IMAGE: CNS/Paul Haring By Cindy Wooden ROME (CNS) — After walking across the threshold of the Holy Door with an Orthodox metropolitan and an Anglican archbishop, Pope Francis invoked God’s mercy upon divided Christians and apologized for times that Catholics may have hurt members of other denominations. “As bishop of …

IMAGE: CNS photo/Gregory A. Shemitz By Kurt Jensen WASHINGTON (CNS) — Catholic admonitions about inclusion mixed with strong political language before the March of Life got underway Jan. 22 in Washington. At a Jesuit-sponsored Mass for life at St. Aloysius Gonzaga Church that morning, Father Paddy Gilger’s homily reminded a …

IMAGE: EPA By Simone Orendain CEBU, Philippines (CNS) — The 51st International Eucharistic Congress kicked off with Pope Francis’ representative, Cardinal Charles Bo of Yangon, Myanmar, declaring war on poverty. “The Eucharist calls for … a third world war against poverty,” said Cardinal Bo, “a third world war against the …

By Carol Glatz VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Pope Francis told a group of seminarians that seeking a so-called “normal” life in the priesthood would turn them into pastors who were “mediocre or worse.” A priest who is tempted to live the way most people live today “begins to settle for …

By Carol Glatz VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Pope Francis will visit Sweden in October to participate in an ecumenical service and the beginning of a year of activities to mark the 500th anniversary of the Protestant Reformation. Leaders from the Catholic Church and the Lutheran World Federation had already been …

By Carol Zimmermann WASHINGTON (CNS) — A growing number of U.S. public school districts are combining lessons in world religions with U.S. government and politics as they grapple with closing schools for religious holidays. “The question is not should we do it. We have to do it to live with …

IMAGE: CNS photo/Gregory A. Shemitz By Mark Pattison WASHINGTON (CNS) — A baby in a manger is proof enough for Cardinal Timothy M. Dolan of New York that Americans can express a culture of life. And it wasn’t the Christ child. Instead, it was a newborn infant left by his …

By Carol Glatz VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Pope Francis said there can be no confusion between God’s plan for marriage as an indissoluble bond between one man and woman who are open to life, and other sorts of unions. “The church, in fact, can demonstrate God’s unwavering merciful love toward …

IMAGE: CNS photo/Bob Roller By Mark Pattison WASHINGTON (CNS) — Bishop David A. Zubik of Pittsburgh urged Massgoers preparing to rally in Washington for the annual March for Life to “connect the dots” linking all manner of life issues. At a Jan. 22 Mass at the Basilica of the National …

By Kurt Jensen WASHINGTON (CNS) — March for Life hospitality at St. Peter’s on Capitol Hill Catholic Church starts at 4 a.m. That’s when the first volunteers arrive at the basement parish hall to fire up 20 rented urns for coffee, tea and hot chocolate. It takes an hour for …