Pope Is Charting the Church of the Future

by Cindy Wooden Pope Francis’ apostolic exhortation (See Page 11) on sharing the joy of the Gospel is a call to faith-filled optimism, recognizing challenges but knowing that God’s love and lordship will prevail, said Archbishop Rino Fisichella, introducing the text to the media. The archbishop, president of the Pontifical Council for Promoting New Evangelization, told […]

Author Says Mafia Would Like to Harm the Pope

VATICAN CITY (CNS) – Crime families in Italy are not happy with Pope Francis and would hurt him if they could, said an Italian prosecutor who has spent years investigating organized crime and has written a book about the apparent Catholic devotion of mafia bosses. “I’m not sure organized crime is in a position to […]

Pope to the Americas: Keep Missionary Spirit

by David Agren MEXICO CITY (CNS) – Pope Francis once again called for Catholics to adopt a missionary mindset and make mission the priority of all pastoral activities. The pope, speaking from the Vatican via video to an audience of clergy, religious and laity at the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico City, […]

Pope Francis MD

Pope Francis holds up a box of “spiritual medicine” after praying the Angelus from the window of his studio overlooking St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican Nov. 17. The box contained a rosary, a Divine Mercy holy card and a medicinal-style instruction sheet. The pope said the rosary and Divine Mercy Chaplet are “a spiritual […]

Pope Francis on Art

by Father Robert Lauder Fourth in a series   I ENJOY READING interviews with celebrities – at least sometimes. If the interviewee is an actor or actress whom I admire, I hope that the interview will reveal the person as someone to admire, not only on the stage or screen, but also in real life. Even […]

Pope Francis Will Create His First Cardinals in February

VATICAN CITY (CNS) – Pope Francis will create his first cardinals during a consistory Feb. 22, the feast of the Chair of St. Peter. The pope also is expected to use the occasion “to have a meeting with the cardinals for consultations” immediately before the ceremony, as retired Pope Benedict XVI did in the run-up […]

Women Religious Ask Pope for Day of Prayer

By Carol Glatz VATICAN CITY (CNS) – After Pope Francis entrusted two Vatican academies to study the problem of human trafficking, a group of women religious asked the pope to raise greater awareness in the Church about the issue by establishing a worldwide day of prayer and fasting. “The pope was very interested in our […]

Pope: Hope Is Not Just Optimism

VATICAN CITY (CNS) – Christian hope is not mere optimism or a “positive attitude” toward the world but a vital link to eternal salvation, Pope Francis said. The pope spoke Oct. 29 during a morning Mass he celebrated in the Vatican guesthouse, where he lives. Taking as his text the day’s reading from Paul’s Letter […]

Secretary to Pope Doesn’t See Him as Revolutionary

by Cindy Wooden VATICAN CITY (CNS) – Pope Francis has said and done things that have surprised the world – and surprised those who work closest to him – but calling what he is doing a “revolution” is a “frivolous slogan,” said Archbishop Georg Ganswein, prefect of the papal household and personal secretary to retired […]

Pope Offers Advice At Family Festival

by ­­Cindy Wooden VATICAN CITY (CNS) – A Catholic wedding is not simply a beautiful ceremony; through the sacrament of marriage, a couple receives from God the grace they will need to fulfill their mission in the world, Pope Francis said. Addressing an estimated 100,000 people who came to St. Peter’s Square Oct. 26 for […]