Money, pride make people ignore God’s word, neglect others, pope says
By Carol Glatz, Catholic News Service VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Without making room for God’s word in their heart, people will never be able to welcome and love all human life, Pope Francis said. “Each life that we encounter is a gift deserving acceptance, respect and love,” the pope said in his message for Lent,
At audience, pope leads prayers for migrants, trafficking victims
By Cindy Wooden, Catholic News Service VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Marking the feast of St. Josephine Bakhita, a former slave, Pope Francis urged Christians to help victims of human trafficking and migrants, especially the Rohingya people being chased from Myanmar. For the Catholic Church, St. Bakhita’s feast day, Feb. 8, is a day of prayer
Pope Remembers Beatification of ‘Christ’s Samurai’ in Japan
Justus Takayama Ukon, Japanese Feudal Lord Who Gave Up Every Privilege and Accepted Exile to Follow the Gospel ‘Yesterday, in Osaka, Japan, Justo Takayama Ukon, loyal Japanese layman, who was martyred in Manila in 1615 was beatified.’ Pope Francis remembered during his weekly General Audience in the Vatican’s Paul VI Hall this morning, noting: “Rather
Philippine cardinal: Tell legislators death penalty does not deter crime
By Catholic News Service MANILA, Philippines (CNS) — A Philippine cardinal has urged the faithful of his country to tell their lawmakers that the death penalty does not deter violent crime, could potentially legitimize violence and that life is a gift from God. In a letter addressed to Catholics of the Manila Archdiocese as the
God loves all his children, even the ‘homely,’ pope says at Mass
By Cindy Wooden, Catholic News Service VATICAN CITY (CNS) — The Book of Genesis makes clear that God gave human beings three great gifts: their identity as children of God, their role as protectors and custodians of creation and the call to love, Pope Francis said. The love and tenderness of God are seen in
Only a slave to God’s love understands true freedom, pope says
By Junno Arocho Esteves, Catholic News Service VATICAN CITY (CNS) — The freedom that comes from receiving the gift of a joyful Christian life can only come to those who are held captive by God’s love, Pope Francis said. People who are afraid of God’s gift of love, however, seek only the rigid adherence to
Spiritual, not monetary, success defines America, Trump says
By Mark Pattison, Catholic News Service WASHINGTON (CNS) – “Spiritual success” is a more accurate measure for the United States than wealth, according to likely billionaire President Donald Trump in remarks Feb. 2 at the National Prayer Breakfast in Washington. “America is a nation of believers,” Trump said. “In towns across the land, we see
Dream, prophesy, don’t focus just on survival, pope tells religious
By Cindy Wooden, Catholic News Service VATICAN CITY (CNS) — When religious orders focus on survival rather than on sharing the joy and hope of faith in Jesus, they end up being “professionals of the sacred, but not fathers and mothers,” Pope Francis said. “The temptation of survival turns what the Lord presents as an
Karidat and Human Trafficking Awareness in CNMI
“Lord, please send some generous person who will help get me out of this place.” This was the prayer of a teenage girl, trapped in servitude and forced to work against her will. We found the prayer penciled into the back of a journal she kept during her captivity, and which was used as evidence
