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Pope Francis greets the crowd outside after praying the rosary at the Basilica of St. Mary Major in Rome May 4. The pope led the crowd in chanting "Viva la Madonna" (Long live the mother of God). At right is Cardinal Agostino Vallini, papal vicar for Rome.

Mary is a mother who helps Christians grow, Pope says at rosary

ROME - Mary is a mother who helps Christians grow, face the difficulties of life and use their freedom to make lasting commitments, Pope Francis said.

Retired Pope Benedict XVI greets Pope Francis at the Vatican May 2. The 86-year-old retired pontiff, who had been staying at the papal summer villa in Castel Gandolfo since retiring Feb. 28, returned to the Vatican to live in a monastery in the Vatican Gardens.

Pope Francis welcomes Benedict back to Vatican

VATICAN CITY - For the first time in history, the Vatican is home to a pope and a retired pope.

Blessed Maria Guadalupe Garcia Zavala, also known as "Madre Lupita," the Mexican co-founder of the Handmaids of St. Margaret Mary and the Poor, is pictured in an undated portrait. She will be canonized May 12.

Mexico's soon-to-be-saint recalled for her ministry to poor, sick

GUADALARJARA, Mexico - A shy woman stopped to pray in front of statue of Blessed Maria Guadalupe Garcia Zavala while visiting the Santa Margarita Hospital. She knew little about the founder of the facility, who will be canonized May 12, but, like many, she had heard stories from hospital patients who say the soon-to-be-saint still walks the halls providing care, attention and miracles to those in need.

A sign with a dove symbolizing the Holy Spirit is seen as Pope Francis greets the crowd after celebrating a Mass at which he confirmed 44 people in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican April 28. Those confirmed included two young people from the United Stat es and two from Ireland.

Pope tells young to 'swim against the tide; it's good for the heart'

VATICAN CITY - Administering the sacrament of Confirmation to 44 people, including two teenagers from the United States and two from Ireland, Pope Francis encouraged them to "swim against the tide; it's good for the heart."

Cardinal Thomas Collins said that the new evangelization isn't about condemning our culture but healing it.

Support of abortion, euthanasia arise out of the ‘illusions’ of compassion: Collins

TORONTO - The new evangelization isn't about condemning our culture but healing it, Cardinal Thomas Collins told an audience of doctors, nurses and health care ethicists at the annual Cardinal Ambrozic Lecture in Toronto.

Salvadoran Archbishop Oscar Romero is pictured in a 1979 photo in San Salvador. The official promoter of the sainthood cause of the late archbishop indicated April 22 that the cause would be moving forward. Archbishop Romero was shot dead March 24, 1980, as he celebrated Mass. His assassination came during the Salvadoran Civil War.

Vatican official says Archbishop Romero's sainthood cause 'unblocked'

VATICAN CITY - Archbishop Vincenzo Paglia, president of the Pontifical Council for the Family and the official promoter of the sainthood cause of the late Archbishop Oscar Romero of San Salvador, said the process to beatify and eventually canonize the slain Salvadoran archbishop has been unblocked.

Ten priests lie prostrate during their ordination by Pope Francis in St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican April 21.

Pope ordains new priests, talks about learning to hear Jesus' voice

VATICAN CITY - Before ordaining 10 men to the priesthood, Pope Francis prayed privately with them in the sacristy and entrusted them to Mary's care.

Pope Francis on April 15 reaffirmed the Vatican Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith’s call for reform of the U.S.-based Leadership Conference of Women Religious.

Pope reaffirms call for reform of U.S. nuns’ group

VATICAN CITY - Pope Francis has reaffirmed the Vatican’s call for reform of the U.S.-based Leadership Conference of Women Religious.

Pope Francis leads his general audience in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican April 17, one of several occasions on which he mentioned the devil.

Battle with the devil: Pope Francis frames the fight in Jesuit terms

VATICAN CITY - In the teaching of Pope Francis, the devil has a more dastardly agenda than just convincing people to break one of the Ten Commandments; "the enemy" wants them to feel weak, worthless and always ready to complain or gossip.

Br. Anthony lost part of his arm in an industrial accident. To Br. Anthony, it wasn’t a tragedy however. Instead, he would tell people about his prosthetic arm, “This is grace.”

Br. Anthony found his home in God

Every immigrant who ever came to Canada dreaming of something better, something worthy of their best hopes, struggled, wished they had never come and wanted to go home has a soul brother in Br. Anthony Kowalczyk.

Pope Francis gives a thumbs up as he leaves his general audience in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican April 10.

Being Christian means acting, loving like Christ, Pope says at audience

VATICAN CITY - A Christian isn't a person who simply follows some commandments, but is a person who tries to think like Christ, "act like him, love like him," Pope Francis said at his weekly general audience.

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