Pope Francis washed and kissed the feet of 12 inmates ndash six women and the child of one of them and six men ndash in Rome rsquo s Rebibbia prison on Holy Thursday and shook hands kissed and embraced hundreds of the detainees amid scenes of great emotion The prisoners welcomed him with v
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 Tells Priests how to Deal with ‘Tiredness’
Pope Francis on Holy Thursday spoke about the ldquo tiredness rdquo or quot weariness quot that Catholic priests experience in their daily ministry often in very difficult and dangerous situations and offered advice on how they should deal with it He did so in an incisive and profound homily
Posted inVatican Dispatch
The Quality of Mercy
On March 13, Pope Francis surprised the world by proclaiming a year-long Jubilee of Mercy. Since then he has begun to give indications, in homilies and talks, as to what this entails.As I write, the formal bull of indiction has not yet been published. That will be done on April 12, the Second Sunday
Posted inDispatches
The Vatican Defends the Appointment of Chile’s Bishop Barros
Critics charge Barros had been involved in the cover-up of the abuse of minors.
Posted inDispatches
Pope Appoints Cardinal Versaldi as Prefect of the Congregation for Catholic Education
The church operates the world’s largest non-governmental school system.
Posted inDispatches
Gänswein: Pope Francis is Full of Surprises and Some Unpredictability
An interview with the pope’s private secretary in La Nación
Posted inDispatches
Pope: ‘Humility Is God’s Way, and Must Be the Way of Christians’
ldquo Humility is above all God rsquo s Way rdquo and it ldquo must be the way of Christians rdquo Pope Francis said in his homily at mass on Palm Sunday in St Peter rsquo s Square attended by some 100 000 pilgrims and followed on TV by an estimated global audience of hundreds of millions The
Posted inDispatches
A Unique Chalice for Pope Francis’ Visit to New York
In a highly original initiative ahead of Pope Francis rsquo visit to New York in September Catholics from across the United States are being given an opportunity to donate small personal silver coins or objects that can be used in the making of the chalice that he will use when he celebrates mas
Posted inVantage Point
Meeting the Risen Lord: From March 26, 1983
Even nowadays—or should I say especially nowadays?—the sight of two people very much in love still delights us. The world continues to love and make excuses for lovers. A truly great love story will fill the cinemas and top the list of best-sellers. Yet the modern world has come to belie
Posted inVatican Dispatch
Francis’ Prophecy
Revelation that the pope has “the feeling” that his papacy will be a short one has caused deep concern among Catholics worldwide