IMAGE: CNS/Junno Arocho Esteves By Junno Arocho Esteves VATICAN CITY (CNS) — A personal encounter with Mother Teresa and her work serving the poor and the dying led a young Japanese man on a journey of faith and conversion. “I was born into a Buddhist family; I didn’t know about …

IMAGE: CNS photo/Tyler Orsburn By Mark Pattison WASHINGTON (CNS) – Not many people know that Blessed Teresa of Kolkata’s first visit to the United States was a trip to Las Vegas — in 1960, when the Strip was still mobbed-up. She didn’t go to cleanse the casinos of their corruption. …

IMAGE: CNS/Paul Haring By Cindy Wooden VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Pope Francis will join dozens of religious leaders — including Orthodox Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople and Anglican Archbishop Justin Welby of Canterbury — and hundreds of their faithful in Assisi Sept. 20 to pray for peace. In addition to …

IMAGE: CNS/Cindy Wooden By Junno Arocho Esteves VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Calling for concrete actions that benefit human life and the environment, Pope Francis proposed adding the care and protection of creation to the traditional list of corporal and spiritual works of mercy. As a spiritual work of mercy, the …

IMAGE: CNS photo/Bob Roller By Mark Pattison WASHINGTON (CNS) — Even in the last years of her life, Blessed Teresa of Kolkata had a profound impact on those anywhere near her orbit, including two young Americans who grew into leadership positions in the U.S. Catholic Church. One of them, Sean …

IMAGE: CNS/Paul Haring By Junno Arocho Esteves VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Jesus’ loving gaze of tenderness and mercy extends to all who seek forgiveness no matter how great or small their sins may be, Pope Francis said. While many often feel “cast aside” because of their sins, Jesus offers encouragement …

By Junno Arocho Esteves VATICAN CITY (CNS) — To promote Catholic social teaching and ensure appropriate assistance to vulnerable people — especially victims of war, refugees and the sick — Pope Francis has established a new office combining the responsibilities of four pontifical councils. In an apostolic letter given “motu …

By Carol Glatz VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Do not turn to superstition or blame God in the aftermath of a deadly tragedy, the bishop of Rieti told people mourning the deaths of those killed by the devastating earthquake that struck central Italy. God is humanity’s salvation and he “cannot be …

By Maureen Smith Catholic News Service JACKSON, Miss. (CNS) — The deaths of Sister Margaret Held and Sister Paula Merrill demand justice, but not revenge, Franciscan Father Greg Plata said during a memorial Mass for the women religious in the Cathedral of St. Peter the Apostle. “I truly believe with …

IMAGE: CNS photo/David Maung By Brooke Binkowski TIJUANA, Mexico (CNS) — The men trudged down the dusty road of an impoverished Tijuana neighborhood. The Sunday morning air was already arid and hot, but the small group was on a mission: They were heading to a tiny neighborhood community center, bearing …