Petition Urges Pope to Condemn Death Penalty

Religious sisters and pro-life advocates have launched a petition drive to urge Pope Francis to call for an end to capital punishment in the U.S. and to personally intervene in the case of a prisoner in Indiana. The Sisters of Mercy and Cherish Life Circle, a pro-life advocacy group founded by the religious community, launched […]

Pope: Universities Must Maintain Catholic Identity

by Carol Glatz VATICAN CITY (CNS) – Catholic universities must give “uncompromising” and “unambiguous” witness to Church teaching and defend themselves from all efforts to dilute their Catholic identity, Pope Francis said. Catholic universities, “by their very nature, are committed to demonstrating the harmony of faith and reason and the relevance of the Christian message […]

Pope Wants Greater Role for Women

VATICAN CITY (CNS) – Women should play a greater role in society and the Church without sacrificing their essential attention and contribution to their families, Pope Francis said. Women’s distinctive skill sets and sensibilities make them invaluable not only for building “peace and harmony” in families but for all of humanity, too, he said. The […]

Pope Francis Ushered in A ‘New Era’ for Church – Seeks New Kind of Care for the Needy

by Jonathan Luxmoore OXFORD, England (CNS) – The cardinal who heads Pope Francis’ Council of Cardinals said the Catholic Church is entering a “new era” and accused critics of the pope’s statements on economic injustice of failing to “understand reality.” “I’m firmly convinced we are at the dawn of a new era in the church, […]

Pope: Division Among Christians Is Scandalous

by Carol Glatz VATICAN CITY (CNS) – The divisions that exist among Christians are a source of pain and scandal and damage the credibility and work of spreading the Gospel, Pope Francis said. “Christ’s name creates communion and unity, not division. He came to create communion among us, not to divide us!” the pope said […]

Pope Addresses Immigrants at Parish Visit

by Cindy Wooden ROME (CNS) – Meeting 80 immigrants assisted by members of a Rome parish, Pope Francis said leaving one’s homeland is always painful, but faith can give one the strength to keep going. “The faith that your parents instilled in you will help you move forward,” the pope told the immigrants at the […]

Obama Will Meet Pope at the Vatican

by Cindy Wooden VATICAN CITY (CNS) – Pope Francis will meet with U.S. President Barack Obama at the Vatican March 27, the White House announced and the Vatican confirmed. The spring meeting would be Obama’s second visit to the Vatican as president, but his first with Pope Francis, who was elected March 13, 2013. The […]

Pope Visits Creche At St. Peter’s

Pope Francis visits the Nativity scene in St. Peter’s Square after leading an evening prayer service in St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican Dec. 31. Pope Francis said Rome, like all communities, will be more beautiful, hospitable, welcoming and kind in the new year “if all of us are attentive and generous toward whoever is […]

Pope Says Peace Begins at Home

by Carol Glatz VATICAN CITY (CNS) – Welcoming in a new year, Pope Francis said it was time to stop provoking and ignoring violence, tragedy and conflict in the world and begin building peace at home. “Justice and peace at home, among us – you begin at home and then you move on to all […]