Pope Francis and The Vocation of the Artist

Something strange has happened to me in writing these five columns on the talk that Pope Francis gave to Catholic Artists last May in Rome. A friend of mine, who was invited to attend Pope Francis’ talk, told me about it. I quickly obtained a copy of the talk and read it. 

Pope Closes Synod Urging Detachment From ‘Personal Agendas’

Pope Francis closed this month’s Synod of Bishops on Synodality on Oct. 29 by telling participants that the process is not yet over, and urging them to prioritize love of God and others, things he said would free them from selfishness and attachment to personal agendas.

Pope Accepts Resignation of Polish Bishop in Whose Diocese ‘Sexual Orgy’ Took Place

Pope Francis accepted the resignation of a Polish bishop in whose diocese a priest organized a “sexual orgy” as Polish media reported. The nunciature did not indicate in an Oct. 24 statement the reasons why Bishop Grzegorz Kaszak of Sosnowiec resigned, but commentators in Poland expressed surprise at the news of what they called a “fast-track” resignation.

Can Art Change Your Life? Pope Francis Says It Can

Each time I re-read the Holy Father’s message to Catholic artists which he delivered in Rome last May I experience the excitement that I felt the first time I read it. I am wondering if readers of this column share my views about the importance of art in our lives and also whether they think of art in relation to their faith in the way that Pope Francis relates art to religious faith. 

Author of Catechism Says Pope Could Change Language on LGBTQ+ Issues

A celebrated prelate who helped write the Catechism of the Catholic Church, and who’s widely recognized as being among the Church’s top theologians, upheld Church teaching on LGBTQ+ issues on Friday but also said the pope has the power to change the catechism’s language describing homosexuals as “disordered.”

As Pope Meets LGBTQ+ Advocate, Prelate Credits Him for ‘Personal Conversion’

Archbishop Zbigņev Stankevičs of Riga, Latvia, a participant in this month’s Synod of Bishops on Synodality, has said homosexuals are called to live in chastity in accord with Church teaching, but credited Pope Francis for what he called his own “personal conversion” on the issue, becoming less judgmental.