By Catholic News Service LEVITTOWN, Penn. — Considering how rapidly the world has changed in the past 100 years, the senior members of families and parish communities have a wealth of memories, which, if shared and preserved, can provide a fascinating and lasting legacy. The American Folklife Center of the

By Carol Glatz  Catholic News Service Pope Francis has named a new commission to investigate current accounting practices among all Vatican offices and bodies and to help devise new strategies for greater fiscal responsibility and transparency. The new pontifical commission of business and legal experts will “offer technical support” and

By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service Pope Francis commissioned some 3 million young people to join forces and form what could be called Missionaries Without Borders. “Where does Jesus send us?” he asked World Youth Day pilgrims July 28. “There are no borders, no limits: He sends us to everyone.”

By Catholic News Service LEVITTOWN, Pa. (CNS) — Retirees form the core of volunteer programs across the U.S., offering important services especially to the elderly — some of whom are younger than the volunteers. In the Diocese of Syracuse, N.Y., for example, where Donna Nash coordinates Catholic Charities services for

By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service From his personal prayer life and spirituality to the role of women in the church and the pastoral care of the divorced, Pope Francis responded to several questions about church teaching and ministry July 28 when he met reporters on his flight from Rio

By Francis X. Rocca Catholic News Service  RIO DE JANEIRO — Krakow, Poland, will be the site of the next World Youth Day, in 2016. Pope Francis made the announcement shortly after celebrating the final Mass of this year’s World Youth Day before a crowd of more than 3 million

By Catholic News Service The legalization of gay marriage cannot change Christian teaching on sexual morality, and the Catholic Church cannot accept marriages of same-sex couples, the bishops of England and Wales said in a document that was to be distributed in parishes July 27-28. Catholics must “accept their calling”

By Carol Glatz Catholic News Service Pope Francis is the most influential world leader on Twitter, with the highest number of retweets worldwide. He also is the second most-followed leader of the world, running behind — albeit by a long stretch — U.S. President Barack Obama.

By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service APARECIDA, Brazil — Comfortable in the presence of Mary and at a shrine that symbolizes one of his most important experiences as a member of the Latin American bishops’ council, Pope Francis kicked off five days of intense activity with an act of devotion.

By Francis X. Rocca Catholic News Service RIO DE JANEIRO (CNS) — Hundreds of thousands of cheering people welcomed Pope Francis to Brazil July 22 as he made the first international trip of his pontificate to his native region of Latin America. The papal plane touched down at Rio’s international