FAITH/STORIES

Archbishop Adolfo Yllana, then-apostolic nuncio to Australia, poses for a photo with Pope Francis at the Vatican in this April 9, 2015, file photo. The pope has named Archbishop Yllana to be apostolic nuncio to Israel and to Cyprus and apostolic delegate in Jerusalem and Palestine.

Pope Francis names new envoy to Israel, Palestine

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VATICAN CITY -- Pope Francis named Archbishop Adolfo Yllana to be apostolic nuncio to Israel and to Cyprus and apostolic delegate in Jerusalem and Palestine.

Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, director-general of the World Health Organization, speaks as he attends the World Health Assembly amid the coronavirus pandemic in Geneva May 24, 2021. The World Health Assembly adopted a resolution to formalize the participation of the Holy See in WHO as a non-member state observer.

Holy See receives permanent observer status at the WHO

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VATICAN CITY -- The World Health Assembly adopted a resolution to formalize the participation of the Holy See in the World Health Organization as a nonmember state observer.

Archbishop Filippo Iannone, president of the Pontifical Council for Legislative Texts, attends a press conference to discuss revisions to the Code of Canon Law, at the Vatican June 1, 2021. Pope Francis has promulgated a revised section of the Code of Canon Law dealing with crimes and punishments.

Pope Francis promulgates revised canon law on crimes, punishments

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VATICAN CITY -- A series of laws and procedures promulgated by now-retired Pope Benedict XVI and, especially, by Pope Francis to protect children, promote the investigation of allegations of clerical sexual abuse and punish offenders are included in a heavily revised section of the Code of Canon Law.

We are called to imitate the love symbolized by the Sacred Heart of Jesus, writes Cardinal Thomas Collins.

Cardinal Collins invites us to rediscover the ‘treasure’ of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in his latest pastoral letter

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After a year of COVID-19, we are all heavy laden.The spectre of sickness and death wears us down, as does the devastating effect of pandemic restrictions.

Archbishop Arthur Roche, secretary of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Sacraments, is pictured with Cardinal Robert Sarah, prefect of the same congregation, as they pray with U.S. bishops at the start of a meeting at the Vatican in this Jan. 14, 2020, file photo. The Vatican announced May 27 that Pope Francis has appointed the English archbishop to lead the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Sacraments, succeeding Cardinal Sarah.

Pope Francis names English archbishop to lead worship congregation

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VATICAN CITY -- Pope Francis named English Archbishop Arthur Roche to lead the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Sacraments, the Vatican said.

Father Joshtrom Isaac Kureethadam of the Vatican Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development speaks at a news conference to unveil a new platform for action based on Pope Francis' 2015 encyclical, Laudato Si', at the Vatican May 25, 2021. The dicastery helped close the special year dedicated to Laudato Si' by unveiling initiatives to promote the message and concrete action called for by the encyclical.

Seven-year plan launched for next phase of Laudato Si’

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VATICAN CITY -- To help lead the world’s Catholics along a journey of intensified action in caring for creation, Pope Francis asked everyone to join a new global grassroots movement to create a more inclusive, fraternal, peaceful and sustainable world.

Cardinal Christoph Schonborn of Vienna, center, and bishops from around the world walk in procession from St. Peter's Basilica at the start of the Synod of Bishops for the Amazon at the Vatican in this Oct. 7, 2019, file photo. Pope Francis has approved a revision of the process for the celebrations of the Synod of Bishops, emphasizing the need to expand reflections and consultations on a diocesan level.

Vatican revises synod process, beginning with local consultation

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VATICAN CITY -- Approving the revision of the entire process of the Synod of Bishops, Pope Francis has asked that it begin with serious, widespread consultations with laypeople on the diocesan level.

May 19, 2021
Pope Francis gestures as he leads his general audience in in the San Damaso Courtyard of the Apostolic Palace at the Vatican May 19, 2021.

Perseverance is necessary for prayer, Pope Francis says

VATICAN CITY -- Those who overcome distractions or obstacles when praying learn the value of perseverance in times of trial, Pope Francis said.

May 17, 2021
Palestinians evacuate a body from the site of Israeli strikes in Gaza City May 17, 2021.

Pope Francis appeals for peace in Holy Land, says death of children 'unacceptable'

VATICAN CITY -- The injury and death of so many innocent people, especially children, caused by escalating violence between Israel and the Gaza Strip is "terrible and unacceptable," putting the area at risk of sinking into "a spiral of death and destruction," Pope Francis said.

Jesuit Father Stephen Chow, provincial of the Jesuits’ Chinese province, was named bishop of Hong Kong by Pope Francis May 17, 2021. The 61-year-old bishop-designate was born in Hong Kong. He is pictured in a 2016 photo.

Pope Francis names Jesuit educator bishop of Hong Kong

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VATICAN CITY -- Pope Francis has named Jesuit Father Stephen Chow Sau-yan, a native of Hong Kong and provincial of the Jesuits' Chinese province, to be the new bishop of Hong Kong.

Cardinal Stanislaw Dziwisz, the former secretary of St. John Paul II, prays at the spot of the May 13, 1981, assassination attempt against the Polish pope, after placing flowers in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican May 13, 2021. Cardinal Dziwisz and a small group of Catholics gathered in the square to mark the 40th anniversary of the shooting. In 1981 then-Msgr. Dziwisz cradled the Pope after the shooting.

Polish pilgrims mark anniversary of attempt to assassinate St. John Paul

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VATICAN CITY - An elderly man stood alone in St. Peter's Square May 13, using his wooden rosary beads to pray by a simple plaque marking the place where St. John Paul II was shot exactly 40 years earlier.

This Oct. 14, 2020, file photo shows the Vatican City State criminal court during the opening of the trial of Father Gabriele Martinelli and Msgr. Enrico Radice. Father Martinelli is accused of repeatedly sexually abusing a younger student at the Vatican's St. Pius X Pre-Seminary. Msgr. Enrico Radice, former rector of the seminary, has been accused of obstructing the investigation into the younger priest. Defendants in the court are normally seated on the bench at right.

Former students testify at Vatican trial on abuse in minor seminary

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VATICAN CITY - Four former students at the minor seminary located in the Vatican testified May 12 at the ongoing trial of Father Gabriele Martinelli, who is accused of sexually abusing a younger student at the St. Pius X Pre-Seminary.

In a video message played during the "Vax Live" concert, Pope Francis repeated his call to temporarily suspend patent protections on COVID-19 vaccines so they can be manufactured in poorer countries.

Put health before profits by making vaccine more available, Pope says

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VATICAN CITY - Pope Francis called for a global fight against the virus of "closed nationalism" and lack of concern for the poor by supporting "the temporary suspension of intellectual property rights" that prevent the widespread manufacturing of COVID-19 vaccines.

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