Pequeño tour brings Central American orphans to Arizona

Fourteen Nicaraguan children without parents or other relatives to care for them are making their way through Arizona and California to meet and thank their distant godparents whose financial support helps meet their basic needs. The children, ages 9 to 25, are all part of Nuestros Pequeños Hermanos. The nearly 60-year-old nonprofit, started by an Arizona native turned priest, is led by staff and volunteers who are raising some 3,300 children in nine countries.

Pope calls synod to discuss families, divorce and remarriage

The predicament of divorced and remarried Catholics will be a major topic of discussion when bishops from around the world meet at the Vatican in October 2014.

Phoenix seminarian ordained to diaconate in Rome

Kevin Grimditch, a parishioner at Corpus Christi Parish in Ahwatukee, was among 41 seminarians ordained to the diaconate Oct. 3 in Rome at the...

Thousands march for immigration reform in downtown Phoenix

Immigrants and advocates alike took the streets of downtown Phoenix and other major cities across the United States to pressure Congress into a comprehensive overhaul of the immigration system.

Pope, in Assisi, calls on church to renounce ‘spirit of the world’

ASSISI, Italy (CNS) -- Making his first pilgrimage as pope to the birthplace of his papal namesake, Pope Francis called on the whole church to imitate St. Francis of Assisi, embracing poverty and stripping itself of the "spirit of world."

Pope, cardinal advisers looking at major overhaul of Roman Curia

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Pope Francis and his international Council of Cardinals are laying out plans to completely overhaul the Roman Curia, underlining its role of "service to the universal church and the local churches," the Vatican spokesman said.

Pope calls for less “Vatican-centric,” more socially conscious Church

n his latest wide-ranging interview, Pope Francis said that he aimed to make the Catholic Church less "Vatican-centric" and closer to the "people of God," as well as more socially conscious and open to modern culture.

Pope establishes advisory panel as permanent Council of Cardinals

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Pope Francis made his international advisory panel on church governance a permanent council of cardinals, thereby emphasizing the importance and...

Pope: Get out in the real world to find Jesus

People will not find Jesus by hanging out in first-class lounges or in the library, but by being out and about in the real world and in prayer, Pope Francis said.

Pope: Church must show what unity looks like, avoid divisions, gossip

Backstabbing and gossip hurt people and harm God's desire for a united human family, Pope Francis said. Unity is a gift from God, "but often we struggle to live it out," he said. "We are the ones who create lacerations."