FAITH/STORIES
Vatican archivist discovers letter from Jesuit active in Nazi resistance
By Carol Glatz, Catholic News ServiceA Vatican archivist discovered a letter to Pope Pius XII's personal secretary from a Jesuit priest in Germany, who was active in the resistance against the Nazis, reporting that thousands of Poles and Jews were being incinerated daily in a Polish concentration camp.
Pope Francis accepted the letters of credential of Russia's new ambassador to the Holy See, Ivan D. Soltanovsky, who officially began his mission four months after his predecessor left Rome.
Any limitations and rules regarding media access and communications during the upcoming Synod of Bishops are rooted in the "essence" of a synod and meant to help participants in their process of discernment, said the head of the synod's communication committee.
Synod assembly won't be secret, but won't be open to press, Pope Francis says
By Cindy Wooden, Catholic News ServiceThe Synod of Bishops is not a television show or a parliamentary debate, and its discussions will not be open to the public or to reporters, Pope Francis said.
Cardinal counts and cots: Limit on number of electors has practical side
By Cindy Wooden, Catholic News ServicePope Francis continues to make surprise additions to the College of Cardinals with plenty of "firsts," and perhaps the most surprising of those "firsts" this time is just how many cardinal electors there will be.
Pope Francis tells lawyers he's writing a new document on the environment
By Cindy Wooden, Catholic News ServiceThanking a group of European lawyers for their attention to environmental protection laws, Pope Francis said he was preparing another document on the subject.
Vatican investment office reports $35 million profit for 2022
By Cindy Wooden, Catholic News ServiceThe Vatican investment office made 32.27 million euros (about $35.2 million) in profit in 2022 and contributed the entire amount to the Vatican's operating budget, said Bishop Nunzio Galantino, president of the Administration of the Patrimony of the Holy See.
Pope Francis entrusts prayers for peace to Mary, assumed into heaven
On the feast of Mary's assumption into heaven, Pope Francis entrusted to her people's prayers for peace, especially in Ukraine.
Vatican confirms Pope Francis sent envoy to India to resolve liturgical dispute
By Cindy Wooden, Catholic News ServiceAs controversy and deep division continued in an Indian archdiocese over the direction the priest faces during the celebration of the liturgy, the Vatican confirmed that Pope Francis named Slovak Archbishop Cyril Vasil of Košice as his pontifical delegate to help resolve the dispute.
Martyred family's 'unprecedented' beatification prompts theological reflection, pro-life prayers
By Maria Wiering, OSV NewsWhen the Ulma family is beatified Sept. 10 as martyrs who gave their lives to protect Jews during the Holocaust, it may be the first time the Catholic Church has beatified an entire, specific family together, as well as the first beatification of an unborn child.
On flight to Rome, Pope Francis responds to questions about abuse, his health
After a five-day trip to Portugal, which recently came to terms with its own clerical sex abuse crisis, Pope Francis said the Catholic Church must abandon its practice of covering up abuse and instead be "very open" about how it is confronting the crime.
In Portugal for WYD, pope urges Europe to recover its 'youthful heart'
Arriving at the edge of the European continent for World Youth Day, Pope Francis urged Portuguese officials to return to their maritime roots by setting sail toward new horizons of hope and helping build a Europe "capable of recovering its youthful heart."
Pope to Russia: Destroying grain, creating hunger is 'grave offense to God'
Destroying grain is a "grave offense to God," Pope Francis said, appealing to authorities in Russia as "my brothers" and urging them to resume cooperating with a United Nations' initiative to guarantee the safe transport of grain out of Ukraine.