FAITH/STORIES

Pope Francis waves as he leads the "Regina Coeli" from the window of his studio overlooking St. Peter's Square at the Vatican April 25, 2021. The pope prayed for the victims of a fire at a Baghdad hospital and also for migrants who drowned in a shipwreck off the coast of Libya.
April 26, 2021

Jesus always loves, defends his flock, seeks out everyone, Pope Francis says

VATICAN CITY -- Jesus is the good shepherd who knows, loves and defends his sheep, embracing everyone without exception, Pope Francis said.

Pope Francis leads his general audience in the library of the Apostolic Palace at the Vatican April 21, 2021. Continuing his series of talks on prayer, the pope reflected on the importance of speaking the words of prayers out loud rather than seeing prayer just as a mental exercise or form of meditation.
April 21, 2021

Prayers said aloud lead the way to God, Pope Francis says at audience

VATICAN CITY -- Because prayer is a dialogue with God, people should not dismiss or be embarrassed by saying their prayers out loud or in a whisper, Pope Francis said.

A Vatican altar server in St. Peter's Square attends Pope Francis' recitation of the "Regina Coeli" at the Vatican April 18, 2021.
April 19, 2021

Saying he missed people, Pope Francis returns to window for Sunday prayer

VATICAN CITY -- Greeting visitors in St. Peter's Square after nearly a month of tight restrictions due to the pandemic, Pope Francis said he was happy to see people allowed to gather and be present for Sunday noonday prayer.

Cardinal Marc Ouellet, prefect of the Congregation for Bishops, leaves the opening session of the Synod of Bishops on young people, the faith and vocational discernment at the Vatican in this Oct 3, 2018, file photo. Cardinal Ouellet announced plans for a major international conference at the Vatican in 2022 on the theology of the priesthood.

Cardinal Ouellet unveils major Vatican conference on priesthood slated for 2022

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VATICAN CITY -- Increasing vocations to the priesthood, improving the way laypeople and priests work together and ensuring that service, not power, motivates the request for ordination are all possible outcomes of a major symposium being planned by the Vatican in February 2022.

Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Vatican secretary of state, speaks at a symposium on religious freedom hosted by the U.S. Embassy to the Holy See in Rome April 3, 2019. Cardinal Parolin spoke about divisions in the church, the Vatican's approach to China and other issues in an interview that aired April 5, 2021, on Spain's COPE radio network.

Cardinal Parolin says church divisions stem from misunderstanding 'reform'

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VATICAN CITY -- Three days after the preacher of the papal household called on Catholics to repent for the ways they are dividing the church, the Vatican secretary of state said the divisions are real and they are harmful.

April 6, 2021
Pope Francis walks near flowers prior to delivering his Easter message and blessing "urbi et orbi" (to the city and the world) after celebrating Easter Mass in St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican April 4, 2021.

Pope Francis: Easter season is time to seek the risen Lord, experience joy

VATICAN CITY -- The Easter season, which lasts until Pentecost, is a time for rejoicing and for always seeking out the risen Christ, Pope Francis said.

Pope Francis delivers his Easter blessing "urbi et orbi" (to the city and the world) after celebrating Easter Mass in St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican April 4, 2021.

Christ's victory over death proclaims a second chance for all, Pope Francis says

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VATICAN CITY -- The Easter liturgies -- with the fire, sharing of light from the paschal candle, the renewal of baptismal promises and the proclamation that Jesus has risen -- assure people that it is never too late to start again, Pope Francis said.

Pope Francis lies prostrate as he leads the Good Friday Liturgy of the Lord's Passion April 2, 2020, at the Altar of the Chair in St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican.

Cardinal, at Pope Francis' Good Friday service, decries divisions within church

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VATICAN CITY -- As Pope Francis presided over the Liturgy of the Lord's Passion, the preacher of the papal household called on bishops and all Catholics to examine their consciences for ways they may be harming the unity of the Catholic Church.

Italian Cardinal Angelo Becciu is pictured at the Vatican in this 2018 photo. Cardinal Becciu, forced to resign in September amid a financial scandal, said Pope Francis celebrated Holy Thursday Mass of the Lord's Supper with him in his private chapel April 1, 2021.

Pope Francis celebrates Holy Thursday Mass with Cardinal Becciu

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VATICAN CITY -- Pope Francis celebrated a private Mass on Holy Thursday with Cardinal Angelo Becciu, the former prefect of the Congregation for Saints' Causes who was forced to resign amid an investigation into suspected financial malfeasance.

A homeless person is treated by a Red Cross worker in Rome. The Office of Papal Charities has purchased vaccines to offer inoculations in Rome to 1,200 of the poorest and most marginalized.

Papal charity to run Holy Week vaccination clinic

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VATICAN CITY -- The Office of Papal Charities has purchased enough doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine to offer inoculations in Rome to 1,200 of “the poorest and most marginalized people who, because of their situation, are the most exposed” to the coronavirus.

Bishop J. Mark Spalding of Nashville, Tenn., blesses eight members of the Dominican Sisters of St. Cecilia during their perpetual profession ceremony at the Cathedral of the Incarnation in Nashville July 25, 2019. The number of Catholics and of permanent deacons in the world has risen, while the number of religious men and women decreased, according to Vatican statistics.

Vatican statistics show continued growth in number of Catholics worldwide

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VATICAN CITY -- The number of Catholics and permanent deacons in the world has shown steady growth, while the number of religious men and women continued to decrease, according to Vatican statistics.

The dome of St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican is seen from the Aventine Hill in Rome in this May 2, 2018, file photo. Pope Francis has approved pay cuts for cardinals, top managers and religious personnel working at the Vatican.

Pope Francis approves pay cuts for cardinals, top management, religious at Vatican

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VATICAN CITY -- With the need to reduce costs and make sure employees are not laid off, Pope Francis has approved pay cuts for cardinals, clergy, religious and upper management officials who work in the Roman Curia and other Vatican entities.

Pope Francis is pictured in an Aug. 26, 2018, photo praying as he visits the Chapel of the Apparitions at Ireland's Knock Shrine. Pope Francis delivered a special virtual message recognizing the shrine as an International Marian and Eucharistic Shrine during Mass March 19, 2021.

Pope Francis elevates Ireland's national Knock Shrine to international status

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DUBLIN -- Pope Francis has elevated the National Sanctuary of Our Lady of Knock to the status of an International Shrine of Eucharistic and Marian Devotion.

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