Signs Of the Times

‘Today is a time of mercy!” This was the parting message Pope Francis gave to the 270 synod fathers from some 120 countries at the closing Mass for the meeting of the Synod of Bishops on the family in St Peter’s Basilica on Oct. 25.He has made this same declaration several times si

While all eyes are on the continuing drama of Syrian migrants at the borders of Europe, a representative from the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops was in Washington on Oct. 21 reminding Congress that the United States has a similar humanitarian crisis unfolding at its southern border. “Chil

Visiting with Syrian refugees near the Macedonian border on Oct. 19, Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle of Manila, Philippines, president of Caritas Internationalis, wondered why European powers could not make the continuing exodus “easier” on people who “already have escaped horrible, ho

The voting public’s perception of Europe remains unenthusiastic at best.

Religious leaders in the Central African Republic have predicted that the pope’s upcoming visit could reconcile opposing factions, three years after a Muslim-led rebellion plunged the country into civil war. “This will be a key event for all Central Africans, whatever their religious aff

‘It’s a moment of sanity.” That’s how Archbishop Thomas Wenski of Miami characterized a confluence of mid-October events promoting criminal justice reform in the United States.On Oct. 21 a new campaign urging reduced incarceration was launched by a surprising source, the grou

In his address to the synod on Oct. 17, Pope Francis emphasized the need to give new life to structures of synodality in the local churches worldwide. He confirmed his intention to promote greater “decentralization” in the church and to bring about “a conversion of the papacy.&rdqu

The president of the Planned Parenthood Federation of America said on Oct. 13 that the organization’s clinics will no longer accept reimbursement for fetal tissue procured in abortions and provided to researchers. Cecile Richards said the decision was made “to completely debunk” a

Pope Francis joined Archbishop Konrad Krajewski, the papal almoner and Adolfo Nicolas, S.J., superior general of the Society of Jesus, in a visit to a new homeless shelter for men in Rome on Oct. 15. • In 2014, a recent high of 1,400 cases of blasphemy were registered in Pakistan, while its cou