World News
In Holy Year, God planted seeds that will grow into ‘good, simple things’
Reviewing the memorable moments of the Year of Mercy in a TV interview, Pope Francis also spoke about handling stress, his upcoming 80th birthday and a sense of humor, among other topics.
Pope extends special Year of Mercy provisions on confession
In a new letter, Pope Francis formally gave all priests permanent permission to grant absolution to those who confess to having procured an abortion. Almost all bishops in the U.S. routinely grant that faculty to their priests.
Pope calls new cardinals to be agents of unity in divided world
In creating 17 new cardinals Nov. 20, Pope Francis warned against "the virus of polarization and animosity" and urged them to dedicate their lives to being ministers of forgiveness in a world marked by hostility.
Well-wishers endure long flights, long lines to see their new cardinals
For the sister of new Cardinal Joseph Tobin of Indianapolis, becoming a cardinal "won't go to his head. Joe will still be Joe. He will still care about what the (nieces and nephews) are doing in sports," she said.
Church must understand divorced couples it tries to help, pope says
As some public debates swirled recently about the pastoral possibilities Pope Francis opened to clergymen for helping divorced and civilly remarried Catholics, he has not issued clear and comprehensive instructions.
Philippine Catholic leaders criticize hero’s burial for Marcos
Father Jerome Secillano, executive secretary of the bishops' Committee on Public Affairs, said the hero's burial for the late dictator will not bury the atrocities committed under his regime, reported CBCP News.
Pope: Fragile egos, power grabbers, sad sacks are cancer in church
"The church exists only as an instrument for communicating God's merciful plan to the people," he said in an interview published in the Nov. 18 edition of Avvenire, an Italian Catholic newspaper.
People can sniff out greedy priests, pope says
Catholics will forgive their priests for almost any weakness, but not for an exaggerated attachment to money or for mistreating parishioners, Pope Francis told 160 priests who work in Vatican nunciatures around the world.
Cardinal: Time to reverse Myanmar’s decline, keep resource wealth
At the opening of a national conference Nov. 15 aimed at creating a more equitable distribution of wealth in the impoverished country, Cardinal Bo demanded justice from "the three Cs: cronies, companies and countries nearby."
New Zealand priests find ways to be with people affected by quake
The earthquake, which struck at 12:02 a.m. Nov. 14, caused large land slips, which blocked road and rail access to Kaikoura, a popular tourist venue. Power and communications were interrupted. Two fatalities were linked with the earthquake.