Pope to Mafia: You Are Not in Communion With God

VATICAN CITY (CNS) – In the stronghold of an Italian crime syndicate believed to be richer and more powerful than the Sicilian Mafia, Pope Francis said, “Those who follow the path of evil, like the mafiosi do, are not in communion with God; they are excommunicated!” During a Mass June 21 in the southern region […]

Francis’ Invitation

It didn’t take long for Pope Francis’ “spiritual” journey to the Holy Land to develop political overtones. This pope is a master communicator. Whether it is his smile, his touch or simply his presence, he sends messages that are unmistakable.

Pope’s Holy Land Visit Continues the Dialogue

The president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) and the primate of the Greek Orthodox Church in America welcomed the May 25 meeting between Pope Francis and Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew in Jerusalem.

Cause of Archbishop Romero Is Proceeding

Pope Francis assured the bishops of El Salvador that the sainthood cause of slain Archbishop Oscar Romero was proceeding well, and the bishops asked him to come to El Salvador to preside personally over the archbishop’s hoped-for beatification.

Pope Offers Some Frank Advice to Seminarians

Pope Francis told seminarians not to become “orphan priests,” who are motherless without Mary; “businessman priests,” who are after money; or “prince priests,” who are aloof from the people.

TV Coverage of Papal Trip

The major events of Pope Francis’ trip to the Holy Land this weekend will be shown live on NET-TV.

Congress Invites Pope To Visit

WASHINGTON (CNS) – A bipartisan invitation to Pope Francis to address a joint session of Congress if he comes to the U.S. in 2015 recognizes “the importance of the qualities” the pontiff embodies that resonate with people around the globe, said Cardinal Donald W. Wuerl of Washington. Those qualities include “a desire for peace, care […]

Pope Says He Doesn’t Like Doing Paperwork

VATICAN CITY (CNS) – The thing Pope Francis dislikes most about his job as pontiff is the paperwork, he told residents of an Argentine slum in which he used to minister. “Paperwork, office work, it’s the thing I always struggled with,” the pope said in response to the question, “What’s the thing you like least […]

Pope’s Advice to Engaged Couples

by Paul Morisi and Alison Laird On New Year’s Eve 2013 at 8:30 p.m. under the Ben Franklin Bridge in Philadelphia, we got engaged. As if we weren’t excited enough, Ana Puente, the coordinator for Marriage Ministry for the Diocese of Brooklyn, arranged for us to partake in a St. Valentine’s Day event at the […]

Pope Addresses Immigrants at Parish Visit

by Cindy Wooden ROME (CNS) – Meeting 80 immigrants assisted by members of a Rome parish, Pope Francis said leaving one’s homeland is always painful, but faith can give one the strength to keep going. “The faith that your parents instilled in you will help you move forward,” the pope told the immigrants at the […]