Cooperation, peace and prosperity come when people hold fast to their cultural and religious identities without denigrating or trying to deny the rights and identities of others, Pope Francis said Oct. 2, the last day of his three-day trip to Georgia and Azerbaijan.
Pope Francis and members of the international Council of Cardinals advising him on church governance once again discussed ways to improve the process of identifying the best priests to become bishops.
Pope Francis visits the neonatal unit at San Giovanni Hospital in Rome Sept. 16. The visit was part of the pope’s series of Friday works of mercy during the Holy Year.
The devil’s favorite weapon for destroying the Church is creating division, Pope Francis told new bishops. Be careful to that everything meant for promoting pastoral activities and evangelization “does not get damaged or undermined by divisions,” he said Sept. 9.
Each month, Pope Francis entrusts two special intentions to his worldwide prayer network, known as the Apostleship of Prayer. For September, the intentions are that each may contribute to the common good and that Christians may become more aware of their mission to evangelize.
Pope Francis greets pizza makers from Naples during a pizza lunch for the poor after the canonization of St. Teresa of Calcutta at the Vatican Sept. 4. Three thousand pizzas were served by Missionaries of Charity nuns and brothers to about 1,500 poor people who had come to the canonization Mass from shelters, dormitories and soup kitchens the order runs throughout Italy.
Pope Francis accepts a book from Mark Zuckerberg, CEO of Facebook, who was accompanied by his wife, Priscilla Chan, during a private audience at the Vatican Aug. 29. The book details the history of Internet connectivity throughout the world.
During his visit to last September, Pope Francis said: “School then ends up being one big family. A family, where together with our mothers and fathers, our grandparents, our teachers and friends, we learn to help one another … to work as a team…”
The “narrow gate” to salvation described by Jesus isn’t narrow because God is oppressive, but because pride bloats Christians and prevents them from entering God’s merciful embrace, Pope Francis said.
Continuing his Year of Mercy practice of going one Friday a month to visit people facing special struggles, Pope Francis paid a surprise visit to a community helping 20 young women get their lives back together after being rescued from prostitution.
