Faith

People participate in a prayer service in St. Peter's Basilica at the start of the first session of the Synod of Bishops for the Amazon at the Vatican Oct. 7, 2019.

Synod is a time to listen, not despise, Pope Francis says

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VATICAN CITY -- The Synod of Bishops for the Amazon is a time of reflection, dialogue and listening to the needs and sufferings of indigenous people, Pope Francis said.

Pope Francis arrives in procession to celebrate the opening Mass of the Synod of Bishops for the Amazon in St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican Oct. 6, 2019.

Status quo smothers God's love, Pope Francis says at synod Mass

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VATICAN CITY -- The Catholic Church's mission in the world is to spread the fire of God's love and must not be limited to the "'ordinary maintenance' of those who already know the Gospel," Pope Francis said.

Pope Francis places a red biretta on new Canadian Cardinal Michael Czerny during a consistory for the creation of 13 new cardinals in St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican Oct. 5, 2019.

Canada's Michael Czerny made a cardinal by Pope Francis

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VATICAN CITY -- In a ceremony in which Canadian Michael Czerny was installed as a cardinal, Pope Francis reminded new and old members of the College of Cardinals how much their ministry and service depends on their realizing how much God loves them and has been compassionate with them.

Archbishop Edgar Pena Parra, substitute secretary for general affairs in the Vatican Secretariat of State, is pictured in Maputo, Mozambique, in this Sept. 5, 2019, file photo. The Holy See press office said Vatican police officers conducted a raid on offices of the general affairs section of the Vatican's Secretariat of State as well its Financial Information Authority Oct. 1. The Vatican said the raid was authorized by Vatican prosecutors to collect "documents and electronic devices" as part of an investigation into financial transactions.

Vatican hires anti-Mafia prosecutor to run court system

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VATICAN CITY -- Pope Francis has appointed a retired anti-Mafia prosecutor to head the Vatican City State's judicial system.

Cardinal Lorenzo Baldisseri, secretary-general of the Synod of Bishops, speaks at a news conference to discuss the Synod of Bishops for the Amazon at the Vatican Oct. 3, 2019. Also pictured is Bishop Fabio Fabene, undersecretary of the Synod of Bishops.

Synod document a guide, not church teaching, cardinal says

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VATICAN CITY -- Brazilian Cardinal Claudio Hummes said the working document for the Synod of Bishops for the Amazon is not official church teaching, but rather a way for bishops to listen to the local church's concerns.

People pray for victims of the 1945 atomic bombing during an Aug. 9, 2015, Mass at the Urakami Cathedral in Nagasaki, Japan. Pope Francis will finally fulfill his desire to be a missionary to Japan when he visits the country, as well as Thailand, Nov. 20-26, 2019, the Vatican announced Sept. 13.

Vatican publishes initial schedule for papal trip to Thailand, Japan

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VATICAN CITY -- Peace, interreligious dialogue and respectful missionary outreach will be the top themes when Pope Francis visits Thailand and Japan in late November.

The tower of the Institute for Works of Religion, often referred to as the Vatican bank, is pictured Oct. 2, 2019. The Vatican said complaints from the Vatican bank and the Office of the Auditor General led Vatican prosecutors to authorize an Oct. 1 raid on the offices of the general affairs section of the Vatican's Secretariat of State as well as the Financial Information Authority. The statement said the raid was to collect "documents and electronic devices" as part of an investigation into financial transactions.

Vatican suspends five employees following raid

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VATICAN CITY -- The Vatican apparently has suspended five employees after raids on Vatican offices.

Cardinal Lorenzo Baldisseri, secretary-general of the Synod of Bishops, makes an announcement at the Holy See Press Office Oct. 2, 2019. Cardinal Baldisseri announced that Pope Francis has named Maltese Bishop Mario Grech as pro-secretary-general of the Synod of Bishops. He will eventually succeed Cardinal Baldisseri as secretary-general of the synod.

Pope Francis names Maltese bishop as pro-secretary of Synod of Bishops

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VATICAN CITY -- Pope Francis has appointed Bishop Mario Grech of Gozo, Malta, as pro-secretary-general of the Synod of Bishops, the Vatican said.

Pope Francis named Archbishop Bernardito Auza, who has represented the Vatican at the United Nations since 2014, to be nuncio to Spain and Andorra. Archbishop Auza is pictured in a June 16, 2018, photo.

Vatican representative at U.N. named nuncio to Spain

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VATICAN CITY -- Pope Francis named Archbishop Bernardito Auza, who has represented the Vatican at the United Nations since 2014, to be nuncio to Spain and Andorra.

In this 2014 file photo, recruits of the Vatican's Swiss Guard march in front of the tower of the Institute for Works of Religion, often referred to as the Vatican bank.

Vatican prosecutors conduct raid on Secretariat of State offices

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VATICAN CITY  (CNA) -- Vatican prosecutors seized documents and electronic devices in a raid executed Tuesday at the offices of the most senior curial department.

Pope Francis and Cardinal Raymundo Damasceno Assis of Aparecida, Brazil, walk to a meeting of cardinals in the synod hall at the Vatican Feb. 20, 2014. In a statement released by the Vatican Sept. 28, 2019, the pope named Cardinal Damasceno as pontifical commissioner of the Heralds of the Gospel and its religious branches for consecrated men and women.

Pope Francis appoints commissioner for religious group in Brazil

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VATICAN CITY -- Pope Francis appointed the former archbishop of Aparecida, Brazil, to oversee the spiritual life of a controversial religious association in the South American country.

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