FAITH/STORIES

Marriage is forever: Pope's reform requires proof union was invalid

Marriage is forever: Pope's reform requires proof union was invalid

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VATICAN CITY - Pope Francis' reformed rules for marriage annulment cases, making the process simpler, quicker and less expensive, respond to calls that bishops from around the world have been making since before the 1980 Synod of Bishops on the family convoked by St. John Paul II.

September 10, 2015

Pope Francis: A person who can’t forgive is not a Christian

(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis warned against conflicts within the Christian community and said priests who struggle to be merciful should not be hearing confessions. He also reiterated his condemnation of those who produce lethal arms to be used in wars and said Christians must forgive and show mercy in all that they do. The Pope’s remarks came during his homily at Mass on Thursday (10th September) celebrated at the Santa Marta residence.

Migrants walk along rail tracks as they arrive to a collection point in the village of Roszke in Hungary after crossing the border from Serbia Sept. 6.

Pope calls on Europe's parishes, religious houses to take in refugees

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VATICAN CITY - Given the ongoing crisis of people fleeing from war and poverty, Pope Francis asked every parish and religious community in Europe to take in a family of refugees as a concrete sign of hope and God's mercy.

Father Federico Lombardi, the Vatican spokesman, gestures at a press conference for the release of Pope Francis' documents concerning changes to marriage annulments at the Vatican Sept. 8. Pope Francis approved rewriting sections of the Latin-rite Code of Canon Law and the Code of Canons of the Eastern Churches to make the annulment process quicker, less expensive and more pastoral.

Pope simplifies annulment process, asks that it be free of charge

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VATICAN CITY - While a juridical process is necessary for making accurate judgments, the Catholic Church’s marriage annulment process must be quicker, cheaper and much more of a pastoral ministry, Pope Francis said.

September 8, 2015

Pope Francis at daily Mass: Christians persecuted in silence

(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis celebrated Mass on Monday morning in the chapel of the Santa Marta residence, with the recently-elected Patriarch of Cilicia of the Armenians, His Beatitude Gregory Peter XX Ghabroyan, as well as with the Bishops of Synod of the Apostolic Armenian Catholic Church and the Prefect of the Congregation for Eastern Churches, Cardinal Leonardo Sandri.

The new “Joke with the Pope” digital campaign is encouraging people to “donate” a joke to support one of three causes ahead of Pope Francis’ U.S. visit.

Did you hear the one about the Pope?

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“The California drought is so bad, people in Napa are asking the Pope to change the wine into water.”

Doctrine, pastoral realities are not at odds, pope tells theologians

Doctrine, pastoral realities are not at odds, pope tells theologians

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VATICAN CITY - The church is called to embrace its past, present and future and to avoid the temptations to condemn or to legitimize everything just because it is new and different, Pope Francis told a group of theologians.

September 4, 2015

Pope Francis: Sowing divisions is a sickness in the Church

(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis says sowing divisions and discord is a sickness within the Church and described a person who indulges in gossip as like a terrorist who throws bombs. His comments came during his homily at his Friday (4th September) Mass in the Santa Marta residence. 

Pope Francis tries on a pair of glasses in an optical store in downtown Rome Sept. 3. Romans and tourists crowded outside the shop to catch a glimpse of the pope inside as he had his eyes measured for a new set of bifocal lenses.

Pope Francis eyes a bargain

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The “Pope of surprises” can’t seem to let a news cycle pass without making a headline.

Vatican says transgender man cannot be a godparent

Vatican says transgender man cannot be a godparent

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VATICAN CITY - The Vatican has rejected a request by a transgender man in Spain to become a godparent, ruling that his sexual identity means he is incapable of carrying out the task.

he Israeli separation wall, right, is seen at the edge of the Aida refugee camp, left, in Bethlehem, West Bank.

Pope meets Israeli president, expresses hopes for peace

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VATICAN CITY - As Catholics joined others in protesting Israel's extension of its security wall, further dividing Palestinians and Israelis, Pope Francis gave Israeli President Reuven Rivlin a tangible sign of his hopes for peace.

Pope Francis: The astonishment at the encounter with Jesus

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(Vatican Radio) The capacity to recognize ourselves as sinners opens us to the astonishment at the encounter with Jesus: that was the message of Pope Francis Thursday morning during Mass for the feast of Saint Gregory the Great, Pope and Doctor of the Church.

Pope Francis: Christian comfort is in Jesus not in chatter

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(Vatican Radio)  Pope Francis said Christians should comfort each other through good works and kind words and not with useless chatter. He was speaking on Tuesday (1st September) during his homily at his first morning mass at the Santa Marta residence since the summer break. 



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