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July 2013

July 28

Krakow, Poland, to host World Youth 2016

July 28, 2013

RIO DE JANEIRO - Krakow, Poland, will be the site of the next World Youth Day, in 2016.

Pope commissions young people to be missionaries without borders

July 28, 2013

RIO DE JANEIRO - Pope Francis commissioned some 3 million young people to join forces and form what could be called Missionaries Without Borders.

Pope tells Brazilian protesters to be peaceful, bring values to society

July 28, 2013

RIO DE JANEIRO - The street protests involving hundreds of thousands of mostly young people in cities across Brazil, and in other countries, are a sign of the youths' desire for a more just world, but Christians must ensure the protests are peaceful and that efforts to improve society are guided by Christian values, Pope Francis said.

For many pilgrims, the journey of World Youth Day is ageless

July 28, 2013

RIO DE JANEIRO - In the sea of young people on Copacabana beach were many who said faith is ageless.

July 29

Pro-life MP Maurice Vellacott not running in next election

July 29, 2013

OTTAWA - Veteran pro-life MP Maurice Vellacott has announced he will not seek a seventh term in the House of Commons in the next federal election.

World Youth Day at Home provides a taste of Rio

July 29, 2013

KINGSTON, Ont. - About 100 young people participated in World Youth Day (WYD) at Home in Kingston, one of several such events in Canada for those unable to attend the real thing in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Pope says he'd rather trust God than live in bullet-proof bubble

July 29, 2013

ABOARD THE PAPAL FLIGHT FROM BRAZIL - With a few Vatican police standing at attention in the very back of the Alitalia plane flying him back to Rome, Pope Francis told reporters about his security even before being asked.

Pope discusses women in the church, divorce, his own spirituality

July 29, 2013

ABOARD THE PAPAL FLIGHT FROM BRAZIL - From his personal prayer life and spirituality to the role of women in the church and the pastoral care of the divorced, Pope Francis responded to several questions about church teaching and ministry July 28 when he met reporters on his flight from Rio de Janeiro to Rome.

Pope answers questions about Curia reforms, gay lobby

July 29, 2013

ABOARD THE PAPAL FLIGHT FROM BRAZIL - Pope Francis said he was responding to the clear wishes of the College of Cardinals when he set up commissions to study the Vatican bank, Vatican financial and administrative procedures and the reform of the Roman Curia.

At least 38 pilgrims killed in crash after visiting Padre Pio shrine

July 29, 2013

VATICAN CITY - At least 38 pilgrims were killed on their way home from the Padre Pio shrine when their bus plunged off an elevated highway.

July 30

Ireland's pro-lifers vow to repeal new abortion law

July 30, 2013

DUBLIN - Irish pro-life campaigners vowed to work to repeal a new law that permits abortion in limited circumstances.

Returning to Rome, Pope discusses plans for future trips

July 30, 2013

VATICAN CITY - At the end of his first foreign trip, Pope Francis told reporters that it's good for a Pope to travel and there are plans in the works for visits in Italy, to Jerusalem, to Asia, but nothing planned soon for his Argentine homeland.

Syria's war creates havoc, priest's whereabouts unknown, nuncio says

July 30, 2013

VATICAN CITY - The war in Syria is like a factory churning out nothing but death, destruction and suffering, said Archbishop Mario Zenari, Vatican nuncio to Syria.

July 31

Pope's 'gay lobby' remarks affirm Church teaching

July 31, 2013

VATICAN CITY - When Pope Francis told reporters July 28, "Who am I to judge" a homosexual person, he was emphasizing a part of Catholic teaching often overlooked by the media and misunderstood by many people.

Pope picks 'fraternity' as theme for his first World Peace Day message

July 31, 2013

VATICAN CITY - An overemphasis on "personal well-being" and general indifference have eroded any sense of responsibility toward others, especially toward the poor, said a note from the Vatican announcing Pope Francis' choice of a theme for World Peace Day 2014.

Vatican bank launches website to boost transparency, media relations

July 31, 2013

VATICAN CITY - In an effort to shake its image as a secretive, scandal-ridden institute and improve its relationship with the media, the Vatican bank has launched its own website.

Pope, with fellow Jesuits, prays for 'grace of shame,' humility

July 31, 2013

ROME - Celebrating the feast of St. Ignatius with more than 200 of his Jesuit confreres, Pope Francis prayed that he and all of them would receive "the grace of shame" for their failures and the humility to recognize that whatever good they accomplish is really done by the Lord.