FAITH/STORIES

Pope Francis

Pope limits 'monsignor' honor for diocesan priests

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VATICAN CITY - Pope Francis has decided to limit the honor of "monsignor" among diocesan priests and grant it from now on only to those at least 65 years of age.

Pope Francis gestures as he arrives for a meeting with superiors of men's religious orders at the Vatican Nov. 29. During the meeting, the pope ordered the revision of norms on the relations between religious orders and local bishops.

Pope orders new rules on relations between bishops, religious orders

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VATICAN CITY - Pope Francis said he has ordered a revision of what he called outdated Vatican norms on the relations between religious orders and local bishops, in order to promote greater appreciation of the orders' distinctive missions.

Pope Francis smiles during Mass at the Church of the Gesu in Rome Jan. 3. The Mass was celebrated on the feast of the Most Holy Name of Jesus in thanksgiving for the recent canonization of Jesuit St. Peter Faber.

True faith is driven by zeal to change world with God's love, pope says

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VATICAN CITY - True faith is marked by the daring desire to change the world with the loving heart of Jesus, Pope Francis said.

Pope Francis celebrates Mass in the Vatican's St. Peter's Basilica on the feast of Mary, Mother of God, Jan. 1.

Pope: Time to stop violence, discord, and begin making peace at home

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VATICAN CITY - Welcoming in a new year, Pope Francis said it was time to stop provoking and ignoring violence, tragedy and conflict in the world, and begin building peace at home.

A child holds a flag with an image of Pope Francis as he leads the Angelus from the window of his studio overlooking St. Peter's Square at the Vatican Dec. 29, the feast of the Holy Family.

More than 6.6 million attended Vatican events with Pope Francis in 2013

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VATICAN CITY - In the first nine and a half months of Pope Francis' pontificate, more than 6.6 million people participated in papal events at the Vatican, including weekly general audiences, group audiences, liturgies and recitations of the Angelus and “Regina Coeli” on Sundays and holy days.

Pope Francis visits the Nativity scene in St. Peter's Square after leading an evening prayer service in St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican Dec. 31.

Pope: In new year, step outside your comfort zone, get involved

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VATICAN CITY - The new year will be brighter only if everyone steps outside their safe havens, gets involved and works together to solve local problems with generosity and love, Pope Francis said.

A pilgrim holds a cut-out of Pope Francis as he leads the Angelus from the window of his studio overlooking St. Peter's Square at the Vatican Dec. 29, the feast of the Holy Family.

Pope: Don't forget plight of exiles, elderly marginalized by own family

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VATICAN CITY - Just as people must never ignore the plight of today's immigrants and refugees, they must also remember today's "hidden exiles" -- the elderly and other relatives who are abandoned or forgotten by their own families, Pope Francis said.

2013: a year of two Popes

2013: a year of two Popes

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The past year didn’t really begin March 13. There were signifi-cant events in the life of Canada, the world and the Church in January and February — before Cardinal Jorge Bergolio walked out onto that balcony above St. Peter’s Square and asked us for our prayers. It only seems that our world before Pope Francis is a land far, far away and long, long ago.

Pope Francis shakes hands with retired Pope Benedict XVI during a visit to the Mater Ecclesiae monastery at the Vatican Dec. 23. The monastery, located in the Vatican Gardens to the north of St. Peter's Basilica, is where the retired pope is living.

Retired Pope Benedict visits Pope Francis for lunch

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VATICAN CITY - Three days after Pope Francis paid his predecessor a visit on Christmas Eve, retired Pope Benedict joined the pope for lunch at the Vatican guesthouse.

Pope, on feast of first martyr, prays for persecuted Christians

Pope, on feast of first martyr, prays for persecuted Christians

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VATICAN CITY - Observing the feast of the church's first martyr, Pope Francis prayed for Christians suffering persecution and discrimination around the world, even in countries that nominally honor religious liberty.

Mary looks at the covered baby Jesus in the Nativity scene in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican Dec. 23. The Nativity scene created by artisans from Naples will be unveiled Christmas Eve.

Naples' Nativity scene nears completion in St. Peter's Square

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VATICAN CITY - The world famous Nativity scenes of Naples never follow just the biblical account of Jesus' birth; for one thing, the figures usually are dressed in 18th-century costumes, but also it's not unusual for a modern-day politician or even pope to enter the scene.

The Christmas tree is seen as Pope Francis greets the crowd as he leads the Angelus from the window of his studio overlooking St. Peter's Square at the Vatican Dec. 22.

Remember those like Holy Family who are homeless, pope says

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VATICAN CITY - Seeing a protest sign in St. Peter's Square that read "The poor cannot wait," Pope Francis urged individuals and government leaders to recognize the pain, struggles and rights of families -- like Jesus, Mary and Joseph -- who do not have a home.

Pope Francis receives a letter from a child during a visit to the Bambino Gesu children's hospital in Rome Dec. 21.

Pope pays pre-Christmas visit to Rome's children's hospital

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VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- With lots of kisses, but very few words, Pope Francis spent more than two-and-a-half hours visiting sick children, their parents and doctors at Rome's Bambino Gesu children's hospital Dec. 21.

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