With Pope Francis, Catholic Church takes a new angle on the supernatural
When Pope Francis visits the United States this month, most Americans will welcome him as a plainspoken champion of the voiceless, whose openness to change has brought new energy to the Catholic Church.
Vatican upholds Spanish bishop's refusal to allow transsexual to be godparent
VATICAN CITY - The Vatican's doctrinal congregation upheld a Spanish bishop's refusal to allow a transsexual person to be a godparent.
Marriage is forever: Pope's reform requires proof union was invalid
VATICAN CITY - Pope Francis' reformed rules for marriage annulment cases, making the process simpler, quicker and less expensive, respond to calls that bishops from around the world have been making since before the 1980 Synod of Bishops on the family convoked by St. John Paul II.
Pope calls on Europe's parishes, religious houses to take in refugees
VATICAN CITY - Given the ongoing crisis of people fleeing from war and poverty, Pope Francis asked every parish and religious community in Europe to take in a family of refugees as a concrete sign of hope and God's mercy.
Pope simplifies annulment process, asks that it be free of charge
VATICAN CITY - While a juridical process is necessary for making accurate judgments, the Catholic Church’s marriage annulment process must be quicker, cheaper and much more of a pastoral ministry, Pope Francis said.
Did you hear the one about the Pope?
“The California drought is so bad, people in Napa are asking the Pope to change the wine into water.”
Doctrine, pastoral realities are not at odds, pope tells theologians
VATICAN CITY - The church is called to embrace its past, present and future and to avoid the temptations to condemn or to legitimize everything just because it is new and different, Pope Francis told a group of theologians.
Pope Francis eyes a bargain
The “Pope of surprises” can’t seem to let a news cycle pass without making a headline.
Vatican says transgender man cannot be a godparent
VATICAN CITY - The Vatican has rejected a request by a transgender man in Spain to become a godparent, ruling that his sexual identity means he is incapable of carrying out the task.
Pope meets Israeli president, expresses hopes for peace
VATICAN CITY - As Catholics joined others in protesting Israel's extension of its security wall, further dividing Palestinians and Israelis, Pope Francis gave Israeli President Reuven Rivlin a tangible sign of his hopes for peace.
Pope Francis: The astonishment at the encounter with Jesus
(Vatican Radio) The capacity to recognize ourselves as sinners opens us to the astonishment at the encounter with Jesus: that was the message of Pope Francis Thursday morning during Mass for the feast of Saint Gregory the Great, Pope and Doctor of the Church.