Catholic men and women formally installed in the new ministry of catechists are not simply religious education teachers but are engaged in “the proclamation and transmission of the faith.”

From a vaccination clinic in the atrium of the Vatican audience hall to a visit to the ancient Iraqi city of Ur, Pope Francis demonstrated throughout 2021 what he means by seeing all people as brothers or sisters.

“I can’t live in this situation anymore and I’m afraid of destroying my physical, psychological and spiritual health,” Sister Aleksandra says in “Veil of Silence,” by Salvatore Cernuzio.

The Catholic Church must do a better job instructing priests on what to do if a victim recounts his or her abuse in the confessional and in the unlikely case that an abuser confesses, said Hans Zollner, S.J.

“Journalism is not so much a matter of choosing a profession,” the pope said, “but rather of embarking on a mission, a bit like a doctor, who studies and works to cure evil in the world.”

With a pilgrim’s staff and mantle, Pope Francis entered Assisi’s Basilica of St. Mary of the Angels with 500 economically or socially disadvantaged people.

Blessed Charles de Foucauld and six other candidates for sainthood finally will be canonized May 15, 2022, the Vatican announced Nov. 9.

Pope Francis has appointed Sister Raffaella Petrini, an Italian member of the U.S.-based Franciscan Sisters of the Eucharist, to be secretary-general of the office governing Vatican City State.

Pope Francis “is a man who has a great empathy. He’s a man who understands that part of his Christianity is to reach out and forgive,” U.S. President Joe Biden told reporters in Rome Oct. 31.

“It’s clear that the pope does not agree with the president about abortion. He’s made that exceptionally clear.”