Cindy Wooden

Pope Francis preaches peace, cooperation, resilience to a Congo 'gasping for breath'

January 31, 2023

The people of Congo are more precious than any of the gems or minerals found in the earth beneath their feet, yet they have been slaughtered by warmongers and exploited by prospectors, Pope Francis said.

Pope Francis arrives in Congo after praying on flight for migrants

January 31, 2023

After flying across the equator, Pope Francis was welcomed warmly -- in every sense -- to Congo where Catholics make up the majority of the population and where, for decades, the Catholic Church has been at the forefront of efforts to bring peace, education and health care to the people.

Pope Francis, Anglican, Presbyterian leaders ask for prayers before trip

January 30, 2023

Before beginning their ecumenical pilgrimage of peace to South Sudan, Pope Francis and the leaders of the Anglican Communion and the Presbyterian Church of Scotland asked Christians around the globe to accompany them with prayers.

Pope Francis: Criticism is annoying, but can be helpful

January 25, 2023

Public criticism by cardinals and bishops is annoying -- "like a rash that bothers you a bit," Pope Francis said -- but differences need to be aired and criticism can be helpful, he told the Associated Press.

Italian publisher releases book of essays by Pope Benedict

January 20, 2023

While the Second Vatican Council gave the Catholic Church a "beautiful" document on the priesthood, "it did not face the fundamental question" of the difference between Catholic and Protestant understandings of ordained ministry, wrote Pope Benedict XVI in an essay published after his death.

Aide’s book insists Benedict’s resignation one of free will

January 13, 2023

Soon after Pope Benedict XVI was laid to rest in the crypt of St. Peter’s Basilica, an Italian publisher released early copies of a book by the late pope’s secretary.

Francis pontificate ‘a catastrophe,’ synod ‘toxic nightmare,’ Pell wrote

January 12, 2023

Australian Cardinal George Pell, who died in Rome Jan. 10, never made a secret of his staunch adherence to established Catholic moral teaching and his concern about fellow cardinals and bishops he saw as willing to abandon that teaching.

Vatican prosecutor opens investigation into Orlandi disappearance

January 10, 2023

The disappearance 40 years ago of Emanuela Orlandi has haunted her family, fueled conspiracy theories and provided grist for a recent Netflix series.

New Syriac Catholic archbishop of Homs survived ISIS kidnapping

January 9, 2023

The new Syriac Catholic archbishop of Homs, Syria, had spent almost five months as a prisoner of Islamic State rebels in 2015.

Pope Francis baptizes babies, urges parents to teach them to pray

January 9, 2023

Telling parents and godparents to teach their little ones to pray from the time they are small, Pope Francis baptized 13 babies in the Sistine Chapel as their older brothers and sisters looked on -- or got away and ran around.