News

Catholics, Pentecostals share belief in ‘healing power of Jesus’

RALEIGH, N.C. (CNS) -- Bishop Michael F. Burbidge of Raleigh said the latest session of the international Catholic-Pentecostal dialogue allowed leaders of the two religions "to renew our common faith in the healing power of Jesus," who "continues to demonstrate his love and miracles in our midst." Seven Catholics and four Pentecostals gathered July 14-19 in Baltimore for the third session of the sixth phase of the dialogue.

On stormy seashore, pope invites young people to follow Jesus

RIO DE JANEIRO (CNS) -- Even at its stormiest, the Sea of Galilee doesn't have waves like those pounding Copacabana beach, but Pope Francis asked young Catholics to imagine they were with Jesus on the seashore and he was asking them to follow him and share his love with others.

Argentines flock to Rio cathedral to see their cardinal-turned-pope

RIO DE JANEIRO (CNS) -- The streets surrounding the Metropolitan Cathedral of San Sebastian were filled with a sea of blue and white flags. The Argentines had come to town.

Pope prays for victims of train wreck in Spain; Virginia woman killed

UPDATED - VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Pope Francis sent condolences to the archbishop of Santiago de Compostela, Spain, after a train crash left at least 80 dead and more than 100 injured.

Final WYD events relocated because of rain, mud

RIO DE JANEIRO (CNS) -- The culminating events of World Youth Day have been moved from their planned location in Guaratiba, 30 miles outside the city, which three days of heavy rain has reduced to a field of mud. The new venue for a prayer vigil and final Mass, scheduled for July 27 and 28 respectively, will be the city's Copacabana beach.

At Rio hospital, pope offers drug addicts an embrace and a challenge

RIO DE JANEIRO (CNS) -- Pope Francis addressed a group of recovering drug addicts in a working-class neighborhood of Rio, offering them a message of compassion and hope as well as a call to self-determination.

Catholic Charities staff in Pa., N.J. to meet in Philadelphia

The City of Brotherly Love is certainly a fitting gathering place for those who carry out the Gospel message of “helping the least among us.” More than 300 staff members who work for Catholic Social Services’ agencies or organizations that serve the poor and disadvantaged will participate in a regional Partners in Excellence Conference sponsored by Catholic Charities USA (CCUSA) July 29-30 in Philadelphia.

In Rio slum, pope denounces corruption, ‘culture of selfishness’

RIO DE JANEIRO (CNS) -- Visiting one of this city's notorious "favelas," or slums, Pope Francis denounced corruption and a "culture of selfishness and individualism," and called for a "culture of solidarity" in pursuit of social justice.

Pope is most influential, second most-followed world leader on Twitter

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Pope Francis is the most influential world leader on Twitter, with the highest number of retweets worldwide.

British bishops: Despite law, church can’t accept gay marriage

LONDON (CNS) -- The legalization of gay marriage cannot change Christian teaching on sexual morality, and the Catholic Church cannot accept marriages of same-sex couples, the bishops of England and Wales said in a document that was to be distributed in parishes July 27-28.