Vatican News

In times of trouble, Pope says, call on the communion of saints

October 30, 2013

VATICAN CITY - Trials and doubts are part of everyone's faith journey, "even mine," Pope Francis said, but Christians know they can get through the hard times with help from God, other Christians and those in heaven.

Outgoing Vatican secretary of state stresses continuity between popes

October 15, 2013

VATICAN CITY - Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, who as Vatican secretary of state drew rising criticism for failures of the Vatican bureaucracy he oversaw, stepped down Oct. 15 with a speech praising the pontificate of retired Pope Benedict XVI and stressing its continuity with that of Pope Francis.

Pope opening Church to new possibilities

October 13, 2013

Catholics may be getting used to a Pope who says the unexpected. “Who am I to judge?” “The court is the leprosy of the papacy.” “Proselytism is solemn nonsense.” “How I would like a Church that is poor and for the poor.”

Pope declares medieval mystic a saint, advances seven other causes

October 11, 2013

VATICAN CITY - Pope Francis advanced the sainthood causes of seven men and women, including a Canadian and an English founder of two religious orders for women.

Archbishop says synod theme shows importance of family for Pope

October 10, 2013

VATICAN CITY - Pope Francis' decision to call an extraordinary Synod of Bishops on the family in 2014 demonstrates how important he believes the family is and the urgency he sees in responding to problems Christian families face, said the head of the Pontifical Council for the Family.

Pope calls synod to discuss families, divorce and remarriage

October 8, 2013

VATICAN CITY - The predicament of divorced and remarried Catholics will be a major topic of discussion when bishops from around the world meet at the Vatican in October 2014.

Legionaries of Christ renewal goes forward with January general chapter

October 7, 2013

ROME - Members of the Legionaries of Christ will begin their extraordinary general chapter Jan. 8 to elect new leaders and approve a new constitution, the key step in an effort to renew the order after revelations about the misconduct of their founder.

Holy, holy, holy: Pope talks about his favorite saints

October 6, 2013

VATICAN CITY - Who are the holy men and women Pope Francis looks up to? He revealed many of them in two recently published interviews.

In interviews, Pope Francis crafts a new genre of papal language

October 6, 2013

VATICAN CITY- When Pope Benedict XVI answered a journalist's 2010 question about condom use by offering a nuanced reflection on the ethical complexities of a hypothetical case, his words led to a worldwide media sensation, a clarification by the Vatican spokesman and a statement from the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith that the Pope had not changed Church teaching on contraception.

Have the courage to marry, start a family, pope tells youths in Assisi

October 4, 2013

VATICAN CITY - In societies that trumpet individual rights, see everything as fleeting and see no value in sticking to something that's difficult, deciding to get married today takes courage, Pope Francis told young people in Assisi.