Pope Falls in Poland, Is Not Hurt

Pope Francis falls while using incense at the start of July 28 Mass to mark the 1,050th anniversary of the baptism of Poland near the Jasna Gora Monastery in Czestochowa during his World Youth Day visit.

Diocesan Pilgrims Make Final Preps for WYD

In the final week before heading to Krakow, Poland, for World Youth Day (WYD), local pilgrims met with Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio to pray and go over final preparations. The official diocesan contingent is comprised of 400-pilgrims, including 23 priests and three bishops.

Polish Bishop to Accompany WYD Pilgrims to Krakow

Brooklyn Auxiliary Bishop Witold Mroziewski, a native of Poland, is going to World Youth Day (WYD) with 400 pilgrims from Brooklyn and Queens, as well as Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio and Auxiliary Bishop Octavio Cisneros. The bishop sees a deep connection between the Year of Mercy proclaimed by Pope Francis and celebrating World Youth Day in Krakow, a city rich in history in the southern part of Poland.

Pope Francis’ Prayer Intentions for July

Each month, Pope Francis entrusts two special intentions to his worldwide prayer network, known as the Apostleship of Prayer. Here are this month’s intentions.

Pope: Apology Is Due for Marginalizing Gays

Catholics and other Christians not only must apologize to the gay community, they must ask forgiveness of God for ways they have discriminated against homosexual persons or fostered hostility toward them, Pope Francis said.

Pope: Most People Don’t Understand Marriage

Raising a point he has raised before, and one also raised by now-retired Pope Benedict XVI, Pope Francis insisted that the validity of a marriage implies that a couple understands that sacramental marriage is a bond that truly binds them to another for their entire lives.

Mary Magdalene Now Has Her Own Feast

Recognizing St. Mary Magdalene’s role as the first to witness Christ’s resurrection and as a “true and authentic evangelizer,” Pope Francis raised the July 22 memorial of St. Mary Magdalene to a feast on the Church’s liturgical calendar, the Vatican announced.