True love leads to freedom, not possessiveness, pope says December 7, 2022By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service Filed Under: Feature, News, Vatican, World News True love of God or love of another person should lead to a sense of freedom, not to a need to possess or control, Pope Francis said.
Pope supports Jewish-Catholic project for social justice December 5, 2022By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service Filed Under: Ecumenism and Interfaith Relations, News, Vatican, World News Meeting with a delegation from the Latin American Rabbinical Seminary in Buenos Aires, Argentina, the pope supported their proposal to launch a series of educational programs aimed at helping Christians and Jews in Latin America tap into their common spiritual heritage to become “agents of social change.”
Keep the creche in Christmas, pope urges December 5, 2022By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service Filed Under: Advent, Christmas, Feature, News, Vatican, World News Stopping to gaze at and perhaps pray before a Nativity scene is one of the best ways to remember the real meaning of Christmas, Pope Francis said.
Being ‘inclusive’ of those with disabilities means valuing them, pope says December 5, 2022By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service Filed Under: Disabilities Ministry, Feature, News, Vatican, World News Making churches accessible and services understandable is important, but having wheelchair ramps and sign-language interpreters is not enough for a parish to call itself “inclusive,” Pope Francis said.
Give joyful witness and lobby hard for families, pope tells Italian groups December 2, 2022By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service Filed Under: Feature, Marriage & Family Life, News, Vatican, World News Italy’s declining birthrate is alarming, and groups that assist Italian families must do more both in terms of lobbying and witnessing to the joy of family life, Pope Francis said.
Migration must be managed, not stopped, pope tells European governments December 2, 2022By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service Filed Under: Feature, Immigration and Migration, News, Vatican, World News Migration across the Mediterranean Sea is as old as humanity, and while some governments say they want to stop that movement of people, it will not and should not happen, Pope Francis said.
Pope to travel to Congo, make ecumenical peace pilgrimage to South Sudan December 1, 2022By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service Filed Under: Feature, News, Vatican, World News After postponing his trip last July, Pope Francis has rescheduled for Jan. 31-Feb. 5 his trip to Congo and his ecumenical visit to South Sudan, the Vatican announced.
Overcoming Christian divisions would give world hope, pope tells patriarch November 30, 2022By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service Filed Under: Ecumenism and Interfaith Relations, Feature, News, Vatican, World News While formal dialogue about the theological and historical causes of the splits in Christianity are essential, so, too, is a recognition that “sinful actions and attitudes” have contributed and continue to contribute to divisions in the body of Christ, Pope Francis said.
Even a two-minute examination of conscience is helpful, pope says November 30, 2022By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service Filed Under: Feature, News, Vatican, World News A daily examination of conscience is an important tool for recognizing where God is at work in one’s life and where “the evil spirit” tries to lead one astray, Pope Francis said.
With America magazine pope talks about church division, women, abortion November 29, 2022By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service Filed Under: Feature, Journalism, News, Vatican, World News In a wide-ranging interview with top staff of America magazine, Pope Francis decried increased polarization within the Catholic Church, affirmed the need to involve more women in church administration but ruled out women priests and emphasized the importance of the ministry of individual bishops over the role of a bishops’ conference.
Cardinal Becciu secretly recorded call with pope, Vatican prosecutor says November 28, 2022By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service Filed Under: Feature, News, Vatican, World News After learning that Cardinal Angelo Becciu and a relative of his secretly recorded a phone call with Pope Francis, the Vatican’s chief prosecutor said his office is considering a new charge — one of criminal conspiracy — against the cardinal, who has been on trial since July 2021 for financial malfeasance.
Violence against women is a ‘scourge,’ pope says November 28, 2022By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service Filed Under: Feature, News, Vatican, World News Violence against women is “a social scourge that is also linked to cultural attitudes, ingrained mentalities and prejudices,” so education, prevention and swifter justice are needed to end it, Pope Francis said.
