FAITH/STORIES
Vatican monitoring situation in Central Africa, but Pope still plans to visit
By Cindy Wooden, Catholic News ServiceVATICAN CITY - Despite the ongoing violence in the Central Africa Republic, Pope Francis wants to visit the country Nov. 29-30, plans for the visit are in place, and the security situation is being monitored, the Vatican spokesman said.
If miracle approved, Blessed Teresa could be canonized Sept. 4
By Cindy Wooden, Catholic News ServiceVATICAN CITY - The Vatican calendar for the Year of Mercy deliberately set aside Sept. 4, 2016, as a possible date for the canonization of Blessed Teresa of Calcutta, if her sainthood cause is concluded by then.
VATICAN CITY - "Jesus wept." Pope Francis opened his morning homily with those words as he spoke about the wars and violence engulfing numerous parts of the world.
The Lord weeps for the sins of a world at war
“The whole world is at war,” and the rejection of the “path of peace” means that God Himself, that Jesus Himself, weeps. This was the message of Pope Francis to the faithful following the readings of the day at Mass on Thursday morning in the Casa Santa Marta.
Vatican won’t be ‘paralyzed by fear,’ says cardinal
By Elise Harris, CNA/EWTN NewsVATICAN CITY - Even though the Vatican may be a target for terrorism, it won’t be “paralyzed by fear,” said the Vatican’s Secretary of State.
Vatican nativity scene, tree to be unveiled early for Year of Mercy
By Carol Glatz, Catholic News ServiceVATICAN CITY - The Christmas tree and Nativity scene in St. Peter's Square will be set up and unveiled earlier than usual this year to be ready for the opening of the Year of Mercy.
Pope warns against temptations of leading a double life
The importance of safeguarding our Christian identity and not living double lives: that was the theme at the heart of Pope Francis’ homily at the Santa Marta Mass on Tuesday morning. The Pope based his words on the daily readings which focus on the need for coherence between our spiritual and our temporal lives.
Journalist in leaks case denounces Vatican’s ‘medieval rules'
By Rosie Scammell, Religion News ServiceROME - An Italian investigative journalist spoke out against what he called a “medieval” Vatican law that might result in a jail sentence of up to eight years for publishing confidential Holy See documents.
People have right to know environmental causes of illness, doctor says
By Carol Glatz, Catholic News ServiceVATICAN CITY - Patients have a right to a diagnosis that includes the possible causes of their illness, not just treatment addressing the symptoms, said a doctor invited to a Vatican-sponsored congress.
Accepting invite from Rome's Jewish community, Pope to visit synagogue
By Carol Glatz, Catholic News ServiceVATICAN CITY - Pope Francis will visit Rome's synagogue and meet with the city's Jewish community Jan. 17, the Vatican announced.
Invited by Rome's Chief Rabbi Riccardo Di Segni, Pope Francis will be the third pope to visit the synagogue; St. John Paul II made his landmark visit in 1986 and Pope Benedict XVI visited in 2010.
World religious leaders condemn Paris carnage
By Rosie Scammell, Religion News ServiceVATICAN CITY - Pope Francis raised the specter of a World War III “in pieces,” Muslims issued statements of condemnation, while evangelical Christians in America debated whether to speak of a “war with Islam.”
We don't put our Christian identity up for auction
The single thought, humanism that takes the place of Jesus, destroys the Christian identity. We don't put that identity card up for auction. Those were the words of Pope Francis on Monday during Mass at the Casa Santa Marta.
Francis gives new life to ‘Catacombs Pact’
By David Gibson, Religion News ServiceROME - On the evening of Nov. 16, 1965, quietly alerted to the event by word-of-mouth, some 40 Roman Catholic bishops made their way to celebrate Mass in an ancient, underground basilica in the Catacombs of Domitilla on the outskirts of the Eternal City.