Vatican City
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Pope: Holy Spirit sends ‘counsel’ through people of faith, prayers
By CAROL GLATZ, Catholic News Service
Published May 15, 2014VATICAN CITY (CNS)—Never forget to pray, even while commuting, taking a walk or waiting in line, Pope Francis said. And don’t just stick to prayers memorized from childhood, but include heartfelt requests and pleas for help, advice and guidance, he said. During his general audience May 7, the pope continued a series of talks on […] Full Story
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Pope’s homilies help Catholics fight the good fight, Jesuit says
By CAROL GLATZ, Catholic News Service
Published May 1, 2014VATICAN CITY (CNS)—Pope Francis’ morning homilies represent a rallying cry and “road map” for today’s Christians in their daily journey to grow closer to God, said the Jesuit editor of a new collection of the homilies from the pope’s early morning Masses. Each reflection the pope delivers in the chapel of his residence, the Domus […]
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Pope Francis, with retired pope, canonizes Sts. John and John Paul
By FRANCIS X. ROCCA, Catholic News Service
Published May 1, 2014VATICAN CITY (CNS)—Canonizing two recent popes in the presence of his immediate predecessor, Pope Francis praised the new Sts. John XXIII and John Paul II as men of courage and mercy, who responded to challenges of their time by modernizing the Catholic Church in fidelity to its ancient traditions. “They were priests, bishops and popes […] Full Story
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Panel of cardinals to advise pope on Vatican reform
By FRANCIS X. ROCCA, CNS
Published May 1, 2014VATICAN CITY (CNS)—Amid rising concerns about corruption and mismanagement in the central administration of the Catholic Church, Pope Francis named an international panel of cardinals to advise him on the latest reform of the Vatican bureaucracy. The Vatican Secretariat of State announced April 13 that the pope had established the group—which includes Boston Cardinal Sean […] Full Story
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Easter proclaims that love gives life, pope says; share it with others
By CINDY WOODEN, Catholic News Service
Published April 22, 2014VATICAN CITY (CNS)—Pope Francis urged Christians to remember how they first encountered Christ and to share his love and mercy with others, especially through acts of caring and sharing. Proclaiming the good news of Jesus’ resurrection means giving concrete witness “to unconditional and faithful love,” he said April 20 before solemnly giving his blessing “urbi […]
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Pope apologizes for clerical sex abuse, promises tough sanctions
By CINDY WOODEN, Catholic News Service
Published April 22, 2014VATICAN CITY (CNS)—“I feel called to take responsibility for all the evil some priests—large in number, but not in proportion to the total—have committed and to ask forgiveness for the damage they’ve done with the sexual abuse of children,” Pope Francis said. “The church is aware of this damage” and is committed to strengthening child […]
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Pope, Britain’s Queen Elizabeth have informal meeting at Vatican
By CINDY WOODEN, Catholic News Service
Published April 4, 2014VATICAN CITY (CNS)—In their first overseas trip in three years, Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II and her husband, Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, met April 3 with Pope Francis at the Vatican. The 30-minute visit of the 87-year-old queen and her 92-year-old husband demonstrates “the importance that she places on this relationship with the Holy […]
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Pope surprises many at penance liturgy, going to confession himself
By CAROL GLATZ, Catholic News Service
Published April 3, 2014VATICAN CITY (CNS)—Leading a penitential liturgy in St. Peter’s Basilica, Pope Francis surprised his liturgical adviser by going to confession during the service. After an examination of conscience March 28, the pope and 61 priests moved into confessionals or to chairs set up against the walls to offer the sacrament to individual penitents. However, as […]
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Pope Francis: Go directly to confession, don’t wait
By CINDY WOODEN, Catholic News Service
Published March 7, 2014VATICAN CITY (CNS)—If you haven’t been to confession recently, don’t wait, Pope Francis told people at his weekly general audience Feb. 19. One may walk into the confessional with a heavy heart, but forgiveness brings freedom and lightness. “If a lot of time has passed, don’t lose even one more day. Go,” the pope said, […]
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Pope restricts use of old Mass by Franciscan Friars of the Immaculate
By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service
Published March 7, 2014VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Pope Francis’ order restricting the use of the pre-Vatican II Latin Mass in communities of the Franciscan Friars of the Immaculate addresses problems within the religious order and does not contradict retired Pope Benedict XVI’s permission for wider use of the old Mass throughout the church, the Vatican spokesman said. Pope […] Full Story
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Pope asks prayers for Ukraine; archbishop says country in danger
By CINDY WOODEN, Catholic News Service
Published March 7, 2014VATICAN CITY (CNS)—As uncertainty reigned in Ukraine and Russian troops appeared to have control of the Crimean peninsula, Pope Francis again asked the world’s Christians to pray for Ukraine and urged the parties involved in the conflict to engage in dialogue. “I ask you again to pray for Ukraine, which is in a very delicate […]
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Cardinal outlines possible paths to Communion for divorced, remarried
By CINDY WOODEN, Catholic News Service
Published March 7, 2014VATICAN CITY (CNS)—The Catholic Church needs to find a way to offer healing, strength and salvation to Catholics whose marriages have failed, who are committed to making a new union work and who long to do so within the church and with the grace of Communion, Cardinal Walter Kasper told the world’s cardinals. Jesus’ teaching […]
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Pope tells new cardinals to show courage, unity, compassion
By CINDY WOODEN, Catholic News Service
Published March 7, 2014VATICAN CITY (CNS)—On a feast day commemorating the authority Jesus gave to St. Peter and his successors—the popes—Pope Francis created 19 new cardinals in the presence of retired Pope Benedict XVI. To the great surprise of most people present, the retired pope entered St. Peter’s Basilica about 15 minutes before the new cardinals and Pope […]
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Pope Francis’ constant refrain: ‘Go forth,’ evangelize, help the poor
By CINDY WOODEN, Catholic News Service
Published March 7, 2014VATICAN CITY (CNS)—Pope Francis’ most frequent advice and exhortation to Catholics—from laypeople in parishes to bishops and cardinals—is “Go forth.” In Italian, the phrase is even snappier: “Avanti.” As the world’s cardinals gathered at the Vatican in early March 2013 to discuss the needs of the church before they entered the conclave to elect a […]
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Legionaries adopt new constitutions
By CINDY WOODEN, Catholic News Service
Published March 7, 2014VATICAN CITY (CNS)—Celebrating the closing Mass for the extraordinary general chapter of the Legionaries of Christ and ending his service as papal delegate overseeing the order, Cardinal Velasio De Paolis told the priests that the Lord had healed their order and reaffirmed his love for them. With the adoption of a new constitution, the election […]
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Pope asks prayers for Ukraine; archbishop says country in danger
By CINDY WOODEN, Catholic News Service
Published March 6, 2014VATICAN CITY (CNS)—As uncertainty reigned in Ukraine and Russian troops appeared to have control of the Crimean peninsula, Pope Francis again asked the world’s Christians to pray for Ukraine and urged the parties involved in the conflict to engage in dialogue. “I ask you again to pray for Ukraine, which is in a very delicate […]
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Pope tells new cardinals to show courage, unity, compassion
By CINDY WOODEN, Catholic News Service
Published March 6, 2014VATICAN CITY (CNS)—On a feast day commemorating the authority Jesus gave to St. Peter and his successors—the popes—Pope Francis created 19 new cardinals in the presence of retired Pope Benedict XVI. To the great surprise of most people present, the retired pope entered St. Peter’s Basilica about 15 minutes before the new cardinals and Pope […] Full Story
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Cardinal outlines possible paths to Communion for divorced, remarried
By CINDY WOODEN, Catholic News Service
Published March 6, 2014VATICAN CITY (CNS)—The Catholic Church needs to find a way to offer healing, strength and salvation to Catholics whose marriages have failed, who are committed to making a new union work and who long to do so within the church and with the grace of Communion, Cardinal Walter Kasper told the world’s cardinals. Jesus’ teaching […]
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Legionaries adopt new constitutions
By CINDY WOODEN, Catholic News Service
Published March 6, 2014VATICAN CITY (CNS)—Celebrating the closing Mass for the extraordinary general chapter of the Legionaries of Christ and ending his service as papal delegate overseeing the order, Cardinal Velasio De Paolis told the priests that the Lord had healed their order and reaffirmed his love for them. With the adoption of a new constitution, the election […] Full Story
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Pope Francis’ constant refrain: ‘Go forth,’ evangelize, help the poor
By CINDY WOODEN, Catholic News Service
Published March 6, 2014VATICAN CITY (CNS)—Pope Francis’ most frequent advice and exhortation to Catholics—from laypeople in parishes to bishops and cardinals—is “Go forth.” In Italian, the phrase is even snappier: “Avanti.” As the world’s cardinals gathered at the Vatican in early March 2013 to discuss the needs of the church before they entered the conclave to elect a […]
