FAITH/STORIES
Vatican welcomes its first family of refugees following Pope's appeal
By Carol Glatz, Catholic News ServiceVATICAN CITY - Embracing Pope Francis' request to sponsor a refugee family, the Vatican's St. Anne parish has welcomed a family of four from Damascus, Syria.
Proposal to loosen Anglican Communion ties draws mixed responses
By Michele Chabin, Religion News ServiceA proposal to loosen the ties of the bitterly divided Anglican Communion drew mostly favourable reactions in Britain, while African prelates said they needed time to study the matter.
No one can pretend not to know Syrians, Iraqis are suffering, Pope says
By Cindy Wooden, Catholic News ServiceMillions of Iraqis and Syrians are facing poverty and even death, neighbouring countries are bearing more than their fair share of the burden of helping refugees, arms dealers are getting richer and the international community seems helpless, Pope Francis said.
Pope Francis says he is 'a bit feminist,' thanks women religious for hard work
By Carol Glatz, Catholic News ServiceVATICAN CITY - Calling himself "a bit feminist," Pope Francis praised women religious for always heading to the "front lines" to bring the church's tenderness and motherly love to those most in need.
Pope has high hopes for his 'mission' to Cuba-U.S., asks for prayers
By Carol Glatz, Catholic News ServiceVATICAN CITY - Pope Francis asked for prayers for his trip to Cuba and the United States, calling it "a mission" he had high hopes for.
Pope Francis appoints 18 couples to attend Synod of Bishops on family
By Carol Glatz, Catholic News ServiceVATICAN CITY - More than 360 participants, including 18 married couples from around the world, were expected to attend October's Synod of Bishops on the family.
Pope Francis: Church is a mother, not a rigid association
Pope Francis says the Church is a mother and must have that loving and tender maternal feeling and human warmth as otherwise all that remains is rigidity and discipline. That was the message at the heart of the Pope’s homily on Tuesday (15th September) at the Mass celebrated in the Santa Marta Residence. Tuesday’s Mass was also attended by the C-9 Cardinals who are meeting in the Vatican this week.
Church beatifies South African teacher killed for resisting witchcraft
By Bronwen Dachs, Catholic News ServiceCAPE TOWN, South Africa - South African Benedict Daswa, who was bludgeoned to death 25 years ago for resisting witchcraft, now has the title of blessed.
50 prison inmates tour Vatican Gardens, Sistine Chapel
By Rosie Scammell, Religion News ServiceVATICAN CITY - Fifty inmates from a Rome jail were given a private tour of the Vatican Museums on Sunday (Sept. 13), setting the tone for Pope Francis’ visit to a U.S. prison later this month and emphasizing his concern for people on the margins.
Pope: follow the way of the Cross against the temptation of evil
If we want to move forward “on the path of Christian life" we must fall, just as Jesus did when he carried the Cross.
With Pope Francis, Catholic Church takes a new angle on the supernatural
By John Thavis, Religion News ServiceWhen Pope Francis visits the United States this month, most Americans will welcome him as a plainspoken champion of the voiceless, whose openness to change has brought new energy to the Catholic Church.
Pope Francis: We all risk being hypocrites including me
Pope Francis says that we must learn to not judge others or we all risk becoming hypocrites including the Pope himself. At the same time, he said, we need to have the courage to acknowledge our own faults in order to become merciful towards others. The Pope’s comments came during his homily on Friday (11th September) at the morning Mass in the Santa Marta residence.
Vatican upholds Spanish bishop's refusal to allow transsexual to be godparent
By Catholic News ServiceVATICAN CITY - The Vatican's doctrinal congregation upheld a Spanish bishop's refusal to allow a transsexual person to be a godparent.