Pope’s Garden Offers Peace and Tranquility

The gardens of the papal villas at Castel Gandolfo, which were planted in the 1930s, are a meticulously maintained historic, artistic and botanical treasure — and Pope Francis has opened them for the public to enjoy.

Korea Welcomes Pope Francis

Pope Francis is visiting South Korea Aug. 14-18 and will celebrate Mass at Asian Youth Day, beatify Korean martyrs and preside at a Mass for national reconciliation. You can see the highlights on NET-TV.

Pope Francis’ Optimism

Fourth in a series

Going through Pope Francis’ Apostolic Exhortation, “The Joy of the Gospel,” for the third or fourth time, I have been thinking about why I find his writing so inspiring.

Pope Lifts Suspension Of Nicaragua’s D’Escoto

Pope Francis has lifted the suspension of Maryknoll Father Miguel D’Escoto Brockmann, who was ordered 29 years ago to stop exercising his priestly ministry because he refused to give up his political position in Nicaragua’s Sandinista government.

Archbishop Says Pope Is Coming to US

by Nancy Wiechec FARGO, N.D. (CNS) – Philadelphia Archbishop Charles J. Chaput said Pope Francis has accepted his invitation to attend the World Meeting of Families in the U.S. next year, even though the Philadelphia Archdiocese still has not received official confirmation from the Vatican. Archbishop Chaput made the announcement July 24 before giving his […]

Pope Takes Lunch Hour In Employees’ Cafeteria

VATICAN CITY (CNS) – Taking the chef completely by surprise, Pope Francis unexpectedly showed up to eat with the Vatican’s blue collar workers at their cafeteria in the tiny city-state’s “industrial park.”

Freed Sudanese Woman Gets to Meet the Pope

VATICAN CITY (CNS) – Meeting a Sudanese woman who risked execution for not renouncing her Catholic faith, Pope Francis thanked Meriam Ibrahim for her steadfast witness to Christ.

Koreans Await Pope’s Visit to Homeland

Less than three weeks remain before Pope Francis makes his first apostolic visit to South Korea, and excitement is building among local Koreans, especially at St. Paul Chong Ha-Sang parish, Flushing.

Pope Seeks Emergency Aid for Migrant Children

MEXICO CITY (CNS) – The Vatican’s secretary of state pledged full support for addressing the issue of child migrants streaming out of Central America in search of safety and family reunification in the U.S.

The Pope Had a Headache

“I hoped it would pass,” he said in a video message. “I really wanted my meeting with you, but as you well know, we are not the masters of our lives and cannot do everything we want.”