VATICAN CITY (CNS) – The thing Pope Francis dislikes most about his job as pontiff is the paperwork, he told residents of an Argentine slum in which he used to minister. “Paperwork, office work, it’s the thing I always struggled with,” the pope said in response to the question, “What’s the thing you like least […]
International News
Islamist Rebels Free Nuns Kidnapped in Syrian War
by Doreen Abi Raad BEIRUIT (CNS) – The release of at least 12 Greek Orthodox nuns who were abducted in Syria in December was an answer to prayers, said regional Catholic officials. Melkite Patriarch Gregoire III Laham said March 10 that he felt “a wave of joy” along with “thousands and thousands” of other people […]
St. Mary Magdalene Church Ready to Rise from Ashes
After three and a half years of waiting, the parishioners of St. Mary Magdalene, Springfield Gardens, can finally rejoice and be glad. On Tuesday, Feb. 18, parishioners received bittersweet news that their beloved church building was demolished. On Oct. 28, 2010, the interior and some of the exterior of the church were destroyed by a […]
The Top 10 Things You May Not Know About Pope Francis
by Carol Glatz VATICAN CITY (CNS) – When Cardinal Jean-Louis Tauran walked onto the central balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica, telling the crowds in Latin: “I announce to you a great joy. We have a pope!,” not many people recognized the name of then-Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio of Buenos Aires, Argentina. Now, just one year since […]
Jerusalem Trip Was Key for ‘Jesus’ Book
by Mark Pattison WASHINGTON (CNS) – Jesuit Father James Martin today has a hard time believing that he initially turned down a suggestion to go to Jerusalem as source material for his newest book, “Jesus: A Pilgrimage.” “Initially, I didn’t want to go because I thought my own mental images of Gospel passages and stories […]
Latin American Leaders Praise Francis’ First Year
by Lise Alves SAO PAULO (CNS) – Many Latin American Church leaders, who in the past have felt excluded from the decisions made at the highest echelons of the Church, expressed appreciation for the perspective Pope Francis has taken to the Vatican. “There is (now) a greater understanding of the Latin American church,” said Bishop […]
Catholic League Cites Threats to Christianity
In a statement issued by The Catholic League, its president, Bill Donohue, says that militant secularism at home and militant Islam abroad are the two greatest threats to Catholicism today. More Martyrs Today He quotes Pope Francis’ daily Mass homily in which he said, “There are more Christian martyrs today than during the early days […]
Benedict: Resignation Was Perfectly Valid
by Cindy Wooden VATICAN CITY (CNS) – In a letter to an Italian journalist, retired Pope Benedict XVI said questions about the validity of his resignation are “absurd.” “There is absolutely no doubt regarding the validity of my renunciation of the Petrine ministry,” the retired pope wrote in a letter to Andrea Tornielli, a Vatican […]
Lent Takes on New Meaning For Ukraine
by Cindy Wooden VATICAN 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 […]
Doctrine Can’t Change Over Misunderstanding
by Carol Glatz VATICAN CITY (CNS) – Just because many Catholics do not understand the Church’s teaching about the indissolubility of marriage, that does not mean the Church can change that teaching, said Cardinal Gerhard Muller, prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. Speaking to reporters – just days after the College […]