Pope says document on blessings makes clear that the Gospel is for all January 29, 2024By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service Filed Under: Feature, News, Vatican, World News Making a list of which sinners are welcome in the church and which sinners are not goes against the teaching of the Gospel, Pope Francis told an Italian newspaper.
Blessings are signs of church’s closeness, pope says January 26, 2024By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service Filed Under: Feature, News, Vatican, World News Pope Francis again insisted that an informal blessing of a gay or other unmarried couple is not a blessing of their union but a sign of the Catholic Church’s closeness to them and its hope that they will grow in faith.
Love is the only path to Christian unity, pope says January 26, 2024By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service Filed Under: Ecumenism and Interfaith Relations, Feature, News, Vatican, World News Divided Christians will draw closer to one another only by loving God and loving their neighbors, serving one another and not pointing fingers in blame for past faults, Pope Francis said.
Anglican, Catholic bishops travel, pray, work together January 25, 2024By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service Filed Under: Ecumenism and Interfaith Relations, Feature, News, Vatican, World News Acknowledging that many of the bishops present live in situations of poverty and strife, the spiritual leader of the worldwide Anglican Communion told Catholic and Anglican bishops that they had a responsibility to work together to preach the Gospel and to bring hope and healing to the world.
Catholic universities must be more than a business, pope says January 19, 2024By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service Filed Under: Colleges, Feature, News, Vatican, World News Respect for the dignity of every person and for his or her values is as much a part of the identity of a Catholic university as faith is, Pope Francis said.
Social media in flames: Pope targeted for not preaching fire and brimstone January 17, 2024By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service Filed Under: Feature, News, Vatican, World News An emphasis on God’s mercy has so dominated Pope Francis’ pontificate that it should surprise no one that he said he hopes hell is empty.
Pope again cancels Curia Lenten retreat outside Rome January 16, 2024By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service Filed Under: News, Vatican, World News Pope Francis has asked top Vatican officials to set aside the first full week of Lent for spiritual reflection, but for the fourth year in a row he has decided not to gather them and go on retreat.
Pope refines Vatican norms for spending, awarding contracts January 16, 2024By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service Filed Under: News, Vatican, World News Continuing the long-running updating of laws and norms regarding Vatican expenditures and processes for awarding contracts, Pope Francis issued two documents Jan. 16.
Biblical study should have pastoral impact, pope tells Jerusalem students January 16, 2024By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service Filed Under: Feature, News, Vatican, World News For Catholics, studying Scripture and archaeology in the land of Jesus’ life, death and resurrection must be more than a scholarly exercise, Pope Francis said; it should have the pastoral dimension of helping others know and live the Gospel.
Pope fields questions from Rome clergy, including about blessings January 15, 2024By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service Filed Under: Feature, News, Vatican, World News Responding to questions from priests and deacons ministering in the Diocese of Rome, Pope Francis said the possibility of blessing gay couples regards “people, not organizations” or their agendas.
Pope says he’s not thinking of resigning, talks about blessings January 15, 2024By Cindy Wooden Filed Under: Feature, News, Vatican, World News While a pope can resign, Pope Francis said it is not something he is thinking about or worrying about now.
Modern war is ‘crime against humanity,’ pope says January 15, 2024By Cindy Wooden Filed Under: Conflict in the Middle East, Feature, News, Vatican, War in Ukraine, World News With massive civilian deaths and the destruction of cities and their infrastructure, modern “war is in itself a crime against humanity,” Pope Francis said.
