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October 27, 2017

Editorial: Luther's lesson

Martin Luther hammers his 95 theses on a church door, as depicted by Belgian painter Ferdinand Eauwels, an act that prompted the Reformation 500 years ago.
When an obscure monk named Martin Luther tacked a list of declarations onto the door of a German cathedral on Oct. 31, 1517, no one imagined his musings were about to break up the Catholic Church. All Luther wanted when penning his 95 theses was to start a conversation. In his view, the Church had lost its way. 
Published in Editorial
November 1, 2016

Pope offers new Beatitudes for saints of a new age at Mass in Sweden

Pope Francis greets people before celebrating Mass at the Swedbank Stadium in Malmo, Sweden, Nov. 1.

MALMO, Sweden – The saints are blessed because they were faithful and meek and cared for others, Pope Francis said.

Published in International
October 31, 2016

Pope, Lutheran leaders begin Reformation commemoration with prayer

Pope Francis and the Rev. Martin Junge, general secretary of the Lutheran World Federation, attend an ecumenical prayer service at the Lutheran cathedral in Lund, Sweden, Oct. 31.

LUND, Sweden – Urging Catholics and Lutherans to take decisive steps toward unity, Pope Francis nevertheless offered no new openings to the idea of sharing Communion before full unity is achieved.

Published in International
October 31, 2016

Pope arrives in Sweden for what he calls important ecumenical event

Pope Francis greets people as he arrives at the international airport in Malmo, Sweden, Oct. 31. The pope is making a two-day visit to Sweden to attend events marking the 500th anniversary of the Protestant Reformation.

MALMO, Sweden – Under a thick gray sky, Pope Francis was welcomed to Sweden with a small formal ceremony, which conveyed by its brevity that the trip was not a formal state visit, but had another purpose.

Published in International
October 26, 2016

Sorrow and joy: Marking the Reformation with honesty about the past

Martin Luther, a German monk and key figure in the Protestant Reformation, is depicted in this painting at a church in Helsingor, Denmark. Pope Francis will visit Sweden Oct. 31-Nov. 1 for commemorations of the 500th anniversary of the Protestant Reformation.

VATICAN CITY – As Catholics and Lutherans prepare to mark the 500th anniversary of the start of the Protestant Reformation, Pope Francis said they should feel "pain for the division that still exists among us, but also joy for the brotherhood we have already rediscovered."

Published in Faith