By Junno Arocho Esteves VATICAN CITY (CNS) — To follow the path of Christ means to serve the poor and the downtrodden while not turning Christian virtues simply into ideas and humanitarian endeavors, Pope Francis said. “In them, you touch and serve the flesh of Christ and grow in union …

IMAGE: CNS/Paul Haring By Carol Glatz VATICAN CITY (CNS) — The former secretary to a saint and the oldest member of the College of Cardinals died May 26 at the age of 100. Italian Cardinal Loris Capovilla, who served St. John XXIII before and after he became pope, died in …

CLEVELAND — Amid the anger, the attacks and the sometimes boisterous nature of this year’s presidential campaign, the Archdiocese of Cincinnati is encouraging parishioners to remember that civility in politics is a virtue. To bring the point home, the archdiocesan Catholic Social Action Office has unveiled the “Civilize It” campaign, stressing …

IMAGE: CNS/Paul Haring By Cindy Wooden ROME (CNS) — A Corpus Christi procession should honor Christ’s gift of himself in the Eucharist, but also should be a pledge to share bread and faith with the people of the cities and towns where the processions take place, Pope Francis said. Just …

IMAGE: CNS photo/Paulo Cunha, EPA By Cindy Wooden VATICAN CITY (CNS) — When then-Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger met the press in 2000 for the formal release of the so-called Third Secret of Fatima, he said he knew many people would be disappointed. Almost 16 years later, at the beginning of a …

IMAGE: CNS photo/L’Osservatore Romano via Reuters By Doreen Abi Raad BEIRUT (CNS) — Lebanese leaders in Muslim-Christian dialogue said they hoped Pope Francis’ meeting with Ahmad el-Tayeb, grand imam of al-Azhar University, would lead to new relationships. Maronite Father Fadi Daou, chairman of Adyan, a foundation for interfaith studies and …

IMAGE: CNS photo/L’Osservatore Romano By Carol Glatz VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Pray for victims of recent terrorist attacks in Syria and pray that those who sow death and destruction will change their ways, Pope Francis said in an appeal. At the end of his weekly general audience in St. Peter’s …

IMAGE: CNS/Paul Haring By Carol Glatz VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Prayer is not a magic wand that fulfills your desires, but it is what helps you keep the faith when you don’t understand God’s will, Pope Francis said. Prayer is meant to be “our daily bread, our powerful weapon and …

By Junno Arocho Esteves VATICAN CITY (CNS) — A former consultant to a pontifical commission who denied to a Vatican court that she leaked documents about the Vatican’s financial reform had admitted to sending the documents when she was first interrogated, a Vatican policeman said. Stefano DeSantis, an officer investigating …

IMAGE: CNS/Dalia Khamissy By Doreen Abi Raad HARISSA, Lebanon (CNS) — High on a summit overlooking the Mediterranean, Our Lady of Lebanon stands majestically with her arms outstretched, welcoming her children. Muslims and Christians alike come to the shrine, 16 miles north of Beirut. To Muslims, Mary is known in …