IMAGE: CNS/Paul Haring By Cindy Wooden VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio was elected pope just a few days after telling the College of Cardinals that the Catholic Church faced a clear choice between being a church that “goes out” or a church focused on its internal affairs. …

IMAGE: CNS/Paul Haring By Carol Glatz VATICAN CITY (CNS) — A native-Spanish speaker who grew up with Italian-speaking relatives in Argentina, Pope Francis has a striking way with words. Bringing a background in literary themes and devices with him to the papacy five years ago, the pope has shown himself …

IMAGE: CNS/Paul Haring By Carol Glatz VATICAN CITY (CNS) — In his formal documents, many speeches and unscripted morning homilies the past five years, Pope Francis has given the church plenty of “food for thought” on many issues of great importance. Here are a baker’s dozen of quotes from the …

IMAGE: CNS/Vatican Media By Junno Arocho Esteves VATICAN CITY (CNS) — On the eve of the fifth anniversary of Pope Francis’ election, retired Pope Benedict XVI defended the continuity of the church’s teaching under his successor and dismissed those who criticize the pope’s theological foundations. In a letter sent to …

IMAGE: CNS photo/Denis Grasska, The Southern Cross By Denis Grasska SAN DIEGO (CNS) — When Cassandra Bissainthe left Haiti for the United States some 17 years ago, it seemed unlikely that she would ever return. Political instability and economic insecurity were rampant in her homeland, and extreme poverty had driven …

IMAGE: CNS photo/Khalil Ashawi, Reuters By Dale Gavlak AMMAN, Jordan (CNS) — Christian activists warn that 1 million Syrian civilians will face certain slaughter in northwestern Afrin, where they allege Turkey and its militant allies have already carried out “war crimes” and “ethnic cleansing.” They have appealed to U.S. President …

By Carol Glatz VATICAN CITY (CNS) — A good confessor is a good listener, Pope Francis said. By truly listening to the penitent during confession, “we listen to Jesus himself, poor and humble; by listening to the Holy Spirit, we put ourselves in attentive obedience, becoming listeners of the Word” …

IMAGE: CNS photo/courtesy Daughters of St. Mary of Providence By Joseph Albino SYRACUSE. N.Y. (CNS) — In the nautical world, a “spar” is the straight pole used to support the sails and rigging of a ship. In the world of faith and the ministry of the Daughters of St. Mary …

IMAGE: CNS photos/files/Octavio Duran By Carol Glatz VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Pope Francis has cleared the way for the canonizations of Blesseds Paul VI and Oscar Romero. At a meeting March 6 with Cardinal Angelo Amato, prefect of the Congregation for Saints’ Causes, Pope Francis signed decrees for the causes …

IMAGE: CNS photo/Bob Roller By Mark Pattison WASHINGTON (CNS) — In the advent of Pope Francis’ fifth anniversary in the papacy, a new Pew Research poll of U.S. Catholics shows their regard of the pope is, for the first time, colored by their political leanings. The survey, released March 6, …