation in religious institutes must know how to say no to unsuitable candidates, so as to avoid a “graver crisis of quality” down the road, said Pope Francis. During an audience with about 1,300 novice directors and other formation ministers at the Vatican April […] Full Story
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Humility is key to understanding Easter, sharing its joy, pope says
By CINDY WOODEN, Catholic News Service
Published April 10, 2015VATICAN CITY (CNS)—To enter Christ’s empty tomb like the disciples and see that he has risen, Christians today also must “bend down,” Pope Francis said in his Easter message. “Love has triumphed over hatred. Life has conquered death. Light has dispelled the darkness,” he told tens of thousands of rain-drenched pilgrims in St. Peter’s Square […]
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Pope joins homeless people for private tour of Sistine Chapel
By CINDY WOODEN, Catholic News Service
Published April 2, 2015VATICAN CITY (CNS)—While enjoying a private visit to the Sistine Chapel, a group of VIP guests—homeless people who live around the Vatican—were surprised by a visit from Pope Francis. The 150 visitors had just reached the Sistine Chapel at about 5 p.m. March 26, when Pope Francis walked through the door. “Welcome,” the pope said. […] Full Story
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Papal ecology: Protecting all God’s creatures, respecting God’s plan
By CINDY WOODEN, Catholic News Service
Published April 2, 2015VATICAN CITY (CNS)—The Catholic Church supports the efforts of scientists to study the causes and effects of climate change and insists governments and businesses must get serious about specific commitments for protecting the environment. But Pope Francis, like his predecessors, does not pretend to have a technical solution to the problem. However, he does feel […] Full Story
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Blood of Naples’ patron liquefies during pope’s visit to cathedral
By CINDY WOODEN, Catholic News Service
Published April 2, 2015VATICAN CITY (CNS)—At the end of Pope Francis’ spontaneity-filled meeting with priests, seminarians and religious in the cathedral of Naples, the vial of dried blood of the city’s patron saint appeared to miraculously liquefy. After Pope Francis blessed the congregation with the reliquary holding the vial, Cardinal Crescenzio Sepe of Naples announced, “As a sign […] Full Story
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Imitate Jesus’ humility and service, pope says at Palm Sunday Mass
By CINDY WOODEN, Catholic News Service
Published April 1, 2015VATICAN CITY (CNS)—From modern-day martyrs to those who quietly care for the sick or elderly, Pope Francis remembered all those who “sacrifice themselves daily,” following Jesus in serving others and giving witness to the Gospel. In overcoming the daily temptations of power and pride, the pope said at Palm Sunday Mass, Christians can look to […]
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At Lenten penance service, pope announces Holy Year of Mercy
By CINDY WOODEN, Catholic News Service
Published March 20, 2015VATICAN CITY (CNS)—Pope Francis announced an extraordinary jubilee, a Holy Year of Mercy, to highlight the Catholic Church’s “mission to be a witness of mercy.” “No one can be excluded from God’s mercy,” the pope said March 13, marking the second anniversary of his pontificate by leading a Lenten penance service in St. Peter’s Basilica. […] Full Story
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Pope: Elderly need to offer wisdom, prayers in later years
By CAROL GLATZ, Catholic News Service
Published March 20, 2015VATICAN CITY (CNS)—Don’t pack it in or shift into cruise control, Pope Francis told his fellow seniors. Young people and families, especially, need the older generation’s prayers, wisdom and gifts to give them the encouragement, hope and faith they often lack, he said at his weekly general audience March 11. “We, older people, can remind […] Full Story
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Time for a change: Holy years proclaimed to encourage spiritual renewal
By CAROL GLATZ, Catholic News Service
Published March 19, 2015VATICAN CITY (CNS)—A holy year as a time of spiritual renewal has its biblical roots in the jubilees observed by the Jewish people at 50-year intervals, when debts were pardoned and slaves were freed. The term “jubilee” itself comes from the Hebrew word “yobel,” meaning a ram’s horn, which was used to make the trumpet […]
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Anniversary interview: Pope talks about his election, papacy, future
By CINDY WOODEN, Catholic News Service
Published March 19, 2015VATICAN CITY (CNS)—When Pope Francis went out onto the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica for the first time, he said he did not prepare what he was going to say, but “I felt deeply that a minister needs the blessing of God, but also of his people.” He did not know if it was right […]
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Ukrainian bishops seek to be heard over the din of rhetoric
By LAURA IERACI, Catholic News Service
Published March 5, 2015VATICAN CITY (CNS)—As the Ukrainian Catholic bishops met in a private audience with Pope Francis Feb. 20, Ukraine was marking its first Day of the Heavenly Hundred Heroes, commemorating those who died in the Euromaidan movement one year earlier. Renamed the Revolution of Dignity, the four months of demonstrations in the Ukrainian capital, from November […] Full Story
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During Lent, pope offers handy tips to prepare for confession
By CAROL GLATZ, Catholic News Service
Published March 5, 2015VATICAN CITY (CNS)—As Catholics are encouraged to make going to confession a significant part of their lives during Lent, Pope Francis offered some quick tips to help people prepare for the sacrament of penance. After a brief explanation of why people should go to confession—“because we are all sinners”—the pope listed 30 key questions to […] Full Story
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Pope: Lent means acts of charity, justice, not just meatless days
By CAROL GLATZ, Catholic News Service
Published March 5, 2015VATICAN CITY (CNS)—Real fasting isn’t just restricting food choices, it must also include cleansing the heart of all selfishness and making room in one’s life for those in need and those who have sinned and need healing, Pope Francis said. Faith without concrete acts of charity is not only hypocritical, “it is dead; what good […] Full Story
