Seminarians walk on the grounds of the Society of St. Pius X seminary in Econe, Switzerland, in this May 9, 2012, file photo. (CNS photo/Paul Haring)

Pope Francis paves way for bishops to validate marriages in traditionalist communities

by Junno Arocho Esteves - Catholic News Service April 4, 2017

Pope Francis has made it possible for bishops to ensure the validity of marriages celebrated in the traditionalist communities.

People carry crosses with names of victims of gun violence during a Dec. 31 march in downtown Chicago. Hundreds of people joined the march to remember those who died by gun violence in 2016 (CNS photo/Karen Callaway, Catholic New World).

Faith, Vatican Dispatch

In interview, Cardinal Cupich discusses Pope Francis’ call for nonviolence in Chicago

by Gerard O’Connell April 4, 2017

The cardinal considered it “highly significant” that Francis’ letter is dated April 4—the anniversary of the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr.

Cardinal Blase Cupich announces the creation of a new anti-violence initiative in Chicago on April 4.

Dispatches, Politics & Society

Cardinal Cupich launches anti-violence program in Chicago with Pope Francis’ support

by Michael J. O’Loughlin April 4, 2017

In a letter to Chicago’s young people, Pope Francis says to follow the example of Martin Luther King Jr.

Faith, Pope Francis Homilies

Pope Francis: the cross is not a badge of belonging

by Pope Francis April 4, 2017

Then the pope asked: “What is the cross for you? Yes, it is the Christian symbol. We make the sign of the cross, but often we do not do it well.”

Pope Francis greets Cardinal Ricardo Blazquez Perez of Valladolid, Spain, during an audience with seminarians and faculty of the Pontifical Spanish College of St. Joseph at the Vatican on April 1. (CNS photo/L'Osservatore Romano, handout)

Faith, News

Pope Francis: An ‘orderly and comfortable life’ is not a life for Christ

by Carol Glatz - Catholic News Service April 3, 2017

“The devil always comes in through the pocket, always,” the pope said.

Pope Francis greets Syrian refugees he brought to Rome from the Greek island of Lesbos in April 2016 at Ciampino airport in Rome. (CNS photo/Paul Haring)

Faith, News

Vatican welcomes three new Syrian refugee families

by Junno Arocho Esteves - Catholic News Service April 3, 2017

The Vatican welcomed the refugee families after an appeal made by Pope Francis on every parish, religious community, monastery and shrine in Europe to take in a family of refugees.

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Jesuitical, Politics & Society

Be our guest! Ep: 6 of jesuitical

by Olga Segura March 31, 2017January 11, 2026

I’m a purist. Which means I didn’t see Disney’s remake of “Beauty and the Beast.” But it didn’t stop my co-hosts from seeing it and inviting on a Jesuit to talk all things Disney. Alfonso Pizano, S.J., spent 14 years working at Disneyland, “where he piloted the monorail, sailed submarines, hawked souvenirs and danced in […]

Pope Francis greets Norbertine Father Bernard Ardura, president of the Pontifical Committee for Historical Sciences, on March 31 at the Vatican. The pope met with scholars taking part in a Vatican-sponsored congress on the Lutheran Reformation as part of the 500th anniversary commemorating the start of Luther's call for reform. (CNS photo/L'Osservatore Romano)

Faith, News

Pope praises Catholics and Lutherans getting together to discuss Luther

by Carol Glatz - Catholic News Service March 31, 2017

The pope told the participants that his first reaction to hearing about “this praiseworthy initiative” was one of gratitude to God.

Faith, Pope Francis Homilies

Pope Francis: Damned are those who don’t care for the poor and homeless

by Pope Francis March 31, 2017

We must ask ourselves, what do I feel when I see on the news that a bomb has fallen on a hospital and lots of poor children have been killed? Do I just say a prayer and go on my way like before?