Pope Francis will be elevating 16 bishops and one elderly priest to the rank of cardinal on Saturday, Nov. 19.

Pope Francis, the ultimate headhunter

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VATICAN CITY – Pope Francis is often referred to as the “Pope of surprises” for many reasons. One of them is the unexpected churchmen he chooses to elevate to the rank of cardinal, as he will do with 16 bishops and an elderly priest on Saturday (Nov. 19) in St. Peter’s Basilica.

Canadian cardinal Marc Ouellet, prefect of the Vatican Congregation for Bishops told U.S. bishops to be "witness to the Risen one," Nov. 16.

Cardinal Ouellet tells U.S. bishops to be 'witnesses to the Risen One'

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BALTIMORE – Canadian Cardinal Marc Ouellet, prefect of the Vatican Congregation for Bishops, told the U.S. bishops that their ministry is to be "witnesses to the Risen One."

Pope Francis walks through a Holy Door as he arrives to celebrate Mass at Mikheil Meskhi Stadium in Tbilisi, Georgia, Oct. 1.

Time of mercy: Holy doors close, but mission of mercy continues

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VATICAN CITY – The Year of Mercy brought more than 20 million pilgrims to Rome, but for Pope Francis, the idea always was that the celebration of God's mercy would be local: have people experience God's love in their parishes and send them out into the world to commit random acts of mercy.

In a written message to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change conference says that protecting the planet is an ethical and moral obligation.

Protecting planet is ethical, moral obligation, Pope says

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VATICAN CITY – The vulnerability of the poor and of future generations to the impact of climate change creates a "serious ethical and moral responsibility to act without delay and as free as possible from political and economic pressure" to slow climate change and protect the environment, Pope Francis said.

Cardinal Carlo Caffarra of Bologna before the start of the morning session of the extraordinary Synod of Bishops on the family at the Vatican in 2014. He is one of four cardinals asking Pope Francis for clarification regarding Amoris Laetitia

Four cardinals ask Pope Francis to clarify 'Amoris laetitia'

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VATICAN CITY- Citing conflicting interpretations of Pope Francis' apostolic exhortation on love in the family, four prominent cardinals wrote a letter to him in September requesting that he “resolve the uncertainties and bring clarity.”

Red Kelly, the eight-time Stanley Cup champion and Hockey Hall of Famer, talks about his life at St. Mike’s in The Red Kelly Story. Kelly helped lead the Majors to the Memorial Cup.

St. Michael's College created a champ in Red Kelly

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TORONTO – For hockey fans of a few different generations, Red Kelly represents the very best of the game and the NHL.

Father Burke Masters, Chicago Cubs' chaplain, takes part in a practice with players during spring training in March 2016 at Sloan Park in Mesa, Ariz. Cubs Manager Joe Maddon invited Father Masters to practice with the team.

Cubs chaplain cares for ‘spiritual needs’ of players

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CHICAGO – When Fr. Burke Masters accepted God’s call to become a priest, he thought he was giving up baseball forever.

Pope Francis answers questions from journalists aboard his flight from Malmo, Sweden, to Rome Nov. 1. The Pope said that the Church's teaching to never ordain women is likely to last forever.

Catholic Church never likely to ordain women, Pope says

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ABOARD THE PAPAL FLIGHT FROM SWEDEN – The Catholic Church insistence that it cannot ordain women to the priesthood and episcopacy is a teaching likely to last forever, Pope Francis said.

Cardinal Kurt Koch, right, speaks as the Rev. Martin Junge, general secretary of the Lutheran World Federation, looks on during a news conference at the Vatican Oct. 26. During Pope Francis’ trip to Sweden, the cardinal was asked about the possibility of Catholics and Lutherans receiving Communion together.

Vatican cardinal explains limits of eucharistic sharing

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MALMO, Sweden – The Catholic Church continues to insist that sharing the sacrament of Communion will be a sign that Christian churches have reconciled fully with one another, although in some pastoral situations, guests may be invited to the Eucharist, said Cardinal Kurt Koch.

A statue of Martin Luther is seen onstage as Pope Francis arrives for an audience with a pilgrimage of Catholics and Lutherans from Germany in the Paul VI hall at the Vatican Oct. 13. The pope will visit Sweden Oct. 31-Nov. 1 for commemorations of the 500th anniversary of the Protestant Reformation.

Ecumenical papal trip: Touching the Christian heart of secular Sweden

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VATICAN CITY – Pope Francis' recent insistence on "walking ecumenism," the notion that Christians will draw closer to each other as they work together to help the poor, should resonate well with Lutherans and Catholics in Sweden.

Martin Luther, a German monk and key figure in the Protestant Reformation, is depicted in this painting at a church in Helsingor, Denmark. Pope Francis will visit Sweden Oct. 31-Nov. 1 for commemorations of the 500th anniversary of the Protestant Reformation.

Sorrow and joy: Marking the Reformation with honesty about the past

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VATICAN CITY – As Catholics and Lutherans prepare to mark the 500th anniversary of the start of the Protestant Reformation, Pope Francis said they should feel "pain for the division that still exists among us, but also joy for the brotherhood we have already rediscovered."

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