News
College students spread abstinence message during True Love Week
In the days leading up to Valentine's Day, two groups of Wisconsin college students spread the message that true love is possible and can be found by practicing "right dating relationships."
House of Grace helps Arab ex-prisoners transition to life in Israel
Sultan Subouh, 32, has spent most of his life high on drugs or behind bars. But as he walked into the stone courtyard of the House of Grace after a full day's work as a handyman, he said he was determined to turn around his life.
Pope, meeting Iraqi leader, urges work for reconciliation
"I wish for Iraqis and for all of us -- for the whole world -- leaders like this," the pope said Feb. 10 as he gave the Iraqi leader a medallion featuring an olive tree -- a sign of peace -- that holds together a split rock.
Ash Wednesday begins Lenten season
Lent is a time when Christians are called to begin an inner journey of conversion of heart through prayer, fasting and charitable works. See CatholicPhilly.com's Lent 2016 section for tools to help you pray and live deeply these 40 days.
Giving to the poor is part of Year of Mercy, pope says
"I'll tell you something," Pope Francis said, "if this jubilee doesn't reach our pockets, it's not a real jubilee. Do you understand? This is in the Bible, eh, this pope isn't inventing that. It's in the Bible."
New Catholic-Muslim dialogue formed; Chicago archbishop named co-chair
"As the national conversation around Islam grows increasingly fraught, coarse and driven by fear and often willful misinformation, the Catholic Church must help to model real dialogue and goodwill," said Bishop Mitchell T. Rozanski of Springfield, Massachusetts, who is chairman of the committee.
Woman to lead theological-pastoral aspect of Vatican communications
The director of the new theological-pastoral department of the Vatican Secretariat for Communications is Natasa Govekar, a theologian who specializes in the communication of faith through images.
Archbishop Gomez calls Latinos to build pro-life culture, not political coalition
Archbishop Gomez said that the practice of abortion and euthanasia raises concerns about "what kind of society we are and what kind of people we want to be."
Pope sends condolences after earthquake in Taiwan
"The Holy Father was saddened to learn of the suffering caused by the deadly earthquake which struck Tainan, leaving many people dead or seriously injured," read a message sent by Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Vatican secretary of state, on behalf of the pope.
Communist official to religious leaders: Promote Chinese culture
Yu Zhengsheng said religious leaders must form a bridge between the Communist Party and hundreds of millions of Chinese that follow the country's five officially recognized religions -- Catholicism, Protestantism, Islam, Buddhism and Taoism, reported ucanews.com.