FEATURED

The first in a series of daily reflections from the Diocese of Phoenix marking the Fortnight for Freedom — a time when the Catholic Church's liturgical calendar celebrates a series of great martyrs who remained faithful in the face of persecution by political power.

VATICAN CITY (CNS) — The earth, which was created to support life and give praise to God, is crying out with pain because human activity is destroying it, Pope Francis says in his long-awaited encyclical, “Laudato Si’, on Care for Our Common Home.”

The head of the Franciscan order explains the title of Pope Francis' upcoming encyclical on ecology.

It has been one year since the life of Fr. Kenneth Walker, FSSP, was taken from the community he served. The memories and the spirit of the 28-year-old priest, however, are everlasting.

In his homily for his installation Mass June 4 as the new archbishop of Santa Fe, Archbishop John C. Wester recalled that Christ is represented symbolically as both the Good Shepherd and the Lamb of God.

Pope Francis' upcoming encyclical on ecology and climate is expected to send a strong moral message -- one message that could make some readers uncomfortable, some observers say.

The Eucharist is the seal of God's covenant, uniting Christians and giving them the strength to bring God's love to others, even when faith carries a high price, Pope Francis said.

Nuns may be a minority in most U.S. Catholic schools these days, but a relatively large number of them serve at the St. Peter Indian Mission School in Bapchule.

The first Youth Catholic Congreso will welcome teenagers and young adults from throughout the area for a series of talks, panels, Masses plus a concert and rally.

While Christians may think of themselves as divided into different churches and denominations, the devil actually sees that they are one in their faith in Jesus, Pope Francis said in a video message to a Christian unity celebration in Phoenix.