Pope Francis’ powerful gesture comes at a moment of high tension in Europe.
Gerard O’Connell
Gerard O’Connell is America’s senior Vatican correspondent and author of The Election of Pope Francis: An Inside Story of the Conclave That Changed History. He has been covering the Vatican since 1985.
Posted inDispatches
Pope Francis speaks about ‘mercy in motion’ at Holy Thursday Chrism Mass
Pope Francis reminded bishops and priests that like Jesus they should not hesitate to show excess in forgiveness.
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Pope Francis tells Vatican to open archives on period of Argentina’s military dictatorship
Opening could lead to a rewriting of the history of Latin America.
Posted inVatican Dispatch
Pope Francis brings new transparency to the cost of making saints.
That there were abuses in the system was long known
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Pope condemns atrocities in Brussels, prays for conversion of hearts ‘blinded by cruel fundamentalism’
Francis entrusted “to God’s mercy” all who died in the attacks.
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On Palm Sunday, Pope Francis Highlights Refugee Crisis
Just as nobody wanted to take responsibility for the fate of Jesus, the same is true today in regard to refugees.
Posted inVatican Dispatch
J.R.S. aims to support education of 220,000 refugees by the year 2020.
Only 36 percent of refugee children go to secondary school.
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Archbishop Gonzàlez: Congress must act quickly to avoid a humanitarian crisis in Puerto Rico
The island nation of 3.5 million people risks a government shut down in June or July.
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Pope Francis will canonize Mother Teresa of Calcutta, a symbol of mercy, on Sept. 4
Mother Teresa is a modern symbol of God’s mercy for the poor and discarded of this world.
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Pope Francis to wash the feet of 12 refugees on Holy Thursday
The pope wants to awaken consciences to the greatest movement of people since World War II.