Jubilee spree: Year of Mercy beefs up pope’s already busy year
IMAGE: CNS/Paul Haring By Carol Glatz VATICAN CITY (CNS) — When Pope Francis established the Year of Mercy, a full slate of Jubilee events were slotted into his already packed calendar for 2016. A typical “business as usual” year for a pope is already full with meetings, liturgies and foreign …
Follow Christ on the path of forgiveness, not vengeance, pope says
IMAGE: CNS/L’Osservatore Romano By Junno Arocho Esteves VATICAN CITY (CNS) — To follow a path toward Christ, one must follow the good path of forgiveness, peace and solidarity, and avoid following the evil path of vengeance, war and selfishness, Pope Francis told hundreds of Italian children. The members of Catholic …
Biden, not on program, wows crowd at Georgetown interfaith peace forum
IMAGE: CNS photo/Georgetown University By Mark Pattison WASHINGTON (CNS) — Even though he wasn’t on the program, Vice President Joe Biden stole the show at a Georgetown University program promoting peace in wake of terrorist attacks in Paris and San Bernardino, California. Laila Brothers, a Georgetown freshman, had just given …
Sacred art restoration gives museum holy facet to holiday exhibits
IMAGE: CNS photo/Chaz Muth By Chaz Muth NEW YORK (CNS) — Frank Chambers was looking for a peaceful moment as he strolled through the noisy holiday exhibits at the New-York Historical Society Museum & Library on a recent December afternoon. “I love the antique trains that are running through the …
Few pilgrims, no sales: Mideast situation dampens Bethlehem Christmas
IMAGE: CNS photo/Debbie Hill By Judith Sudilovsky BETHLEHEM, West Bank (CNS) — Though the Christmas tree was lit in Nativity Square in the traditional ceremony, and some traditional pre-Christmas parades have taken place, the Christmas spirit this year in Bethlehem has been dampened by the political situation which, since October, …
Franciscan Peddler offers sacred space to shop
People who cross the threshold of the Franciscan Peddler Thrift Shop find more than bargains and gently used items. They find hope and friendly faces. Operated by the associates of the Franciscan Sisters and a volunteer staff of sisters and laypeople, the Peddler is located on the campus of St. …
Throwback Thursday: Happy Birthday Holy Father
Today marks the 79th birthday of Pope Francis. Now known and loved around the globe, just a few years ago the man born Jose Mario Bergoglio was a cardinal and Archbishop of Buenos Aires. While important to his See and his part of the world, as cardinal the man we …
Biden makes surprise appearance at Georgetown interfaith forum on peace
By Mark Pattison WASHINGTON (CNS) — Even though he wasn’t on the program, Vice President Joe Biden stole the show at a Georgetown University program promoting peace in wake of terrorist attacks in Paris and San Bernardino, California. Laila Brothers, a Georgetown freshman, had just given a moving reflection about …
Jesus is free, salvation cannot be bought, pope says
IMAGE: CNS/Paul Haring By Junno Arocho Esteves VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Pilgrims must beware of people who seek to use the Jubilee Year to profit off of them since salvation is a gift that cannot be bought, Pope Francis said. “Be careful! Beware of someone who is sly or sneaky …
Experts praise Vatican’s finance laws, but call for clampdown on crime
By Carol Glatz VATICAN CITY (CNS) — European experts on preventing financial crimes praised the Vatican for significant steps in establishing laws and procedures in line with international protocols, but called for “real results” in cracking down on infractions and prosecuting offenses. Moneyval — the Council of Europe’s Committee of …