Faith

Father Brian Barr presides at eucharistic adoration during a prayer service for vocations at Immaculate Conception Seminary in Huntington, N.Y., in 2012. Vatican officials are organizing a worldwide, simultaneous eucharistic adoration for June 2.

Vatican organizing worldwide, simultaneous eucharistic adoration June 2

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VATICAN CITY - Vatican officials are making strategic phone calls to some of the world's most far-flung dioceses, trying to verify that in each of the world's inhabited time zones there will be an organized hour of eucharistic adoration coinciding with 5-6 p.m. Rome time June 2.

Pope Francis greets Irish writer John Waters during a Pentecost prayer vigil in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican May 18. An estimated 200,000 people from 150 Catholic lay movements attended the vigil.

At Pentecost vigil, Pope shares personal stories of his faith

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VATICAN CITY - With humor and passion, Pope Francis shared highlights of his personal faith journey and explained some key points of his teaching to an enthusiastic crowd of representatives from Catholic lay movements.

The parish is a gathering of gatherings, especially of families. But some within the Church are asking if it’s time to rethink the concept of parish.

Rethinking the parish concept

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The ideals of parish life aren’t hard to identify. Priests everywhere remind people in front of them on Sunday they are the Church — a community bound together by sacrament and the word of God. It isn’t just the building that is named after a saint but every family and each individual whenever they come together to worship and reach out for the kingdom of God.

A girl hugs Pope Francis in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican May 15.

Church should be less serious, more loving, says Pope

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VATICAN CITY - The Catholic Church needs to revive its loving and tender side, which gets lost when the Church becomes too serious, Pope Francis said.

A priest listens to a confession during Mass in 2012 at the Temple of Divine Providence in Warsaw, Poland. Archbishop Rino Fisichella, president of the Pontifical Council for Promoting New Evangelization, said he repeatedly hears that "many people have b een going to confession and many have said that, while they hadn't gone in a long time, they felt touched by the words of Pope Francis."

Archbishop says people returning to confession because of Pope

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VATICAN CITY - The head of the Vatican office promoting new evangelization said that while he does not like the terms "Francis effect" or "Francis bump," it is true that "Pope Francis has touched the hearts and minds of many people."

Pope Francis told sisters from around the world that the Catholic Church needs religious women and that religious women need to be in harmony with the faith and teachings of the Church.

Pope tells sisters the Church needs them, they need the Church

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VATICAN CITY - Pope Francis told 800 superiors of women's orders from around the world that the Catholic Church needs religious women and that religious women need to be in harmony with the faith and teachings of the Church.

A boy carries a large crucifix as his confraternity arrives for a Mass with Pope Francis in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican May 5. The pope praised confraternities as a means of transmitting and cultivating the faith but said popular piety must be prac ticed in communion with the pastors of the church.

Pope celebrates diversity of popular piety, unity of church

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VATICAN CITY - Pope Francis celebrated popular piety as a means of transmitting the faith and cultivating it in ordinary Catholics but said such piety must be practiced in communion with the hierarchy in order to maintain the church's unity.

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

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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

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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

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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'

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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."

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