Pope to migrants: Do not be robbed of hope, joy of living
By Junno Arocho Esteves, Catholic News ServiceVATICAN CITY - Welcoming thousands of migrants and refugees to the Vatican for their own Year of Mercy celebration, Pope Francis urged them to resist everything that would rob them of hope and joy.
Dialogue, remembrance, peace highlighted as Pope visits synagogue
By Cindy Wooden, Catholic News ServiceROME - While the Catholic Church affirms that salvation comes through Jesus, it also recognizes that God is faithful and has not revoked his covenant with the Jewish people, Pope Francis said.
Catholics and Lutherans to worship together at Reformation anniversary
By Tom Heneghan, Religion News ServicePARIS - Catholics and Lutherans have made another step toward joint commemoration of the 500th anniversary of the Reformation in 2017 by issuing common liturgical guidelines for ecumenical services to mark the occasion.
Pope to teens: Don't fall for hate, fearmongers; find nice friends
By Carol Glatz, Catholic News ServiceVATICAN CITY - Don't fall for hate and fearmongering from others; make new friends instead and always help and show concern for others, Pope Francis told the world's teens.
Faithfulness in mercy is God's way of being, Pope says
By Junno Arocho Esteves, Catholic News ServiceVATICAN CITY - God's mercy is constant and limitless; he is faithful in his mercy for his children, even when they are unfaithful, Pope Francis said.
Pope: Prayers of the faithful, not clergy, can make miracles happen
By Junno Arocho Esteves, Catholic News ServiceVATICAN CITY - The prayers of the faithful, not the pope, bishops, priests or nuns, have the power to make miracles happen in the most impossible situations, Pope Francis said at his morning Mass.
Warmth of mercy can overcome cold indifference, Pope tells diplomats
By Junno Arocho Esteves, Catholic News ServiceVATICAN CITY - Cold indifference to migrants, the poor, the hungry and the persecuted must be overcome through the warmth of mercy, which can transform people into artisans of peace, Pope Francis said.
The best legacy children can receive from parents is faith, Pope says
By Carol Glatz, Catholic News ServiceVATICAN CITY - The best thing parents can pass on to their children is their religious faith, Pope Francis said as he baptized 26 babies.
'Soap opera' love isn't true love, Pope says
By Junno Arocho Esteves, Catholic News ServiceVATICAN CITY - True love comes from God and is expressed through his mercy and forgiveness, not through sentimental expressions that can easily vanish, Pope Francis said.
Pope prays for sincere dialogue among religions in video message
By Junno Arocho Esteves, Catholic News ServiceVATICAN CITY - In his first video prayer message of the year, Pope Francis asked people to join him in praying that interreligious dialogue lead to "peace and justice."
Seek out signs God offers everyone for finding Jesus, Pope says
By Carol Glatz, Catholic News ServiceVATICAN CITY - Go out and seek the signs God is offering everyone today that will lead to Christ, Pope Francis said.