News

Cardinal urges pope to take hot-button issues off table for next synod

A recently reassigned Vatican official has urged Pope Francis to take the issues of Communion for the divorced and remarried, cohabitation and same-sex marriage "off the table" for next year's Synod of Bishops.

Assisted suicide bill rejects God’s design for life, death, says bishop

The state of New Jersey is "now on the road" to legalizing physician-assisted suicide, but "it is an option and a choice that we should never make," said Trenton Bishop David M. O'Connell.

Pope’s visit to city will be ‘a moment unlike any other,’ Archbishop Chaput says

In a statement, Archbishop Charles Chaput said Pope Francis’ presence will bring all of us – Catholic and non-Catholic alike – together in tremendously unifying and healing ways. We will be ready and we will welcome him joyfully with open arms and prayerful hearts!

Philadelphia is first confirmed stop for pope’s North America visit

Pope Francis' confirmation of his intention to visit the city for the World Meeting of Families might coincide with visits to New York City and Washington, D.C. "Maybe the three cities together, no?" Pope Francis said last August.

Today’s teaching on the family

See the daily excerpt from the preparatory catechesis for the 2015 World Meeting of Families, “Love is Our Mission: The Family Fully Alive.”

It’s official: Pope Francis is coming to Philadelphia

UPDATED -- Pope Francis ended months of eager speculation by confirming he will visit Philadelphia next year. During a meeting on marriage at the Vatican this morning, Nov. 17, the pope said he intends to visit Philadelphia at the conclusion of the Sept. 22-25, 2015 World Meeting of Families in Philadelphia.

Ryan football squad takes a big heart into title game as big underdog

Archbishop Ryan savored its hard-fought semifinal victory over Bonner-Prendergast last weekend. Now they're ready for Saturday's Catholic League AAA championship game against heavily favored Archbishop Wood.

Students write 10,000 letters inviting Pope Francis to Philadelphia

Students in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia have been writing letters inviting Pope Francis to the city for next year's World Meeting of Families, and they'll all be delivered to Rome today. The students also learned school will be closed for three days next September for the congress.

Cardinal O’Malley says Rome ‘urgently’ needs to look into Bishop Finn

In an interview with "60 Minutes" airing Sunday, Nov. 16, Cardinal Sean O'Malley of Boston said the Vatican needs to address the situation of Bishop Robert Finn of Missouri, who was convicted in 2012 for failing to report suspected child abuse.

Vatican public restrooms to include showers for the homeless

Homeless people in Rome can get food easily, but not a shower. Soon they can shower in St. Peter's Square, but the effort will also require volunteers and donations of soap, towels and clean underwear, said the archbishop in charge of outreach.