A 5 a.m. wake-up call from a friend in Rome alerted Cardinal-designate Blase J. Cupich of Chicago to the news that Pope Francis had added his name to the list of church leaders soon to be made cardinals. The previous six archbishops of Chicago received a red hat, but Pope Francis has recently skippe
Pope Francis
Posted inFaith, Signs Of the Times
Check Your Hypocrisy
Meeting a pilgrimage of Catholics and Lutherans from Germany, Pope Francis said he does not like “the contradiction of those who want to defend Christianity in the West and, on the other hand, are against refugees and other religions.” Answering questions from young people in the group o
Posted inFaith, Vatican Dispatch
Why Pope Francis is making Asia a priority for the Catholic Church
Pope Francis has his eyes fixed on Asia, where he sees the possibility of a new springtime for the church.
Posted inFaith, Pope Francis Homilies
Pope Francis: A good shepherd is never embittered, even if deserted by everyone.
“When I go to visit the retirement homes for elderly priests I find so many of these great shepherds who have given their lives for the faithful. There they are, sick, paralyzed, in wheelchairs but you can see them smiling straight away.”
Posted inDispatches, Faith
Pope canonizes “gaucho priest” and six others in St. Peter’s Square
The new saints include Argentina’s first.
Posted inDispatches, Faith
The pope is not the only keeper of the keys in the Vatican
The key keepers are just some of the more than 3,000 lay people who perform unheralded jobs in a place that is known for pomp and circumstance.
Posted inDispatches, Politics & Society
Pope Francis calls for greater efforts to protect and serve the world’s migrant children
The United Nations reports that more than 50 percent of the world’s 21.3 million refugees are children.
Posted inPolitics & Society, Signs Of the Times
News Briefs
Pope Francis made a surprise visit on Oct. 4 to the town of Amatrice in Italy, recently devastated by an earthquake, and told survivors there: “From the first moment” of the tremblor on Aug. 24, “I felt the need to be here.”
Posted inFaith, Signs Of the Times
Ecumenical Send-Off
Pope Francis and the Anglican archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, together charged 19 pairs of Catholic and Anglican bishops to return to their home countries and work together to promote joint prayer, joint proclamation of the Gospel and especially joint works of charity and justice.
Posted inNews, Politics & Society
Pope Francis pleads for the rescue of children in Syria
Catholic charities around the world are advocating on behalf of children victims in Syria.