Features
Being adopted children of God is greatest gift of Paschal Mystery
Vatican City, 10 April 2013 (VIS) – The Holy Father dedicated his catechesis of this Wednesday’s general audience to the salvific importance of Jesus’ resurrection. After traversing St. Peter’s Square in the open-top car, greeting the thousands of persons applauding his appearance, the Pope explained that the Christian faith “is based upon Christ’s death and […]
Women are first communicators of the resurrection, Pope Francis says
Vatican City, 3 April 2013 (VIS) – The Resurrection, the heart of the Christian message, and the two ways it is announced—profession of faith and narration—were the themes with which Pope Francis returned to the catechesis for the Year of Faith in this morning’s general audience. As is becoming his custom, the Holy Father travelled […]
Regina Coeli: The power of grace
Vatican City, 1 April 2013 (VIS) – At noon today, Pope Francis appeared at the window of his study to pray the Regina Coeli with the numerous faithful gathered in St. Peter’s Square. “Good morning and Happy Easter to you all,” he said. “Thank you for coming today, in such large numbers, to share the […]
Pope Francis: God’s mercy can make even the driest land flower
Vatican City, 31 March 2013 (VIS) – At 10:15 this morning, Easter Sunday, the Holy Father Francis celebrated the Mass of the Lord’s Resurrection in St. Peter’s Square. Faithful from Rome and pilgrims from around the world participated in the celebration, which began with the “Resurrexit” rite—in which an icon of the Risen Lord, placed […]
Pope: I join all of you gathered before the Holy Shroud
Vatican City, 30 March 2013 (VIS) – From 5:15pm until 6:40 this afternoon, there will be an extraordinary exposition of the Holy Shroud in the Cathedral of Turin, Italy. The initiative is part of the Year of Faith that was proclaimed by Pope Benedict XVI and will be broadcast by the Italian television channel, RAI1. […]
Pope Francis: On this night one word should suffice, the cross itself
Vatican City, 30 March 2013 (VIS) – At 5:00pm in St. Peter’s Basilica yesterday, Good Friday, the Holy Father presided over the celebration of the Lord’s Passion. After the Liturgy of the Word—in which we heard the account of the Passion according to St. John—and the homily, the universal prayers were recited. The rite continued […]
Pope at Casal del Marmo: As priest and bishop, I must be at your service
Vatican City, 29 March 2013 (VIS) – At 5 p.m. yesterday afternoon, Holy Thursday, Pope Francis left the Vatican to go to the Casal del Marmo Penitential Institute for Minors where he celebrated the “in Coena Domine”—the Lord’s Supper—Mass, which is the first of the Easter Triduum. Around fifty of the boys and girls detained […]
Pope Francis: Following Jesus is learning to go out of ourselves
Vatican City, 27 March 2013 (VIS) — “I am happy to welcome you to this, my first general audience,” Pope Francis said to the thousands of faithful who filled St. Peter’s Square to participate in the Bishop of Rome’s first catechesis. “With gratitude and veneration,” he continued, “I take up this ‘witness’ from the hands […]
Palm Sunday homily: We must live the faith with a young heart
Vatican City, 24 March 2013 (VIS) — Following is the whole text of Pope Francis’ homily during the Palm Sunday Mass that begins the Holy Week celebrations. The Holy Father commented on the World Youth Day that the entire Church celebrates today, asking that we live the faith “with a young heart.” The pontiff urged […]
Pope to fraternal delegates: Your presence is a tangible sign of cooperation for common good of humanity
Vatican City, 20 March 2013 (Vatican Information Service) – Early this afternoon in the Clementine Hall of the Vatican Apostolic Palace, Pope Francis received fraternal delegates, that is, representative envoys of Churches, Ecclesial Communities, and international ecumenical organizations, as well as representatives of non-Christian Religions, who have come to Rome for the inauguration of his ministry as Bishop of Rome and successor of the Apostle Peter.