Cindy Wooden

Plane speaking: Behind the scenes of the Pope's in-flight press conferences

June 15, 2019

VATICAN CITY -- Pope Francis’ in-flight news conferences are arguably less newsy than when his pontificate began, mostly because he has been insisting the past few years that most of the questions refer to the trip that is concluding.

Nuncios' first mission is to love, says Vatican secretary of state

June 12, 2019

VATICAN CITY -- Whether the Catholic Church is operating in full freedom or under severe restrictions, no one can prevent its ministers and members from following the supreme law of Christ, which is to love others, said Cardinal Pietro Parolin.

Pope Francis: Airport chaplains have special ministry

June 10, 2019

VATICAN CITY -- From pilots and passengers to refugees and fast-food workers, the people airport chaplains meet each day all deserve a kind word and an invitation to a relationship with God, Pope Francis said.

Pope Francis' message for World Mission Day: All Catholics must be missionaries

June 10, 2019

VATICAN CITY -- By virtue of their baptism, all Catholics are called to be missionaries, sharing the good news of salvation in Jesus by their actions and their words, Pope Francis said.

Gender ideology is opposed to faith, reason, Vatican office says

June 10, 2019

VATICAN CITY -- Catholic schools must help parents teach young people that biological sex and gender are naturally fixed at birth and part of God's plan for creation, said the Congregation for Catholic Education.

Pope Francis announces plans to visit Iraq in 2020

June 10, 2019

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Announcing his desire to visit Iraq in 2020, Pope Francis called for a peaceful resolution to crises in the Middle East.

Celebrate Pentecost by rejecting racism, Italian bishops say

June 7, 2019

ROME -- Disciples of Jesus must reject any attitude or language that could increase intolerance or racism, especially in current social and political discussions about welcoming and integrating migrants, said the bishops of Italy's Lazio region.

Pope Francis names delegate for pastoral care of Lourdes pilgrims

June 6, 2019

VATICAN CITY -- Pope Francis has named a special delegate for the pastoral care of pilgrims to the French shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes.

Taize superior says community has received five abuse allegations

June 5, 2019

ROME -- The brothers of the ecumenical Taize community said they have received five reports of sexual assaults on minors committed by three of their members in a period from the 1950s to the 1980s.

Universal and local: Church law responds to local law, culture

May 30, 2019

VATICAN CITY -- The Catholic Church has universal laws valid around the globe, but many of those laws -- including on handling allegations of abuse -- must be further refined on a local level to respond to national laws and cultures.