Francis Reminds Even When Things Are Dark They Know How to Smile, Through God’s Grace, at Everything By: Deborah Castellano-Lubov The Christian carries the burdens of life without losing peace… According to Vatican News, Pope Francis stressed this during his daily morning Mass at Casa Santa Marta as he reflected on the gift of peace
VATICAN CITY (CNS) — When Jesus gave his disciples the “new commandment” to love others as he loved them, what was “new” was the call to love completely, without counting the cost, Pope Francis said. “The love that was demonstrated on Christ’s cross and that he calls us to live is the only force that
VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Christians recognize life’s great paradox that so much evil and temptation exist in the world, but that God is always present, too, ready to help and give people the strength to persevere, Pope Francis said. Each person has been given life, “dreams of love and the good,” but is then “continuously
VATICAN CITY (CNS) — In a video recorded on the phone of the Anglican archbishop of Canterbury, Pope Francis encouraged Catholics to join the worldwide “Thy Kingdom Come” prayer campaign May 30-June 9. Archbishop Justin Welby of Canterbury, spiritual leader of the Anglican Communion, used his phone to record the video message by Pope Francis
LOS ANGELES (CNS) — Church officials are urging Catholics to continue to oppose a California bill that would force priests to disclose information about child sexual abuse that they hear in the sacrament of confession. The call came as the Senate measure, known as S.B. 360, advanced in the Legislature after lawmakers “accepted several of
INDIANAPOLIS (CNS) — In his own way, William “Paco” Pryor never considered himself homeless during the more than 20 years that he lived behind SS. Peter and Paul Cathedral in Indianapolis. Instead, he found his own version of what most people long for in a “home” — a place where he was welcomed and embraced
WASHINGTON (CNS) — Five U.S. bishops, chairmen of U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ committees or subcommittees, said May 17 they were “gravely disappointed” with the U.S. House of Representatives passage of the Equality Act. In an 236-173 vote, the House approved the measure, H.R. 5, which would add the new terms “sexual orientation” and “gender
VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Pope Francis has revised and clarified norms and procedures for holding bishops and religious superiors accountable in protecting minors as well as in protecting members of religious orders and seminarians from abuse. The new juridical instrument is meant to help bishops and religious leaders around the world clearly understand their duties
VATICAN CITY (CNS) — The priesthood is not a “cultural association or a union,” but a ministry of mercy anchored on Christ’s mission to bring hope to the downtrodden and comfort to those who suffer, Pope Francis told new priests. “The Lord wished to save us freely. It was he who told us, ‘Give freely
VATICAN CITY (CNS) — A diocese that cares more about being an organized workplace rather than announcing the good news can fall prey to clericalism and distance itself from Christ, Pope Francis said. In creating a “functionalist diocese,” the pope said, local churches are in danger of transmitting a “new ideological colonization that seeks to
