The story of creation presents us with a panoramic view of the world. Scripture reveals that, “in the beginning”, God intended humanity to cooperate in the preservation and protection of the natural environment. At first, as we read in Genesis, “no plant of the field was yet in the earth and no herb of the Read more
Speculation is rife in the media about why Pope Francis visited a psychoanalyst nearly 40 years ago. He’s not saying – but in a new book based on 12 in-depth interviews with the French sociologist Dominique Wolton, he says the sessions helped him. “In those six months [I visited the psychoanalyst], she really helped me,” Read more
When Pope Francis and the Korean Council of Religious Leaders met in the Vatican on Saturday, he told them the world was looking for leadership from religious leaders. “…the world is looking to us; it asks us to work together and with all men and women of good will,” Francis said. The representatives came from Read more
Urgent action is needed to heal our wounded creation, Pope Francis and the world’s Orthodox Christian spiritual leader, Patriarch Bartholomew I said in a joint appeal to the world last Friday. Both Catholic and Orthodox churches marked Friday as a day of prayer for God’s creation. The two spiritual leaders say the world’s state of Read more
The Vatican says the Pope’s upcoming visit to Colombia is about about renewing the Catholic faith of Colombians so violence may be fought at its root. It is not about making a political statement. Read more
It is not news that the liturgy has been a contested field in Catholic life over the past few decades. Opposition to liturgical reform began even before the conclusion of the Second Vatican Council, and increased from 1964 onward, when reforms like the use of English and the practice of the priest facing the people Read more
The heads of the Catholic and Orthodox churches will publish a joint message later today about caring for creation. Pope Francis says he and “our dear brother Bartholomew, Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople” prepared the message together to mark the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation. Francis says their message invites everyone to Read more
Pope Francis has asked Catholic politicians meeting in Rome for the annual International Catholic Legislators Network conference to create and apply laws that build bridges of dialogue between diverse political perspectives. This is particularly important when these laws aim to promote greater care for the defenseless and the marginalised, “especially towards the many who are forced Read more
Dream big, “live with hope and joy not bitterness and … dream with [God] of a better world,” says Pope Francis. “Please, make sure we do not pay attention to disappointed and unhappy people; let us not listen to those who cynically plead not to cultivate hope in life.” Read more
Russia plays a crucial role in working for world peace, says Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin. Parolin, who has just returned from a four day trip to Russia, says: “I tried above all to say this, this was the message that I wanted to convey: Russia, for its geographical position, its history, its Read more