FAITH/STORIES

Pilgrims holding the Slovak flag cheer in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican July 4, 2021, as Pope Francis announces he will visit their country Sept. 12-15 after stopping in Budapest, Hungary, to celebrate the closing Mass of the International Eucharistic Congress.

Pope Francis announces visit to Hungary, Slovakia in September

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VATICAN CITY -- Before going to the hospital for colon surgery July 4, Pope Francis told a crowd in St. Peter's Square that he would be visiting Hungary and Slovakia Sept. 12-15.

The Vatican July 3, 2021, indicted 10 individuals and entities, including Cardinal Angelo Becciu, on charges ranging from embezzlement to money laundering and abuse of office. The indictments stemmed from investigations into the Vatican purchased of this building at 60 Sloane Avenue in the Chelsea neighborhood in London.

Vatican indicts Cardinal Becciu, former officials involved in London deal

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VATICAN CITY -- In an unprecedented move, Vatican prosecutors have indicted 10 individuals and entities, including Cardinal Angelo Becciu, former prefect of the Congregation for Saints' Causes, on charges ranging from embezzlement to money laundering and abuse of office.

Pope Francis was hospitalized July 4 for previously scheduled colon surgery, the Vatican press office said. He is pictured at the Vatican June 9, 2021.

Pope Francis out of bed, walking after surgery at Rome hospital

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VATICAN CITY -- The second morning after undergoing colon surgery, Pope Francis was continuing to recover well and, after a restful night, he had breakfast, read the newspapers and got out of bed to walk, the Vatican press office said July 6.

June 29, 2021
Pope Francis raises the Book of the Gospels during Mass on the feast of Sts. Peter and Paul in St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican June 29, 2021.

Pope Francis at pallium Mass: Freedom comes from welcoming Christ

VATICAN CITY -- Sts. Peter and Paul were great not just because of their zeal for the Gospel, but because they allowed Christ to enter their hearts and change their lives, Pope Francis said.

Pope Francis shakes hands with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken during an audience at the Vatican June 28, 2021.

Pope Francis, U.S. Secretary of State Blinken meet at Vatican

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VATICAN CITY -- Climate change, migration and geopolitical hot spots were on the agenda as Pope Francis met with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken June 28.

Pope Francis greets Orthodox Metropolitan Emmanuel of France during an audience with a delegation from the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople at the Vatican June 28, 2021.

Healing Christian divisions can give hope to the world, Pope Francis says

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VATICAN CITY -- Even as the formal Catholic-Orthodox dialogue continues to deal with divisive theological issues, members of both churches should work together more closely on issues where they share a common point of view, Pope Francis said.

In increasingly secular times, the long tradition of a higher power in Alcoholics Anonymous and its 12-step recovery program is coming under scrutiny.

No power higher — AA without God?

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For many struggling with addiction, 12-step programs such as Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), which traditionally centres on the relationship to a higher power, have been an effective path to recovery.

A priest holds the Eucharist as he celebrates a private Mass at a chapel in St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican in this Oct. 8, 2011, file photo. The new archpriest of St. Peter's Basilica, Cardinal Mauro Gambetti, has reaffirmed the principles that led the Vatican to severely limit private celebrations of Mass in the basilica in the early morning, but said exceptions would be made for "groups with particular and legitimate needs."

Cardinal keeps limits on private Masses in St. Peter's, allows exceptions

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VATICAN CITY -- Reaffirming the principles that led the Vatican to severely limit private celebrations of Mass in St. Peter's Basilica in the early morning, Cardinal Mauro Gambetti, the new archpriest of the basilica, said exceptions would be made for "groups with particular and legitimate needs."

Cardinal Mario Grech, secretary-general of the Synod of Bishops, right, and other leaders of the synod participate in an online meeting from the Vatican June 15, 2021. The meeting was held with presidents and officials of bishops' conferences around the world in preparation for launching the new synod process in October.

Secretariat begins discussing new synod process with bishops

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VATICAN CITY -- After issuing revised guidelines for preparing for the next world Synod of Bishops, leaders of the synod's general secretariat held online meetings with the presidents and general secretaries of national and regional bishops' conferences.

A boy sells eggs on the streets of Bangui, Central African Republic, in April 2021.

Selfish, materialistic lifestyles help fuel poverty, Pope Francis says in message

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VATICAN CITY -- Poverty is the result of people's selfishness; it is not "fate" or the fault of the poor, Pope Francis said.

June 9, 2021
Pope Francis greets a man in the crowd during his general audience in the San Damaso Courtyard of the Apostolic Palace at the Vatican June 9, 2021.

Prayer is like a musical score, giving life melody, meaning, Pope Francis says

VATICAN CITY -- People need to find harmony between prayer and the demands of everyday life, Pope Francis said.

Archbishop Adolfo Yllana, then-apostolic nuncio to Australia, poses for a photo with Pope Francis at the Vatican in this April 9, 2015, file photo. The pope has named Archbishop Yllana to be apostolic nuncio to Israel and to Cyprus and apostolic delegate in Jerusalem and Palestine.

Pope Francis names new envoy to Israel, Palestine

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VATICAN CITY -- Pope Francis named Archbishop Adolfo Yllana to be apostolic nuncio to Israel and to Cyprus and apostolic delegate in Jerusalem and Palestine.

Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, director-general of the World Health Organization, speaks as he attends the World Health Assembly amid the coronavirus pandemic in Geneva May 24, 2021. The World Health Assembly adopted a resolution to formalize the participation of the Holy See in WHO as a non-member state observer.

Holy See receives permanent observer status at the WHO

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VATICAN CITY -- The World Health Assembly adopted a resolution to formalize the participation of the Holy See in the World Health Organization as a nonmember state observer.

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