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 Francis
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 […]
Pope: Step Outside Your Comfort Zone, Get Involved
VATICAN CITY (CNS) – This new year will be brighter only if everyone steps outside their safe havens, gets involved and works together to solve local problems, Pope Francis said. May Mary “teach us to welcome God made man so that every year, every month, every day be overflowing with his eternal love,” he said […]