Pope Francis
Pope decries fomenting fear of migrants for political gain
By Yonat Shimron — November 24, 2017
VATICAN CITY (AP) — He urged people to view global migration as a peace-building opportunity and not as a threat.
Pope Francis shouldn’t risk going to Myanmar
By Thomas Reese — November 20, 2017
(RNS) — Next week Pope Francis will visit Myanmar, where he risks either compromising his moral authority or putting in danger the Christians of that country. I have great admiration for the pope and his abilities, but someone should have talked him out of making this visit.
Pope devotes Mass to poor, calls indifference a ‘great sin’
By Frances D'Emilio — November 19, 2017
VATICAN CITY (AP) — After Mass, the pope lunched with some 1,500 poor people from Italy, Poland, France and elsewhere as the Catholic Church marked its first World Day of the Poor, an event created by Francis to draw attention to those living on the margins of society.
Pope to lawmakers: Protect all people with health care laws
By Frances D'Emilio — November 16, 2017
VATICAN CITY (AP) — The comments came as U.S. lawmakers in Washington, D.C., have been debating how to overhaul the nation's health insurance laws.
Papal loyalists become dissidents
By Thomas Reese — November 8, 2017
(RNS) — What is remarkable about the critics of Pope Francis is that during the papacies of John Paul and Benedict, they harshly criticized as dissidents and heretics anyone who questioned papal teaching. It is clear that their loyalty was not to the successor of Peter but to their own theological opinions.
US bishops’ consultant resigns after penning letter critical of pope
By Emily McFarlan Miller — November 2, 2017
(RNS) — The letter and the writer's subsequent departure as a longtime top adviser to the bishops are the latest salvos in a struggle that pits traditionalists against the pope's fans.
Pope pained by attacks in Afghanistan, Somalia, New York
By Emily McFarlan Miller — November 1, 2017
VATICAN CITY (AP) — The pope said during an Angelus prayer on Wednesday, the Catholic holiday of All Saints' Day, that he was praying for all those who were killed and injured, and for their family members.
Why the ecumenical movement is a historical event on par with the Reformation
By Thomas Reese — October 31, 2017
(RNS) — Ecumenism did so much during the last century to heal the divisions among Christians. (COMMENTARY)
Reconciliation among Christians might be closer than we think
By Mitchell T. Rozanski — October 30, 2017
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (RNS) — Working to bring Christians back together has taught me about our shared faith and how it can still light the world.
Pope: Humanity risks ‘suicide’ with nuclear confrontation
By Nicole Winfield — October 30, 2017
VATICAN CITY (AP) — Vatican spokesman Greg Burke said Monday that the Nov. 10-11 conference was part of the Vatican's long-standing effort to promote a world free of nuclear weapons.
Clerical sex abuse disclosures skyrocket in pope’s Argentina
By Yonat Shimron — October 27, 2017
CASEROS, Argentina (AP) — While Pope Francis struggles to make good on his 'zero tolerance' pledge to fight clerical sex abuse worldwide, victims in his native Argentina are denouncing abuses in unprecedented numbers.
Pope calls space, takes small step for Vatican-Russian ties
By Yonat Shimron — October 26, 2017
VATICAN CITY (AP) — Like a curious child, Francis peppered five Russian cosmonauts at the International Space Station with questions both simple — What inspired them to be astronauts? — and philosophical — How do they view mankind's place in the universe?
Pope phoning space station today
By The Associated Press — October 25, 2017
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — A large Roman Catholic contingent led by Cardinal Daniel DiNardo, archbishop of Galveston-Houston, will gather at Mission Control for the long-distance chat.
Mark Wahlberg hopes God forgives him for ‘Boogie Nights’
By Yonat Shimron — October 24, 2017
CHICAGO (AP) — Ahead of an event with Chicago Cardinal Blase Cupich, the actor said he hopes 'that God is a movie fan and also forgiving' because he says he's made 'some poor choices' in the past.
Pope lays down challenge to US Catholics on the death penalty
By Christopher Lamb — October 13, 2017
VATICAN CITY (RNS) — In calling capital punishment 'inadmissible,' Pope Francis is reshaping what it means for Catholics to be 'pro-life,' stressing that it means protecting life from womb to natural death.
