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Cardinal Mario Grech, secretary-general of the Synod of Bishops, right, and other leaders of the synod participate in an online meeting from the Vatican June 15, 2021. The meeting was held with presidents and officials of bishops' conferences around the world in preparation for launching the new synod process in October.

Secretariat begins discussing new synod process with bishops

VATICAN CITY -- After issuing revised guidelines for preparing for the next world Synod of Bishops, leaders of the synod's general secretariat held online meetings with the presidents and general secretaries of national and regional bishops' conferences.

A boy sells eggs on the streets of Bangui, Central African Republic, in April 2021.

Selfish, materialistic lifestyles help fuel poverty, Pope Francis says in message

VATICAN CITY -- Poverty is the result of people's selfishness; it is not "fate" or the fault of the poor, Pope Francis said.

Archbishop Adolfo Yllana, then-apostolic nuncio to Australia, poses for a photo with Pope Francis at the Vatican in this April 9, 2015, file photo. The pope has named Archbishop Yllana to be apostolic nuncio to Israel and to Cyprus and apostolic delegate in Jerusalem and Palestine.

Pope Francis names new envoy to Israel, Palestine

VATICAN CITY -- Pope Francis named Archbishop Adolfo Yllana to be apostolic nuncio to Israel and to Cyprus and apostolic delegate in Jerusalem and Palestine.

Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, director-general of the World Health Organization, speaks as he attends the World Health Assembly amid the coronavirus pandemic in Geneva May 24, 2021. The World Health Assembly adopted a resolution to formalize the participation of the Holy See in WHO as a non-member state observer.

Holy See receives permanent observer status at the WHO

VATICAN CITY -- The World Health Assembly adopted a resolution to formalize the participation of the Holy See in the World Health Organization as a nonmember state observer.

Archbishop Filippo Iannone, president of the Pontifical Council for Legislative Texts, attends a press conference to discuss revisions to the Code of Canon Law, at the Vatican June 1, 2021. Pope Francis has promulgated a revised section of the Code of Canon Law dealing with crimes and punishments.

Pope Francis promulgates revised canon law on crimes, punishments

VATICAN CITY -- A series of laws and procedures promulgated by now-retired Pope Benedict XVI and, especially, by Pope Francis to protect children, promote the investigation of allegations of clerical sexual abuse and punish offenders are included in a heavily revised section of the Code of Canon Law.

We are called to imitate the love symbolized by the Sacred Heart of Jesus, writes Cardinal Thomas Collins.

Cardinal Collins invites us to rediscover the ‘treasure’ of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in his latest pastoral letter

After a year of COVID-19, we are all heavy laden.The spectre of sickness and death wears us down, as does the devastating effect of pandemic restrictions.

Archbishop Arthur Roche, secretary of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Sacraments, is pictured with Cardinal Robert Sarah, prefect of the same congregation, as they pray with U.S. bishops at the start of a meeting at the Vatican in this Jan. 14, 2020, file photo. The Vatican announced May 27 that Pope Francis has appointed the English archbishop to lead the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Sacraments, succeeding Cardinal Sarah.

Pope Francis names English archbishop to lead worship congregation

VATICAN CITY -- Pope Francis named English Archbishop Arthur Roche to lead the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Sacraments, the Vatican said.

Father Joshtrom Isaac Kureethadam of the Vatican Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development speaks at a news conference to unveil a new platform for action based on Pope Francis' 2015 encyclical, Laudato Si', at the Vatican May 25, 2021. The dicastery helped close the special year dedicated to Laudato Si' by unveiling initiatives to promote the message and concrete action called for by the encyclical.

Seven-year plan launched for next phase of Laudato Si’

VATICAN CITY -- To help lead the world’s Catholics along a journey of intensified action in caring for creation, Pope Francis asked everyone to join a new global grassroots movement to create a more inclusive, fraternal, peaceful and sustainable world.

Cardinal Christoph Schonborn of Vienna, center, and bishops from around the world walk in procession from St. Peter's Basilica at the start of the Synod of Bishops for the Amazon at the Vatican in this Oct. 7, 2019, file photo. Pope Francis has approved a revision of the process for the celebrations of the Synod of Bishops, emphasizing the need to expand reflections and consultations on a diocesan level.

Vatican revises synod process, beginning with local consultation

VATICAN CITY -- Approving the revision of the entire process of the Synod of Bishops, Pope Francis has asked that it begin with serious, widespread consultations with laypeople on the diocesan level.

Jesuit Father Stephen Chow, provincial of the Jesuits’ Chinese province, was named bishop of Hong Kong by Pope Francis May 17, 2021. The 61-year-old bishop-designate was born in Hong Kong. He is pictured in a 2016 photo.

Pope Francis names Jesuit educator bishop of Hong Kong

VATICAN CITY -- Pope Francis has named Jesuit Father Stephen Chow Sau-yan, a native of Hong Kong and provincial of the Jesuits' Chinese province, to be the new bishop of Hong Kong.

Cardinal Stanislaw Dziwisz, the former secretary of St. John Paul II, prays at the spot of the May 13, 1981, assassination attempt against the Polish pope, after placing flowers in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican May 13, 2021. Cardinal Dziwisz and a small group of Catholics gathered in the square to mark the 40th anniversary of the shooting. In 1981 then-Msgr. Dziwisz cradled the Pope after the shooting.

Polish pilgrims mark anniversary of attempt to assassinate St. John Paul

VATICAN CITY - An elderly man stood alone in St. Peter's Square May 13, using his wooden rosary beads to pray by a simple plaque marking the place where St. John Paul II was shot exactly 40 years earlier.

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