National News

U.S. Jesuits speak of Pope Francis’ ‘servant leadership’

Jesuit Father Hernan Paredes recalled a roommate from the early 1980s, who "was ready to do our laundry, ready to cook for us ... ready to embrace us, cry with us." The roommate in Buenos Aires, Argentina, in the early 1980s was also his superior and went on to become Pope Francis.

Exhibit hall displays religious artifacts found in rubble after 9/11

In the midst of Pope Francis' busy Big Apple tour, during which he'll mostly be surrounded by throngs of people, he may make a quiet stop in a small exhibit hall during his visit to the ground zero memorial Sept. 25.

Pope Francis preaches at New York cathedral

Read the text of the pope's address during Vespers Thursday evening at St. Patrick's Cathedral, and New York Cardinal Timothy Dolan's words of welcome.

In New York, pope encourages men and women religious

During an evening prayer service at St. Patrick's Cathedral in New York, Pope Francis thanked the nation's priests, brothers and women religious, telling them, "Where would the church be without you?"

Pope challenged and inspired congressional leaders

As Pope Francis spoke to a joint meeting of Congress Sept. 24, the members of the House and Senate focused on the pontiff's heavily accented English speech.

Pope’s visit thrills poor clients of D.C. Catholic Charities

Pope Francis' visited about 500 guests at a church-run program in downtown Washington Sept. 24. He blessed a meal, met briefly with attendees, then left for New York.

Little Sisters of the Poor get unscheduled visit from Pope Francis

Sister Constance Veit, communications director for the Little Sisters, said the pope talked individually with each sister, ranging in age from novices to 102-year-old Sister Marie Mathilde, who is Colombian and spoke to the pope in Spanish.

‘No justification whatsoever’ for lack of housing, pope says

"I want to be very clear," Pope Francis told the crowd, many of whom have low incomes, are immigrants, and receive medical care or clinical and mental health services from Catholic Charities in the Archdiocese of Washington.

Kids who will greet pope at Harlem Catholic school have questions ready

One wants to ask Pope Francis what it's like to live with one lung. Another wants to know what kind of cellphone he has and since he's so humble, he probably has a flip phone, he suspects.

New York Archdiocese, mayor join to house homeless in unused space

To honor the imminent arrival of Pope Francis in New York, the city's mayor and Cardinal Timothy M. Dolan announced Sept. 23 that the Archdiocese of New York would provide housing and social services for up to 150 homeless individuals this winter, using vacant or underutilized buildings owned by the archdiocese.