Pope Francis’ concern for those suffering on the margins and for small Catholic communities that have kept the faith alive through war or repression will take him to Bosnia-Herzegovina in early June.
Pope Francis
Material and Spiritual Poverty
FROM THE TIME he stepped out on the balcony right after his election as pope, Francis has fascinated me. The Holy Father has captured the minds and hearts of many thousands. I wait with joyful expectation for the next statement of his that might be reported in the press. So far I have not been disappointed.
A Steady Barque
This past week, Rome hosted two very different, but important meetings. The first was at the Vatican, chaired by Pope Francis himself, as a meeting of the Ordinary Council of the Synod of Bishops. This was a preparatory meeting held to get ready for October’s Synod on the vocation and mission of the family in the Church and Society.
NET Coverage of Papal Visit
Pope Francis said he will dedicate his one-day visit to Bosnia-Herzegovina to encouraging a minority Catholic community. NET-TV will broadcast highlights of his trip on Saturday, June 6, at 10 a.m.
NCCW Past President Receives Cross of Honor
WASHINGTON (CNS) — Patty Johnson, immediate past president of the National Council of Catholic Women (NCCW), received the Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice (For Church and Pope) Medal from Pope Francis.
Pope on Pentecost: Spirit Will Bring About Change
The power of the Holy Spirit transforms people into bold witnesses of the Gospel, who reach out to others, exercise charity and live in harmony with creation, Pope Francis said.
Passionist In Queens Is Named Bishop in Congo
Pope Francis appointed Father Emery Kibal Mansong’loo as the new bishop of the Diocese of Kole in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Palestinian President Attends Canonizations
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas was present as Pope Francis proclaimed four 19th-century women religious saints, including two Palestinians.
Pope Francis Tells Italian Bishops to Trust the Laity
Bishops must have “ecclesial sensitivity,” denouncing cultural trends that offend human dignity while trusting their lay faithful to fulfill their vocations, Pope Francis said.
The Vatican and Ecology
Dear Editor: It was good to see the front-page coverage (May 9) given to Pope Francis’ eagerly awaited ecology encyclical and to the role Catholic groups are playing in the attempt to protect the environment from climate change and other kinds of degradation; I remember the excellent coverage given to the part religious groups played in the Climate March in New York City last September.