Search Result for “"Pope Francis"”
Pope prays for young people, their diligence and courage
IMAGE: CNS photo/Paul Haring By Cindy Wooden VATICAN CITY (CNS) — As he often does with a group made up of people of different faiths or no faith, Pope Francis gave young people in Palermo a special blessing, but not a ritual one. After the pope’s meeting with teenagers and …
Pope, in Sicily, honors priest martyred by Mafia
IMAGE: CNS photo/Paul Haring By PALERMO, Sicily (CNS) — Honoring a priest shot at point-blank range by the Mafia, Pope Francis insisted that true happiness and a real change in Sicilian society will come only when people love and care for one another rather than trying to grab as much …
Update: To Europe’s periphery: Pope to visit Baltic nations in late September
IMAGE: CNS photo/Vatican By Cindy Wooden VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Pope Francis will travel to the eastern periphery of Europe to honor a faith that withstood a Nazi invasion and five decades of communist dictatorship and now is striving to help people live in freedom as authentic disciples of Christ. …
U.S. bishops tell pope abuse scandal ‘lacerated’ the church
By VATICAN CITY (CNS) — The leaders of the U.S. bishops’ conference said they shared with Pope Francis how the church in the United States has been “lacerated by the evil of sexual abuse.” “He listened very deeply from the heart,” said a statement released after the meeting Sept. 13. …
‘Elitist, clericalist’ church allows abuse to thrive, pope says
By Cindy Wooden VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Sexual and physical abuse by priests and religious and the scandal of its cover-up by church authorities thrive in countries where the Catholic Church is “elitist and clericalist,” Pope Francis told Jesuits in Ireland in August. “There is something I have understood with …
Love breaks chains of slavery to sin, pope says
IMAGE: CNS photo/Paul Haring By Junno Arocho Esteves VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Only true love for God and neighbor can destroy the chains of greed, lust, anger and envy that enslave humankind, Pope Francis said. “True love is true freedom: It detaches from possession, rebuilds relationships, it knows how to …
Pope to convene world meeting on abuse prevention with bishops’ leaders
IMAGE: CNS photo/Paul Haring By Carol Glatz VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Pope Francis is calling the presidents of every Catholic bishops’ conference in the world to Rome Feb. 21-24 to discuss the prevention of the abuse of minors and vulnerable adults. The Vatican made the announcement Sept. 12 after the …
Anniversary of 9/11 marked with moments of silence, prayer, Masses
IMAGE: CNS photo/Brendan McDermid, Reuters By WASHINGTON (CNS) — Churchgoers around the United States once again marked the anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks with moments of silence, special prayer services and Masses. In Brooklyn, New York, a Mass for fallen heroes was celebrated at the Co-Cathedral of St. Joseph …
Satan is attacking bishops; they must fight with prayer, pope says
IMAGE: CNS photo/Vatican Media By Carol Glatz VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Bishops must remember, particularly when under attack, that their role is to pray, be humble in knowing God chose them and remain close to the people, Pope Francis said in his morning homily. In fact, a bishop “does not …
Council of Cardinals expresses ‘full solidarity’ with pope
IMAGE: CNS photo/Vatican Media By Cindy Wooden VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Members of Pope Francis’ international Council of Cardinals expressed “full solidarity” with him in the midst of questions about his handling of the clerical sexual abuse scandal and said the Vatican is planning a response to allegations made against …