National News
Be shepherds concerned only for God and others, pope tells U.S. bishops
"Woe to us," he said, "if we make of the cross a banner of worldly struggles and fail to realize that the price of lasting victory is allowing ourselves to be wounded and consumed."
Pope, ‘son of immigrant family,’ tells Obama he’s ready to learn in U.S.
In a country the pope said he knows was "largely built" by immigrant families, he made his debut speech to Americans Sept. 23 on the South Lawn of the White House with some 20,000 people in attendance.
At White House, hours in line for brief welcoming ceremony
The 11,000 ticketed guests and a cast of hundreds extra -- military units, musicians and federal employees -- who waited on the White House lawn to greet Pope Francis Sept. 23 were clearly there as fans of the visiting pope.
People attending a predawn Mass say Pope Francis gives them hope
Parishioners and visitors attending the predawn bilingual Mass at the Shrine of the Sacred Heart Church in Washington Sept. 23 were urged to pray that the pope's words during his U.S. visit would have an impact.
On plane from Rome, pope defends teaching on social issues
Responding to a headline, "Is the pope Catholic?" Pope Francis told reporters, "I follow the church and in this, I do not think I am wrong. Maybe I have given an impression of being a little bit to the left. But if they want me to recite the Creed, I can!"
Pope Francis arrives in U.S. to begin three-city visit
The plane bearing Pope Francis touched down in Maryland Tuesday afternoon, greeted by President Barack Obama and his family. The pontiff begins his first apostolic visit to the United States with events planned this week in Washington, D.C., followed by stops in New York City and ending in Philadelphia this weekend.
Letter to White House becomes papal ticket for Minnesota Catholics
It started with a simple letter that Ryan Currens sent to President Barack Obama earlier this summer. The parish administrator at Church of Assumption in Richfield encouraged the chief executive to read Pope Francis' encyclical on the environment, "Laudato Si'," which was published in June.
Strikers invoke Pope Francis as they seek higher wages and a union
The strikers, who have no union but want the opportunity to form one, planned to strike only one day, Sept. 22, the day Pope Francis was arriving in the United States from Cuba.
College presidents in statement back pope’s leadership on climate change
About 100 U.S. Catholic college presidents have signed a document supporting Pope Francis for his leadership on climate change efforts and committing their institutions to doing all they can to foster "open, honest" dialogue on climate issues and help form "global ecological citizens."
Archdiocese sees first overall school enrollment gain in nearly 20 years
The 19,277 students in the archdiocese's 70 elementary and high schools this year compares with 18,911 last year, a gain of 366 students, or 1.94 percent, said Patrick Slattery, superintendent of schools. That marks the first gain since 1998.