VATICAN CITY (CNS) — God accomplishes great things when Christians cast aside doubt and generously place themselves in his service, Pope Francis said. Speaking to pilgrims in St. Peter’s Square Feb. 10 for his Sunday Angelus address, the pope said that Jesus invites all men and women who are discouraged to trust in him, so
VATICAN CITY (CNS) — A life lived selfishly, corruptly or filled with hate is a life that is useless, shrivels up and dies, Pope Francis said in a morning homily. On the other hand, life has meaning and value “only in giving it in love, in truth, in giving it to others in daily life,
VATICAN CITY (CNS) — The International Day of Prayer and Awareness Against Human Trafficking invites people to host or attend a prayer service that fosters awareness of and support for victims of trafficking. The annual day, created with Pope Francis’ encouragement in 2015, is celebrated Feb. 8 — the feast day of St. Josephine Bakhita,
WASHINGTON (CNS) — Touting efforts to protect religious freedom, President Donald Trump told the National Prayer Breakfast that his administration would defend the right of faith-based adoption agencies to place children in families based on firmly held religious beliefs. “We will always protect our country’s proud tradition of faith-based adoption,” Trump said. “My administration is
WASHINGTON (CNS) — When Lent begins March 6, U.S. Catholics will likely be more than ready for it. This set-aside time for prayer and reflection — after all the church has been through in recent months — could provide both a healing balm and a needed boost forward, some say. Ash Wednesday, the start of
WASHINGTON (CNS) — In his internet safety presentations at schools, Justin Gaertner emphasizes that safety “comes back to parents and kids being vigilant.” “If you see something, say something,” he tells his audiences. Wounded in war while serving in Afghanistan as a Marine veteran, Gaertner works with the Department of Homeland Security, pursuing predators who
WASHINGTON (CNS) — National Marriage Week USA and World Marriage Day are opportunities for “building a culture of life and love that begins with promoting and defending marriage and the family,” said Archbishop Charles J. Chaput of Philadelphia. The archbishop, who is chairman of the Committee on Laity, Marriage, Family Life and Youth of the
ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates (CNS) — Meeting with tens of thousands of Catholics living in the United Arab Emirates, Pope Francis urged them to be meek, peaceful and express their Christian identity by loving others. The UAE Catholic community, which numbers close to 1 million, includes foreign workers from roughly 100 nations, but particularly
WASHINGTON (CNS) — With the gifts given them through baptism, confirmation and the Eucharist, Catholics have the tools needed to repair a world broken “in thousands of pieces,” said the archbishop who chairs the U.S. bishops’ Committee on International Justice and Peace. “At the end of every Mass we are sent forth not merely to
VATICAN CITY (CNS) — The world is in need of true disciples of Christ who are prophets of hope to the poor and the downtrodden, Pope Francis said. All men and women, especially those who are suffering, can gain hope by encountering “people who are courageous and persevering in responding to the Christian vocation,” the
