Pope Francis leads the Angelus from the window of his studio overlooking St. Peter's Square at the Vatican March 1, 2020. (CNS photo/Reuters)

Never engage in dialogue with the devil, pope says

Posted by - March 8, 2020

VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Christians should follow the example of Jesus in the desert by never trying to dialogue with the devil when tempted, Pope Francis said. “Jesus does two things with the devil: he drives him away or, as in this case, responds with the word of God. Beware: never dialogue with temptation, never

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People exchange the sign of peace during Mass at St. Pius X Church in El Paso, Texas, Sept. 23, 2019. Dioceses nationwide are taking precautions to guard against the spread of the coronavirus and reminding parishioners to take commonsense steps related to hygiene in their personal lives. (CNS photo/Tyler Orsburn)

Dioceses adopt wide-ranging plans to limit spread of coronavirus

Posted by - March 8, 2020

WASHINGTON (CNS) — As worry about the spread of the coronavirus continues and health officials tend to the sick and emphasize best practices for guarding against getting the disease, Bishop Thomas J. Tobin of Providence, Rhode Island, tweeted a message for the faithful in his diocese March 6. In his “note for a Lenten Friday,”

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Demonstrators join the People's Climate March in Washington to protest President Donald Trump's stance on the environment April 29, 2017. The Catholic Climate Covenant has initiated the Catholic Climate Project, designed to shape a churchwide movement to respond to the challenges posed by climate change. (CNS photo/Mike Theiler, Reuters)

Pope Francis announces Laudato si’ Week to take place in May

Posted by - March 8, 2020

Vatican City, Mar 3, 2020 / 09:57 am (CNA).- Pope Francis is calling on Catholics to participate in “Laudato si’ Week” in May to encourage care for our common home. “I renew my urgent call to respond to the ecological crisis. The cry of the earth and the cry of the poor cannot wait anywhere,”

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Russian President Vladimir Putin with Pope Francis at the Vatican, June 10, 2015. Credit: POOL Catholic Press Photo.

Proposed amendment in Russia would define marriage as between a man and woman

Posted by - March 8, 2020

Moscow, Russia, Mar 3, 2020 / 08:01 pm (CNA).- A definition of marriage as between a man and a woman is among several amendments to the Russian constitution proposed by president Vladimir Putin. The State Duma, Russia’s lower parliamentary house, approved the constitutional reform bill in January. Putin’s amendments will be included in a second

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Nigerian priest kidnapped after Sunday Mass has been released

Posted by - March 8, 2020

Otukpo, Nigeria, Mar 3, 2020 / 02:37 pm (CNA).- A Nigerian priest who was kidnapped after offering Sunday Mass March 1 has been freed, his diocese has reported. “I have been reliably informed that Fr. David Echioda has been released by his abductors,” Nigeria’s Diocese of Otukpo said in a message to priests March 3.

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A ship sails on the Gulf of Thailand during sunset at Ko Samui March 3, 2020. Saying he wanted to renew his "urgent call to respond to the ecological crisis," Pope Francis asked Catholics around the globe to participate in the international observance of "Laudato Si' Week" May 16-24. (CNS photo/Navesh Chitrakar, Reuters)

Pope asks Catholics to join week of climate reflection, action in May

Posted by - March 8, 2020

VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Saying he wanted to renew his “urgent call to respond to the ecological crisis,” Pope Francis asked Catholics around the globe to participate in the international observance of “Laudato Si’ Week” May 16-24. Sponsored by the Vatican Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development and facilitated by the Global Catholic Climate Movement

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People wear protective face masks in St. Peter's Square after the Vatican reports its first case of coronavirus March 6, 2020. The Vatican health clinic was closed temporarily, the Vatican announced March 6. (CNS photo/Remo Casilli, Reuters)

Coronavirus postpones pope’s global economic summit

Posted by - March 8, 2020

Vatican City, Mar 2, 2020 / 10:35 am (CNA).- Pope Francis’ international economic summit, “The Economy of Francesco,” has been postponed until November due to the coronavirus outbreak in Italy. The three-day conference, named for St. Francis and scheduled to meet in Assisi, was planned to take place March 26-28 with 2,000 economists and entrepreneurs

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Cardinal Angelo De Donatis, papal vicar of Rome, reads Pope Francis' speech during a meeting with priests at the Basilica of St. John Lateran in Rome Feb. 27, 2020. Pope Francis was unable to attend the traditional Lenten penitential service due to a mild cold. (CNS photo/Vatican Media)

In prepared speech, pope warns clergy on pitfalls of bitterness

Posted by - March 8, 2020

VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Confronting and not giving in to bitterness helps priests realize that they are not all-powerful beings but sinners who have been forgiven and called by God, Pope Francis said. Bitterness is “a subtle enemy” that hides and “robs us of the joy of the vocation we were called to,” the pope

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Pope Francis uses a handkerchief during Ash Wednesday Mass at the Basilica of Santa Sabina in Rome Feb. 26, 2020. Pope Francis has a common cold and has no symptoms that could be attributed to another illness, the Vatican said March 3.(CNS photo/Remo Casilli, Reuters)

Pope Francis has a ‘common cold,’ Vatican says, amid Italy’s coronavirus outbreak

Posted by - March 8, 2020

Vatican City, Mar 3, 2020 / 04:10 am (CNA).- Pope Francis was reportedly tested for the novel coronavirus, Covid-19, with negative results, an Italian newspaper said Tuesday. Last week, the pope began to show symptoms of a cold. “His doctors immediately intervened to check the case. Of course, he was also swabbed to see if

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Pope Francis hears the confession of a priest March 7, 2019, at Rome's Basilica of St. John Lateran. Reconciling oneself to God leads to healing, the pope said in his annual Lenten message, released by the Vatican Feb. 24, 2020. (CNS photo/Vatican Media)

Reconciling oneself to God leads to healing, pope says in Lenten message

Posted by - March 1, 2020

VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Lent is a time for deeper dialogue with God through prayer, for renewed gratitude for God’s mercy and for increased compassion for people whose lives are under attack, Pope Francis said. Also, people must not only show generosity through charitable giving, but they should also work for a real structural change

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