Cindy Wooden

Together on the margins: Lesbos trip to be ecumenical sign of service

April 14, 2016

VATICAN CITY – Before St. John Paul II arrived in Greece in 2001 there were protests by Orthodox faithful and an all-night prayer vigil by Orthodox monks on Mount Athos, praying that the pope would not come.

Pope's visit to Greece comes at time of fear, uncertainty for refugees

April 13, 2016

VATICAN CITY – Pope Francis' trip to Lesbos, Greece, April 16 comes at a frightening and critical time for tens of thousands of refugees and migrants waiting and wondering where they will end up, said members of Catholic aid agencies.

Pope Benedict: Yearning for mercy is sign of longing for God's love

March 16, 2016

VATICAN CITY - Although he lives a relatively hidden life in a villa in the Vatican Gardens, retired Pope Benedict XVI continues to study modern theological questions and, occasionally, to comment on them publicly.

For 'Mercy Friday' initiative, Pope visits young addicts at rehab center

February 29, 2016

VATICAN CITY - In the second of his "Mercy Friday" gestures, Pope Francis spent two hours with a group of young adults at a Catholic-run residential drug rehabilitation center.

Ordination is call to service, says new Bishop Tighe

February 29, 2016

VATICAN CITY - In the presence of family, bishops and priests from Ireland and colleagues from the Vatican, Irish Msgr. Paul Tighe was ordained a bishop Feb. 27 by Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Vatican secretary of state.

Fresh start: Pope calls for integration of divorced into Church life

February 25, 2016

VATICAN CITY - Those who hope Pope Francis will give divorced and civilly remarried Catholics a blanket welcome back to Communion and those who fear he will open the doors to such a possibility are both likely to be disappointed by his decision.

Head of Ukrainian Catholic Church consoled by Pope's words

February 23, 2016

ROME - The head of the Ukrainian Catholic Church said he was consoled by Pope Francis' words of understanding and tenderness after he expressed the disappointment of Ukrainians with a joint declaration signed by the Pope and the Russian Orthodox patriarch.

Being human: Pope Francis delights many, frustrates some

February 21, 2016

VATICAN CITY - The Pope is human. Pope Francis demonstrated that in Mexico, as he does wherever he goes, and most people find it attractive most of the time.

Building walls to keep immigrants out is not Christian, Pope says

February 18, 2016

ABOARD THE PAPAL FLIGHT FROM MEXICO - As the plane carrying him back to Rome from Mexico was flying over Texas, Pope Francis insisted building walls to keep immigrants out of one's country is un-Christian.

In Zika outbreak, contraceptives may be 'lesser evil,' Pope says

February 18, 2016

ABOARD THE PAPAL FLIGHT FROM MEXICO - With physicians across Central and South American urging women to postpone pregnancy because of the Zika virus that causes birth defects, Pope Francis said using contraceptives could be a "lesser evil."