Vatican City
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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 […]
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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. […]
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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 […] Full Story
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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 […] Full Story
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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 […]
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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 […]
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Pope: To find face of God, search for him, take risks
By CAROL GLATZ, Catholic News Service
Published February 19, 2015VATICAN CITY (CNS)—People will not find the face of God by relaxing at home on the couch, surfing online or reading encyclopedias, Pope Francis said. Only people with a restless heart that thirsts for God will find him as they strike out on the road, taking risks and overcoming fatigue, danger and doubt, he said […]
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Pope seeks prayers for Egyptians beheaded by Islamic State
By CAROL GLATZ, Catholic News Service
Published February 19, 2015VATICAN CITY (CNS)—Pope Francis called for prayers for the Egyptian Christians beheaded by Islamic State militants in Libya and asked that God recognize these men killed for their faith. He offered morning Mass Feb. 17 in the chapel of his residence for the slain Christians he termed “our 21 brother Copts” whose throats had been […] Full Story
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Martyrs in Libya ‘whispered’ name of Jesus before death, bishop says
By LAURA IERACI, Catholic News Service
Published February 19, 2015VATICAN CITY (CNS)—The 21 Coptic Christians who were beheaded by Islamic State militants died as martyrs, invoking the name of Jesus, said an Egyptian Catholic bishop. In line with Pope Francis’ assertion at morning Mass Feb. 17, Bishop Antonios Aziz Mina of Giza told the Fides news agency that the “diabolical” video of the Christians’ […]
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Becoming a cardinal is a call to greater love, patience, pope says
By CINDY WOODEN, Catholic News Service
Published February 19, 2015VATICAN CITY (CNS)—In a Valentine’s Day ceremony to create 20 new cardinals, Pope Francis offered a meditation on Christian love and, especially, what it means for those who guide and minister in the church. “The greater our responsibility in serving the church, the more our hearts must expand according to the measure of the heart […]
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Pope recognizes martyrdom of Archbishop Romero
By CINDY WOODEN, Catholic News Service
Published February 5, 2015VATICAN CITY (CNS)—After decades of debate within the church, Pope Francis formally recognized that Salvadoran Archbishop Oscar Romero was killed “in hatred of the faith” and not for purely political reasons. Pope Francis signed the decree Feb. 3, recognizing as martyrdom the March 24, 1980, assassination of Archbishop Romero in a San Salvador hospital chapel […] Full Story
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Feed my sheep: Archbishops to receive palliums at home with their flock
By CINDY WOODEN, Catholic News Service
Published February 5, 2015VATICAN CITY (CNS)—When Pope Francis celebrates the feast of Sts. Peter and Paul in June, he will set aside an element that has been part of the Mass for the past 32 years; the Vatican confirmed he will not confer the pallium on new archbishops during the liturgy. Msgr. Guido Marini, the papal master of […]
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Living memories: On DVD, council fathers share impact of Vatican II
By CAROL GLATZ, Catholic News Service
Published February 5, 2015VATICAN CITY (CNS)—A pivotal moment in the modern history of the Catholic Church came to life on screen with a new documentary about the Second Vatican Council. With archival footage and exclusive interviews with prelates who attended the council sessions between its opening in 1962 and closing in 1965, the film pieces together firsthand accounts […]
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Pope Francis’ Lent message: Become islands of mercy in the sea of world’s indifference
By CAROL GLATZ, Catholic News Service
Published February 5, 2015VATICAN CITY (CNS)—Christians are called to overcome apathy, discouragement and pretentions of self-sufficiency by letting God enter into their hearts, making them joyful, merciful and strong, Pope Francis said. Through prayer, charity and humility before God, people receive a heart “which is firm and merciful, attentive and generous, a heart which is not closed, indifferent […]
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Pope to dads: Play with kids, be loving, strong role models
By CAROL GLATZ, Catholic News Service
Published February 5, 2015VATICAN CITY (CNS)—When their lives are all work and no play, men turn their children into “orphans” who lack a father to guide them, show them love and teach them values, Pope Francis said. “They are orphans in a family because their fathers are often absent, also physically, from home, but above all because when […] Full Story
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Panel advising Vatican unanimous that Archbishop Romero is a martyr
Published January 22, 2015
VATICAN CITY (CNS)—A panel of theologians advising the Vatican’s Congregation for Saints’ Causes voted unanimously to recognize the late Salvadoran Archbishop Oscar Romero as a martyr, according to the newspaper of the Italian bishops’ conference. The panel declared Jan. 8 that the archbishop had been killed “in hatred for the faith,” Avvenire reported Jan. 9. […] Full Story
