Catholic singer-songwriter aims to bring Christ to ‘10,000 places’

Singer-songwriter Audrey Assad seeks to bring a message of Pope Francis about building bridges to the music business. "Paul is a pontifex, a builder of bridges," the pope said at a Mass May 8.

West African resilience: How women are key to long-term stability in the Sahel

Women play a key role in coping with ongoing drought and famine in West Africa.

Life Teen conference draws hundreds

What do you get when you bring hundreds of youth ministers from around the world together for an inspiring four-day conference in the Valley of the Sun? The answer: 700 people on their knees in adoration beholding Jesus, the Lamb of God.

Pope urges complete ban on producing, using landmines

Landmines wound innocent civilians, "prolong war and nurture fear" long after conflicts have ended, Pope Francis told delegates working on the full implementation of an international treaty banning the production and use of anti-personnel mines.

Pope Francis: Without faith in Christ, church is just ‘pitiful NGO’

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Without faith in Christ's sacrifice on the cross, the church is nothing more than a "pitiful NGO," Pope Francis said in his first homily as pope.

Bishops send ‘special message’ reiterating objections to HHS mandate

In a "special message" released Nov. 13, the U.S. bishops reiterated their objections to the Affordable Care Act's requirement that employee insurance include contraceptive coverage and said they remain "united in our resolve to resist this heavy burden and protect our religious freedom."

Vatican publishes rules for verifying Marian apparitions

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- To help bishops determine the credibility of alleged Marian apparitions, the Vatican has translated and published procedural rules from 1978...

Prayer and trembling: Cardinals recount experience of conclave

Chanting the Litany of the Saints, asking a host of holy men and women to help them, the cardinals enter the Sistine Chapel in procession, aware of their enormous responsibility to elect a new pope.

Just Philly for a papal visit? Catholics hope other cities get added

The only city officially announced for a September visit by Pope Francis is Philadelphia, but other cities are still making their bid to be part of a papal itinerary.

Cristero martyr now popular patron of Mexican migrants headed to US

SANTA ANA DE GUADALUPE, Mexico (CNS) -- The road signs leading to this hamlet of 292 souls in the dry highlands northeast of Guadalajara...