Pope Francis arrives to lead the opening of the annual Rome diocesan convention at the Vatican June 17. The pope led the three-day gathering of priests, religious and laypeople who were meeting to set pastoral priorities for the coming year.

Pope calls for 'revolutionaries' to change hearts by sharing God's love

VATICAN CITY - Christians are called to be revolutionaries, changing the world one heart at a time, Pope Francis said.

Britain's Prime Minister David Cameron walks with U.S. President Barack Obama at the Lough Erne golf resort, where the Group of Eight leaders are meeting in Enniskillen, Northern Ireland, June 17.

Pope: Politics, economics must serve all people, protect poor, unborn

VATICAN CITY - The goal of politics and economics is to serve all of humanity, starting with the poorest, the most vulnerable and the unborn, Pope Francis told British Prime Minister David Cameron, president of the Group of Eight industrialized nations.

ardinal Luis Antonio Tagle of Manila greets well-wishers as he takes possession of his titular Church of St. Felice da Cantalice on the outskirts of Rome June 15.

Manila cardinal takes delayed possession of his titular church in Rome

ROME - "We've been waiting a long time," Capuchin Father Gianfranco Palmisani told Philippine Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle of Manila, who showed up a few minutes late to officially take possession of his "titular" church on the Eastern outskirts of Rome.

Archbishop Justin Welby of Canterbury, England, spiritual leader of the Anglican Communion, is seen at a June 14 press conference at the Venerable English College in Rome. Speaking to reporters after his first encounter with Pope Francis, Archbishop Wel by said he was struck by the pope's "extraordinary humanity on fire with the spirit of Christ."

Pope, Anglican archbishop pledge to work for unity

VATICAN CITY - Pope Francis and Anglican Archbishop Justin Welby of Canterbury, spiritual leader of the Anglican Communion, pledged to support each other with their prayers and to continue the search for full unity between their communities.

Playing it safe is not Christian discipleship

12th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C) June 23 (Zechariah 12:10-11; Psalm 63; Galatians 3:26-29; Luke 9:18-24)

Zechariah’s cryptic prophecy presents us with a question: Who was the one who was pierced and why? These and other questions remain unanswered from the historical point of view.

In praise of fathers, warts and all

Each year we celebrate Father’s Day, a day on which we’re asked to get in touch with the gratitude we should feel towards our fathers. For some of us this is easy, we had good fathers; but for many it’s difficult. How do you feel gratitude if your father was someone who was mostly absent or abusive?

Often, our relationship with God is like The Wizard of Oz, where Dorothy and her friends search out the great Oz.

No yellow brick road leads us to God

The Wizard of Oz is a true classic movie. One of my favourite scenes is when Dorothy, Scarecrow, Tin Man and Lion arrive to see the Wizard.

Pope Francis said that a church that is rich and lacking in praise for the Lord is an old, lifeless church that neglects the true treasure of God's free gift of grace and salvation.

Wealth obscures power of God's word, free gift of salvation, Pope says

VATICAN CITY - A church that is rich and lacking in praise for the Lord is an old, lifeless church that neglects the true treasure of God's free gift of grace and salvation, Pope Francis said in a morning homily.

Legionaries of Christ priests wait to enter the chapel at Regina Apostolorum University during a Mass with members of Regnum Christi in Rome June 7. Members of Regnum Christi, the lay movement associated with the Legionaries, met in Rome June 6-9 to disc uss the identity of the movement and draft new regulations for it.

Lay members meet to contribute to Regnum Christi's transformation

ROME - Members of Regnum Christi, the lay movement associated with the Legionaries of Christ, said they don't feel they are on a salvage mission, but rather are part of a transformation.

Pope Francis looks over a book with Italian President Giorgio Napolitano during a private meeting at the Vatican June 8.

Religious freedom gets more lip service than guarantees, Pope says

VATICAN CITY - Religious freedom is talked about more than it is protected, Pope Francis said.

Youths surround Pope Francis as he meets with students from Jesuit schools June 7 in Paul VI hall at the Vatican.

Pope cuts 'boring' speech to answer students' questions

VATICAN CITY - Pope Francis ditched a 1,250-word prepared speech to students saying it would be "a tad boring" to read out loud and opted instead to just quickly hit the high points and spend the rest of the time answering people's questions.

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