FAITH/STORIES

Workers inspect an ossuary at the Teutonic Cemetery at the Vatican in this July 20, 2019, file photo. The ossuary was inspected in the hope of finding the missing remains of a German princess and duchess and possibly the remains of Emanuela Orlandi, who disappeared in 1983. The Vatican prosecutor has opened a new investigation into the disappearance 40 years ago of Orlandi, the 15-year-old daughter of a Vatican employee.

Vatican prosecutor opens investigation into Orlandi disappearance

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The disappearance 40 years ago of Emanuela Orlandi has haunted her family, fueled conspiracy theories and provided grist for a recent Netflix series.

Pope Francis baptizes one of 13 babies during a Mass celebrating the feast of the Baptism of the Lord in the Sistine Chapel at the Vatican Jan. 8, 2023.

Pope Francis baptizes babies, urges parents to teach them to pray

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Telling parents and godparents to teach their little ones to pray from the time they are small, Pope Francis baptized 13 babies in the Sistine Chapel as their older brothers and sisters looked on -- or got away and ran around.

Pope Francis speaks during his general audience in the Paul VI hall at the Vatican Jan. 4, 2023.
January 4, 2023

Pope Francis remembers predecessor as a 'great teacher of catechesis'

Pope Benedict XVI was a "great teacher of catechesis" whose "sharp and gentle thinking" led others to encounter Jesus, Pope Francis said.

Pope Francis holds his crosier as he celebrates Mass on the feast of Mary, Mother of God, in St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican Jan. 1, 2023.

On New Year's, Pope Francis calls for taking the risk of changing the world

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The best way to usher in a truly "new" year is to stop waiting for things to get better on their own, and instead recognize what is essential and reach out now to help others, Pope Francis said.

Pope Francis speaks during a traditional evening prayer service on New Year's Eve in St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican Dec. 31, 2022. Pope Benedict XVI died in the morning Dec. 31 at his residence at the Vatican. He was 95.

Pope Francis pays tribute to the late Pope Benedict, highlighting his gentleness

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Keeping his appointment to celebrate vespers as 2022 was ending, Pope Francis also paid tribute to his predecessor, Pope Benedict XVI, who died early Dec. 31.

Mexican Jesuits Father Javier Campos Morales and Father Joaquín César Mora Salazar were murdered in their rural parish June 20, 2022, while providing shelter to an individual fleeing a gunman.

Vatican agency pays tribute to 18 missionaries killed in 2022

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Most of the 18 Catholic missionaries murdered in 2022 were not carrying out high-risk missions when they were assassinated but were simply "immersed and submerged in the ordinariness of their lives and their apostolic work," said the editor of Fides, the Vatican's missionary news service.

Pope Francis delivers his Christmas blessing "urbi et orbi" (to the city and the world) from the central balcony of St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican Dec. 25, 2022.

Pope Francis' Christmas message: Listen to the cries of the newborn Prince of Peace

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With the birth of Jesus, God became flesh to share the joys and sorrows, hopes and fears of all people, especially the poor and those living daily amid danger, Pope Francis said in his Christmas message.

December 27, 2022
Pope Francis celebrates Christmas Eve Mass in St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican Dec. 24, 2022.

Bring hope to others, justice for the poor, Pope Francis says at Christmas Mass

Christ was born to touch people's hearts and show that love is the power that changes the course of history, Pope Francis said.

An illustration depicts Jesuit Father Matteo Ricci in traditional Chinese clothing. In a decree Dec. 17, 2022, Pope Francis advanced the sainthood cause of Father Ricci, recognizing the heroic virtues of the 16th-century missionary to China and declaring him venerable.

Pope Francis advances sainthood causes, including first 'martyr' of charity

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Pope Francis recognized the martyrdom of members of a Polish family who were sheltering a Jewish family during World War II, and, for the first time, advanced the sainthood cause of a candidate under the category of heroically offering his life out of loving service to others.

Pope Francis is pictured during an interview with Spanish newspaper, ABC, at his residence at the Vatican in this photo released Dec. 18, 2022. The pope revealed to the newspaper that he wrote a resignation letter in 2013, his first year in office, to be used in case he became physically or mentally impaired and unable to fulfill the duties of the papacy.

Pope Francis prepared resignation letter in case of impairment

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Pope Francis said he wrote a resignation letter in 2013, his first year in office, to be used in case he became physically or mentally impaired and unable to fulfill the duties of the papacy.

December 14, 2022
Argentina's flag is seen as Pope Francis greets people during his general audience in the Paul VI hall at the Vatican Dec. 14, 2022.

The devil is sneaky, so Christians must be watchful, Pope Francis says

Vigilance is an essential part of the spiritual life because the devil will try to sneak in when one is not paying attention or, especially, when a Christian thinks he or she is making a lot of progress on the road to holiness, Pope Francis said.

A mosaic depicts Our Lady of Guadalupe at a shrine to her at St. Juan Diego Catholic Church in Pasadena, Texas.

For Indigenous, Our Lady of Guadalupe ‘a big thing’

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Graydon Nicholas, the former Lieutenant Governor of New Brunswick, will share his devotion to Our Lady of Guadalupe in Hamilton, Ont., Dec. 12.

December 5, 2022
The Nativity scene and Christmas tree decorate St. Peter's Square after a lighting ceremony at the Vatican Dec. 3, 2022.

Keep the creche in Christmas, Pope Francis urges

Stopping to gaze at and perhaps pray before a Nativity scene is one of the best ways to remember the real meaning of Christmas, Pope Francis said.

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