Church shows mercy by upholding truth about marriage, speakers say

ROME (CNS) -- Pope Francis recently made remarks about the need for a stronger pastoral approach to marriage and divorced couples. But the comments do not signal the church is overturning its laws or practice of denying communion to Catholics who divorce and remarry, said two canon law experts.

Vatican’s new top diplomat ready to ramp up network for peace

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- A veteran diplomat, the Vatican's new secretary of state, plans to put the church's vast global diplomatic network into high gear as champions for peace. Archbishop Pietro Parolin said Pope Francis has already injected a new impetus into the Vatican's Secretariat of State structure and given a new push for church-led diplomacy.

Fasting is a tie that binds us to Syrians and all suffering people

In his remarks last Sunday in Rome, Pope Francis called the whole church to a day of fasting and prayer for peace in Syria and the whole world. This is not the ritual fast before we receive the Eucharist, nor the traditional fast of Lent. This fast is a call to throw ourselves on the mercy of God, keening for the brokenness of the Body of Christ that has brought us — again — to the brink of war.

USCCB weighs in on Syria with letters to Obama, Congress

WASHINGTON (CNS) -- Echoing the appeal of Pope Francis and Catholic prelates in Syria, two leaders of the U.S. bishops' conference urged President Barack Obama to seek a political solution in Syria.

Archbishop Chaput to open Cathedral Saturday night for Syria prayers

Responding to Pope Francis’ call for Catholics around the world to fast and pray for peace in Syria and the Middle East, Archbishop Charles Chaput invites Catholics and everyone in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia to participate this Saturday, Sept. 7, the feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The Cathedral Basilica of SS. Peter and Paul in Philadelphia will be open from 7 to 10 p.m. Saturday night for exposition of the Blessed Sacrament. Communal prayers for peace will be offered every hour.

Bishop Madden urges ‘culture of encounter’ among Catholics, Lutherans

PITTSBURGH (CNS) -- Citing the words of Pope Francis, the chairman of the U.S. bishops' Committee on Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs called for a "culture of encounter" among Catholics and Lutherans during the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America's churchwide assembly in Pittsburgh. Auxiliary Bishop Denis J. Madden of Baltimore told the assembly Aug. 13 that the 500th anniversary of the Reformation in 2017 offers an opportunity to "point the way toward Christian unity" rather than focusing on what keeps the two faith communities divided.

Canonization date for John Paul II, John XXIII to be known in September

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Pope Francis will host a meeting of cardinals Sept. 30 to formally approve the canonization of Blesseds John Paul II and John XXIII; the date for the canonization will be announced at that time, said Cardinal Angelo Amato, prefect of the Congregation for Saints' Causes.

The meaning of World Youth Day

World Youth Day has come and gone, but I'm still glued to the pictures of Brazil and Pope Francis' messages of love and tolerance.

Catholic spokesman defends Egyptian army crackdown against protesters

Egypt's Health Ministry confirmed Aug. 15 that more than 500 protesters and police were killed and more than 3,700 injured when security forces used bulldozers, tear gas and live ammunition to disperse protest camps in Cairo and other cities around the country. A spokesman for Egypt's Catholic Church said Western media had falsified the situation in Egypt by portraying the conflict as political when it mostly concerned violent acts by a small minority of Egypt's 82.5 million inhabitants. Pope Francis led prayers to Mary, queen of peace, calling for calm in the country.

His Holiness, the soccer fan, asks players to be real role models

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- With admiration and big smiles all around, the lifelong soccer fan Pope Francis met the star players and coaches of the Argentine and Italian national soccer teams hoping to compete for the World Cup in 2014.