Pope Francis has rescued 12 Syrian refugees from the Greek Island of Lesbos, which he visited to highlight the ongoing humanitarian crisis. Three refugee families, including six children, boarded the Pope’s plane for Rome at the end of his short visit on April 16. A Vatican spokesman said: “The Pope has desired to make a gesture Read more
Pope Francis has spoken of his annoyance at the media’s seeming fixation on Communion for the divorced and civilly remarried. On his flight back from the Greek island of Lesbos on Saturday, the Pope was asked about a much-commented-upon footnote in his recent apostolic exhortation Amoris Laetitia. In a section of the document discussing pastoral Read more
Ines San Martin (Crux): Holy Father, what we’ve read… The first question is about the trip. This trip is happening just after an accord between the European Union and Turkey has come about … Do you think this is a political question in order save time? This morning, you met with the presidential candidate, Bernie Read more
US presidential contender Bernie Sanders briefly met Pope Francis at the Vatican on Saturday. The five-minute meeting took place in the foyer at the Pope’s residence at the Vatican. Pope Francis later referred to the meeting as “a matter of politeness”. The Pope added “ . . . and if anybody thinks that greeting somebody Read more
Pope Francis has said thanks should be given for Benedict XVI on the Pope emeritus’s 89th birthday “Today is Benedict XVI’s birthday,” Francis tweeted on April 16. “Let us remember him in our prayers and thank God for giving him to the Church and the world.” Continue reading
There is a particularly good chance Pope Francis will visit Indonesia next year. However, the Vatican has not released any official confirmation. The Indonesian bishops want Francis to come for Asian Youth Day. The 7th Asian Youth Day is taking place in Yogyakarta, a city on the island of Java, from July 30 to Aug. Read more
Pope Francis has reportedly promised to extend indefinitely his recognition of Confessions heard by priests of the traditionalist Society of St Pius X. Last September, Francis decreed that during the Holy Year of Mercy, anyone who confesses their sins to an SSPX priest will be considered validly forgiven. Now, SSPX superior Bishop Bernard Fellay has Read more
On Friday, Pope Francis released a 256-page document called “Amoris Laetitia,” or “The Joy of Love.” In it, he calls for the Catholic Church to approach issues of sex, marriage, family planning and divorce with less emphasis on dogmatic law and more emphasis on individual conscience. While the post-synodal apostolic exhortation doesn’t directly alter any Read more
The council of cardinals advising the Pope on Church governance have discussed the way bishops are chosen for dioceses around the world. Vatican spokesman Fr Federico Lombardi, SJ, said the cardinals’ council reflected on what criteria is currently used to select prelates “in the light of their pastoral identity and mission”. The cardinals have also Read more
In a new document, Pope Francis has called for renewed efforts to strengthen marriages, while being compassionate and close to people in their frailty. The 325-paragraph document, Amoris Laetitia (The Joy of Love), draws together almost three years of consultation with Catholics around the world, including synods in 2014 and 2015. Among the many topics Read more