News
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.
Seal of confession is absolute, even after penitent dies, officials say
The secrecy of a confession is so serious that a priest would be excommunicated for revealing the contents of a confession when ordered to testify by a court, said officials at a Vatican conference this week.
Pope calls accountants to remember real people behind the numbers
Meeting with thousands of accountants from around the world, Pope Francis said they are called to reach out to needy people, get creative with intractable problems and ensure human dignity in the face of bureaucracy.
Pleading for peace, bishops in Mexico call violence a ‘national crisis’
Impassioned pleas for peace and justice are rising from ordinary Mexicans marching in the streets, as well as Pope Francis and Mexican bishops, after 43 teacher trainees were allegedly captured by crooked cops, killed by organized gangsters and burned.