Pope arrives in Cuba calling for freedom, better U.S.-Cuba relations
HAVANA (CNS) — Pope Francis began his visit to Cuba praying for greater freedom for the island’s people and calling on U.S. and Cuban politicians to continue moving toward fully normal and neighborly relations.
Vatican welcomes its first family of refugees following pope’s appeal
The family of four arrived in Italy Sept. 6, the day the pope made his appeal, and in accordance with Italian law and their request for asylum, family members cannot work for six months making parish support vital.
Pope says he is ‘a bit feminist,’ thanks women religious for hard work
The Jesuit pope spoke 40 minutes off-the-cuff about living out a religious vocation in today's world.
No one can pretend not to know Syrians, Iraqis are suffering, pope says
More than 12 million people in Syria and more than 8 million people in Iraq are in need of humanitarian aid with some 10 million displaced, according to the Pontifical Council Cor Unum, the Vatican office that coordinates Catholic charitable giving.
Pope to canonize Junípero Serra during U.S. visit
Soon-to-be St. Junípero Serra has become the new best friend of artist Renee Bau, who has a 48-by-70-inch portrait of the “Apostle of California” hanging in her studio. St. Mary’s Basilica recently commissioned Bau to paint the saint ahead of local celebrations of his canonization.
Pope has high hopes for his ‘mission’ to Cuba-U.S., asks for prayers
The family is the beginning and the foundation of the kind of global culture that will save humanity from many attacks, destruction and "ideological colonization that so threatens the world," the pope said during his final weekly audience before his 10th apostolic journey that includes attendance at the World Meeting of Families.
‘Complex’ trip to Cuba, U.S. will be pope’s longest, spokesman says
VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Pope Francis' 10th foreign trip will be the longest of his pontificate and, with stops in Cuba, three U.S. cities...
U.S. Embassy to Vatican inaugurates its new building
The meticulously renovated building is located on the same campus as the U.S. embassies to Italy and to U.N. agencies in Rome, which initially led some people to ask if it meant the U.S. government was downgrading its mission to the Vatican.
Eleven cardinals urge maintaining church rules on marriage
Cardinals coming from Europe, Asia, South America and Africa compiled their essays and personal pastoral reflections in a new book as well as urge extreme caution in considering any plan to readmit to Communion Catholics who have divorced and remarried civilly without having received an annulment.
Priest offers Mass daily at destroyed West Bank olive orchards
A dump truck rumbles by, kicking up dust, just a few feet away from where the priest has set up his makeshift altar: a small table covered by a white cloth with three olive tree saplings at its base.
