Franciscan Brother Juan Turios of Action Network prays in 2013 with immigration reform advocates in Washington. To help appreciate and better promote the vocation of religious brothers, the Vatican released a 50-page reflection on the importance of their life and mission of evangelization, fraternity and sacrifice.

Vatican releases instruction on identity, mission of religious brothers

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VATICAN CITY - To help appreciate and better promote the vocation of religious brothers, the Vatican released a 50-page reflection on the importance of their life and mission of evangelization, fraternity and sacrifice.

Pilgrims pass through the Holy Door of the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls in Rome Dec. 13. U.S. Cardinal James M. Harvey, archpriest of the basilica, opened the Holy Door Dec. 13 as part of the Jubilee Year of Mercy.

Time for forgiveness has begun, Pope says as holy doors open worldwide

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VATICAN CITY - With the opening the Holy Door at the Basilica of St. John Lateran, Pope Francis declared that the time for tenderness, joy and forgiveness had begun.

Pope Francis gives the homily during a Mass marking the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe in St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican Dec. 12.

Pope Francis will venerate Mary at Mexico shrine next year

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VATICAN CITY - On the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Pope Francis announced that he would travel to the Marian shrine in Mexico City and pray to Mary so that Christian communities "may become oases and rivers of mercy."

Even the prisoner can partake in the Year of Mercy. The Pope has decreed that the inmate’s cell door is equal to a holy door for this Year of Mercy

Mercy and indulgences, love and freedom

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The daily pilgrimage of every prisoner takes on new meaning this year, thanks to Pope Francis and the Jubilee Year of Mercy that began on the feast of the Immaculate Conception, Dec. 8. From now until the end of November 2016, each time a prisoner walks across the threshold of his jail cell mercy and relief from the pain of sin awaits.

Pope reaffirms new annulment reforms as they come into effect

Pope reaffirms new annulment reforms as they come into effect

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VATICAN CITY - As reformed rules for marriage annulment cases came into effect, Pope Francis said the new norms are to be adhered to in order to help bring healing to failed marriages.

Czech Rabbi Karol Efraim Sidon lights the menorah of Hanukkah inside Europe's oldest active synagogue, The Old New Synagogue, in Prague, Czech Republic, in this Dec. 2, 2010, file photo. Although Catholics are called to witness to their faith, the church "neither conducts nor supports" any institutional missionary initiative directed toward Jews, according to a new document from a Vatican commission

Catholics shouldn’t try to convert Jews, says new Vatican document

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VATICAN CITY - The Vatican has said that Catholics should witness to their faith but not undertake organized efforts to convert Jews, a significant step forward in the once tense relations between the two faiths.

People walk past an image of a Menorah projected on a wall surrounding the Old City of Jerusalem Dec. 8. Although Catholic are called to witness to their faith, the church "neither conducts nor supports" any institutional missionary initiative directed toward Jews, according to a new document from a Vatican commission.

New Vatican document reflects on relations between Catholics, Jews

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VATICAN CITY - Catholics are called to witness to their faith in Jesus before all people, including Jews, but the Catholic Church "neither conducts nor supports" any institutional missionary initiative directed toward Jews, says a new document from a Vatican commission.

Pope Francis presents a rose at an icon of Mary and the child Jesus as he begins his general audience in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican Dec. 9.

Pope Francis: The church needs this Holy Year of Mercy

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VATICAN CITY - The Catholic Church needs the extraordinary Holy Year to become an effective witness of God's divine mercy, Pope Francis said.

Pope Francis opens the Holy Door of St. Peter's Basilica to inaugurate the Jubilee Year of Mercy at the Vatican Dec. 8.

Holy Year is a reminder to put mercy before judgment, Pope says

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VATICAN CITY - On a cloudy, damp morning, Pope Francis' voice echoed in the atrium of St. Peter's Basilica: "Open the gates of justice." With five strong thrusts, the pope pushed open the Holy Door, a symbol of God's justice, which he said will always be exercised "in the light of his mercy."

Members of the Carabinieri, the Italian military police force, stand guard as people leave Pope Francis' Angelus blessing in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican Nov. 22.

Pope Francis to inaugurate Holy Year of Mercy amid security concerns

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VATICAN CITY - Pope Francis will open the Catholic Church’s jubilee on mercy on Tuesday, a nearly year-long event that is expected to bring millions of pilgrims to Rome despite security concerns and logistical challenges.

Pope Francis gestures as he leads his Angelus from the window of his studio overlooking St. Peter's Square at the Vatican Dec. 6.

Stopping climate change, poverty go hand-in-hand, says Pope

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VATICAN CITY - Heads of states at the U.N. climate change conference in Paris must do everything possible to mitigate the effects of both climate change and poverty "for the good of our common home," Pope Francis said.

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