FAITH/STORIES

November 5, 2015

The Christian includes; Pharisees exclude

The Christian includes, he does not close the door to anyone, even if this provokes resistance. He who excludes, because he believes himself to be better, generates conflicts and divisions, and does not consider the fact that “we shall all stand before the judgment seat of God.” That was the message of Pope Francis during Thursday morning’s Mass at Casa Santa Marta.

Vatican official, consultant arrested for financial documents leak

Vatican official, consultant arrested for financial documents leak

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VATICAN CITY - A Vatican official and a former lay consultant on a pontifical commission were arrested for leaking documents to an Italian journalist who has announced plans to publish them in a book.

Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Vatican secretary of state, smiles as he attends a conference commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Second Vatican Council's document, "Nostra Aetate."

Apostolic exhortation on the family could come soon, says cardinal

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VATICAN CITY - Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Vatican secretary of state, said an apostolic exhortation on the family following the recently concluded Synod of Bishops could be released soon.

October 29, 2015

God can only love and not condemn

Pope Francis says God can only love and not condemn and that love is His weakness and our victory. He said we are so closely bound to God’s love that nothing can sever us from it. That was the message at the heart of the Pope’s homily delivered on Thursday (29th October) at the Santa Marta residence.

Pope Francis leaves after celebrating the closing Mass of the Synod of Bishops on the Family in St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican Oct. 25.

It’s in the Pope’s hands now

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The Synod is not over. Synod delegates may have returned home after three weeks of intense work that produced 94 paragraphs of advice to Pope Francis, including three vaguely worded paragraphs concerning communion for divorced and civilly remarried Catholics and what sort of welcome the Church extends to gay Catholics. But that’s not the last word.

Church needs to promote women’s gifts

Church needs to promote women’s gifts

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VATICAN CITY - If the Catholic Church did more to recognize and promote women it could help their status across society, said the Synod of Bishops on the Family.

Pope Francis

Pope says talks not always charitable

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VATICAN CITY - The first task of the Church “is not to hand down condemnations or anathemas, but to proclaim the mercy of God,” Pope Francis said in a blunt address to delegates at the Synod of Bishops on the Family.

Pope Francis poses for a selfie with a member of the inter-religious community during his weekly audience in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican Oct. 28.

World expects believers to work together for peace, Pope says

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VATICAN CITY - The world expects all people of religious faith to work with everyone for a better future, Pope Francis told representatives of major religions.

A boathouse sits at the end of a small pier at Lake Ammersee in Germany Oct. 24. The presidents of the U.S. and Canadian bishops' conferences joined leaders of the regional bishops' conferences of Asia, Africa, Latin America, Oceania and Europe in signing an appeal for government leaders to reach a "fair, legally binding and truly transformational climate agreement" at a summit in Paris.

Canadian bishops join worldwide plea for climate change action

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VATICAN CITY - The presidents of the U.S. and Canadian bishops' conferences joined leaders of the regional bishops' conferences of Asia, Africa, Latin America, Oceania and Europe in signing an appeal for government leaders to reach a "fair, legally binding and truly transformational climate agreement" at a summit in Paris.

Pope Francis celebrates the closing Mass of the Synod of Bishops on the family in St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican Oct. 25.

Tense Synod ends by opening door for divorced, punting on gays

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VATICAN CITY - A momentous and divided gathering of global bishops ended Oct. 24 by endorsing ways that could lead to greater participation by divorced and remarried Catholics — a major source of friction here — while the 270 bishops declined to take up the even more controversial issue of how and whether to be more welcoming to gays.

Toronto’s Cardinal Thomas Collins speaks at a synagogue in Toronto. A mere 50 years ago, it would have been unheard of for a Catholic priest to do such a thing. But with the Vatican II declaration Nostra Aetate, the Catholic Church opened itself to the other faiths of the world. Oct. 28 marks the 50th anniversary of Nostra Aetate.

Nostra Aetate opened Catholics to the world

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In or out? Us or them? Where do we draw the line? Should we draw the line? Once a line is drawn, how do we look beyond our borders?

October 25, 2015

Pope Francis celebrates closing Mass of Synod of Bishops on Family

Sunday 25 Oct. Lines of faithful spiraled around St. Peter's Square from early on Sunday awaiting their chance to enter St. Peter’s Basilica for the closing Mass of the Synod on the Family. The Mass, presided over by Pope Francis, marked the end of the second gathering of the Synod of Bishops to discuss "The Mission and Vocation of the Family in the Church and Contemporary World."

October 25, 2015

Homily at closing Mass for Synod Assembly

Pope Francis delivered the homily at Mass being offered on Sunday morning, the 30th Sunday in Ordinary Time, to mark the close of the XIV Ordinary Assembly of the Synod of Bishops, who have been gathered in Rome for the past three weeks to reflect on and discuss the vocation and mission of the family in the Church and in the contemporary world.

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