By Cindy Wooden VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Pope Francis has proven to be a master of metaphor and, as fall approached, he increasingly turned to the field of medicine to make his points. Of course, probably his most famous medical metaphor is his repeated description of the church today as …

By WASHINGTON (CNS) — The findings of a recent Georgetown University study on how Catholics regard Muslims show an “urgent need” to “cultivate positive dialogue” not just among Catholics and Muslims, but with other faith traditions as well, according to Archbishop Blase J. Cupich of Chicago. “Experience has shown that …

IMAGE: CNS photo/Remo Casilli, Reuters By Carol Glatz VATICAN CITY (CNS) — God wants people to be merciful, which means forgiving others and giving freely with love, Pope Francis said. “We don’t have the power to condemn our brother who makes a mistake, we are not above him. Rather we …

IMAGE: CNS photo/Tyler Orsburn By WASHINGTON (CNS) — A group of Catholic scholars Sept. 20 reaffirmed the Catholic Church’s teaching on “the gift of sexuality” and its long-standing prohibition on artificial birth control as outlined in “Humanae Vitae,” Blessed Paul VI’s 1968 encyclical. In a statement released in Washington, they rejected …

IMAGE: CNS/Paul Haring By Junno Arocho Esteves ASSISI, Italy (CNS) — Violence in the name of God does not represent the true nature of religion and must be condemned by all faiths, Pope Francis said. “We never tire of repeating that the name of God cannot be used to justify …

IMAGE: CNS/Paul Haring By Junno Arocho Esteves ASSISI, Italy (CNS) — Jesus’ cry of thirst on the cross is heard today in the cries of innocent victims of war in the world, Pope Francis said. Christians are called to contemplate Christ in “the voice of the suffering, the hidden cry …

By Carol Glatz VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Humanity should feel ashamed it can wage war, kill the innocent, bomb cities and prevent food and medicine from reaching survivors, Pope Francis said. “There is no god of war,” he said. Violence and division are the work of the devil who “wants …

IMAGE: CNS/Paul Haring By Junno Arocho Esteves ASSISI, Italy (CNS) — Churches that are not reconciled with one another weaken the experience of mercy that unites believers to God and with each other, Anglican Archbishop Justin Welby of Canterbury said. By not reconciling with one other, “our worship is diminished …

IMAGE: CNS photo/Tyler Orsburn By Mark Pattison WASHINGTON (CNS) — A new exhibit featuring artifacts revolving around St. Thomas More has opened at the St. John Paul II National Shrine in Washington. Titled “God’s Servant First: The Life and Legacy of Thomas More,” the exhibit runs through March 31. The …

IMAGE: CNS/Paul Haring By Junno Arocho Esteves ASSISI, Italy (CNS) — Religious leaders celebrating the 30th anniversary of St. John Paul II’s Assisi interfaith peace gathering in 1986 called on people from around the world to continue its legacy to combat today’s indifference and violence. The event Sept. 18-20 was …