Saying Pope Francis was continuing to experience “mild flu-like symptoms,” the Vatican announced he had canceled his appointments again Feb. 26.
Pope asks Sagrada Família foundation to make prayer a priority
Spain’s top tourist attraction, the Sagrada Família basilica in Barcelona, must give priority to ensuring it is a place where people are inspired to pray, Pope Francis said.
Vatican announces synod assembly dates; formation of study groups
The second assembly of the Synod of Bishops on synodality will meet Oct. 2-27 and will be preceded by several formal studies coordinated by the synod general secretariat working with various offices of the Roman Curia.
Pope gives seminarians Lenten goals
During Lent, Pope Francis said, Catholics — and especially Catholic seminarians — should rediscover the joy of simplicity, pay less attention to their appearance than to their prayer lives and make a special effort to get along with everyone they live with.
Lenten retreat: Book helps people explore pope’s teaching on belonging
Pope Francis’s concern for migrants and refugees, his focus on ecology, his calls to “go out” to share the good news of salvation, even his support for the controversial possibility of informally blessing LGBTQ+ couples flow from his conviction that people need to know they belong to God, to one another and to creation.
Israeli embassy objects to cardinal’s remarks on Gaza death toll
The Israeli Embassy to the Holy See has defined as “regrettable” remarks by Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Vatican secretary of state, saying that Israel’s attacks on Gaza have been excessive.
Laziness is a symptom of ‘acedia,’ a dangerous vice, pope says
The vice of “acedia,” often translated as “sloth,” can cause laziness, but it is much more than that; it is a lack of caring for anything and being bored with everything, even one’s relationship with God, Pope Francis said.
Pope asks artisans to show real value of things and people
Artisans teach the world that every material thing contains beauty, and that work gives people a little share in the creative action of God, Pope Francis said.
‘Feeling omnipotent’ is at root of clerical abuse, pope says
All forms of clerical abuse begin with a priest thinking he is better than others and somehow over them, Pope Francis said.
Don’t reduce women’s role in church to question of ministry, pope says
The importance of women in the Catholic Church cannot be “reduced” to the question of ministry, Pope Francis told members of the Dicastery for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments.
‘Welcome’ is at the heart of document on gay blessings, pope says
People who act shocked that a priest would bless a gay couple but have no problem with him blessing a crooked businessman are hypocrites, Pope Francis said.
Wallowing in sorrow is a vice, pope says at audience
Feeling sad, disappointed or ashamed of oneself sometimes is normal and even can lead to conversion, but when people wallow in their sadness it becomes a dangerous vice, Pope Francis said.