IMAGE: CNS photo/L’Osservatore Romano By FIUMICINO, Italy (CNS) — On the eve of Epiphany, when most Italian children wake up to find gifts and candy, Pope Francis visited a pediatric hospital outside Rome. The pope arrived at the Palidoro Bambino Gesu Hospital at about 3 p.m. Jan. 5 and visited …

By Gail Finke The bishops of Washington, D.C., and Arlington, Va., announced that participants in the annual March for Life can obtain a plenary indulgence this year. In a letter sent to the bishops of the United States, Cardinal Donald Wuerl, archbishop of Washington, and Arlington Bishop Michael Burbidge said …

By Rhina Guidos WASHINGTON (CNS) — Days before the U.S. Department of Homeland Security decides whether to extend or terminate a special immigration status for some 200,000 Salvadorans in the U.S., a border bishop pleaded with the Trump administration to think about the well-being of the immigrants’ children who are …

IMAGE: REUTERS By KINSHASA, Congo (CNS) — Church leaders in Congo expressed shock after security forces fired on Catholic protesters, leaving at least eight dead and 120 people detained. The Dec. 31 protest against rule by President Joseph Kabila was organized by the Kinshasa archdiocesan lay coordination committee. At least …

IMAGE: CNS photo/Remo Casilli, Reuters By Junno Arocho Esteves VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Fear and the shame of admitting one’s own sins leads to pointing fingers and accusing others rather than recognizing one’s own faults, Pope Francis said. “It’s difficult to admit being guilty, but it does so much good …

IMAGE: CNS photo/Tyler Orsburn By David Agren MEXICO CITY (CNS) — The Society of Jesus has denounced threats made against an outspoken Honduran Jesuit who has highlighted accusations of widespread irregularities in the Central American country’s recent presidential election. The Conference of Provincials in Latin America and the Caribbean said …

IMAGE: CNS photo/Amr Abdallah Dalsh, Reuters By WASHINGTON (CNS) — In the wake of a gunman’s attack on a Coptic Orthodox church and a Christian-owned shop near Cairo Dec. 29, killing at least nine people, a U.S. bishop urged Catholics to “pray for peace in Egypt and the Middle East …

IMAGE: CNS photo/Bob Roller By Cindy Wooden VATICAN CITY (CNS) — In his ministry as archbishop of Manila and in his travels for Caritas Internationalis, Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle said he is reminded of the true meaning of hope by people living in situations the world would see as hopeless. …

IMAGE: CNS/Paul Haring By Cindy Wooden VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Pope Francis began the New Year praying the world would demonstrate a marked increase in solidarity and welcome for migrants and refugees. “Let’s not extinguish the hope in their hearts; let’s not suffocate their hopes for peace,” the pope said …

IMAGE: CNS/Joseph Roger O’Donnell via Vatican Press Office By VATICAN CITY (CNS) — As 2017 was drawing to a close, the horrors of war and people’s yearnings for peace were on Pope Francis’ mind and in his prayers. In an unusual move late Dec. 30, the pope had the Vatican …