A woman holds a statuette of Mother Teresa outside the Missionaries of Charity building in Kolkata, India, Sept. 4. (CNS photo/Rupak De Chowdhuri, Reuters)

Faith, Vatican Dispatch

Why Pope Francis is making Asia a priority for the Catholic Church

by Gerard O’Connell October 19, 2016

Pope Francis has his eyes fixed on Asia, where he sees the possibility of a new springtime for the church.

(public domain image of the Philippines)

Faith, Pope Francis Homilies

Pope Francis: A good shepherd is never embittered, even if deserted by everyone.

by Pope Francis October 18, 2016

“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.”

Arturo Sosa, S.J., the new superior general of the Society of Jesus, speaks at his first press conference. He is the first Latin American to lead the Jesuits. (Jeremy Zipple, S.J.)

Dispatches, Faith

The Jesuits’ new leader has a top priority for them: “to work for reconciliation in the world.”

by Gerard O’Connell October 18, 2016

In his first press conference as superior general, Arturo Sosa, S.J., outlined his vision for the Society of Jesus.

Faith, In All Things

New Jesuit General: “Not Only the Improbable, but the Impossible”

by James Martin, S.J. October 16, 2016

Father Arturo Sosa stressed his reflections on the mission of the Society of Jesus in his first homily.

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Dispatches, Faith

The Jesuits’ first Superior General from Latin America brings a ‘holy boldness’ to his duties

by Gerard O’Connell October 14, 2016

Father Arturo Sosa of Venezuela has much in common with Pope Francis, says Father Kesicki of the U.S. and Canada Provinces.

Jesuit Father Arturo Sosa, right, the new superior general of the Society of Jesus, greets the previous superior general, Jesuit Father Adolfo Nicolas, after his election in Rome Oct. 14 (CNS photo/Don Doll, S.J.).

Faith, In All Things

Jesuits Elect Arturo Sosa, SJ, as New Superior General

by James Martin, S.J. October 14, 2016

Father Sosa is “man of great faith, a real leader, because he has a vision coming from a strong sense of the history of the Society.”

Gianni Crea, chief key keeper at the Vatican, in the Sistine Chapel with the bunch of keys he uses to access all rooms in the museum, on Oct. 6, 2016. Photograph by Chris Warde-Jones

Dispatches, Faith

The pope is not the only keeper of the keys in the Vatican

by Josephine McKenna - Religion News Service October 13, 2016

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.

Pope Francis meets Anglican Archbishop Justin Welby of Canterbury, England, spiritual leader of the Anglican Communion, at the Vatican Oct. 6. (CNS photo/Tony Gentile, Reuters)

Faith, Signs Of the Times

Ecumenical Send-Off

by From AP, CNS, RNS, Staff and other sources October 13, 2016

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.