World News
At Pentecost vigil, pope shares personal stories of his faith
VATICAN CITY (CNS) — With humor and passion, Pope Francis shared highlights of his personal faith journey and explained some key points of his teaching to an enthusiastic crowd of representatives from Catholic lay movements. Celebrating a vigil on the eve of Pentecost with an estimated 200,000 people singing, chanting and waving their groups’ banners, […]
Vatican denies pope performed public exorcism
VATICAN CITY (CNS) — When Pope Francis solemnly laid both hands on the head of a young man in a wheelchair and prayed intently over him for several minutes, he was not performing an exorcism, said the Vatican spokesman. The young man, who was among dozens of people in wheelchairs greeted by the pope at […]
Struggle for power in church is sin, pope says at Mass
VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Careerism and a drive to seek power in the church are sins as old as the church itself, Pope Francis told a group of employees from Vatican Radio and from the Vatican’s office for pilgrims and tourists. Commenting on the day’s Gospel passage — Mark 9:30-37 — the pope said that […]
Chaldean patriarch warns surge in Iraqi violence will divide country
BEIRUT (CNS) — The patriarch of the Chaldean Catholic Church in Baghdad denounced a recent series of car bombings and shootings in Iraqi cities that left at least 54 people dead and dozens more injured. Patriarch Louis Sako, told Catholic News Service in an email May 20 that the current violence is between minority Sunni […]
Police evacuate Notre Dame Cathedral after man commits suicide
PARIS (CNS) — Visitors were evacuated from Notre Dame Cathedral after a man committed suicide in the 850-year-old church, police said. News agencies reported that the man in his 70s walked up to the main altar and shot himself the afternoon of May 21 as tourists and worshippers were in the church. Cathedral officials issued […]
Syriac bishop: Extremism jeopardizes Syrian Christians’ safety
The church leaders took part in the special Syriac blessing of the water ceremony recited over small bottles of water, later distributed to the worshippers. In his homily, Bishop Melki said the church in Syria "continues to be a victim of the total chaos and war." "We pray fervently day and night for (Christian) unity and peace, especially in Syria, and for the two bishops who have been kidnapped and their release and for others kidnapped elsewhere in the Middle East."
Diversity is a blessing when all are united in faith, pope says
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Calling for unity -- not uniformity -- in the Church, Pope Francis said diversity is a blessing only when all Catholics recognize and follow Church teaching. "It is the church which brings Christ to me and me to Christ; parallel journeys are dangerous," he told some 200,000 members of Catholic lay movements and groups during a May 19 Pentecost Mass in St. Peter's Square. "When we venture beyond the Church's teaching and community, and do not remain in them, we are not one with the God of Jesus Christ."
Fighting poverty would limit trafficking, Vatican’s U.N. observer says
UNITED NATIONS (CNS) — The political commitment to combat human trafficking must be backed by concrete actions to ensure that victims gain their freedom from modern-day slavery, said the Vatican’s representative to the United Nations. Addressing a U.N. General Assembly meeting to develop a global plan to address human trafficking May 13-14, Archbishop Francis A. […]
Pope says head of mission office teaches him about reality of church
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Pope Francis said the prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples, which cares for the church in mission territories, has been teaching him about the nuts and bolts reality of the universal Catholic Church. "He is a professor and comes to me and says, 'This diocese is here and is like this,'" the pope told national directors of the pontifical mission societies from around the world. Referring to Cardinal Fernando Filoni, Pope Francis said, "I learn the church from him -- and without paying him."
Recognize your sin, ask forgiveness, pope says at Mass
VATICAN CITY (CNS) — The key problem in everyone’s relationship with God is not that they sin, but that they are not ashamed of their sin and don’t ask forgiveness, Pope Francis said. In a homily about St. Peter’s relationship with Jesus, Pope Francis said Peter thought he was a good disciple, but ended up […]