Christians must not take advantage of God’s forgiveness — selfishly repeating sin after sin — because God’s wrath for those who refuse to change their ways is just as great as his mercy, Pope Francis has said in a morning homily. “Do not say, ‘God’s compassion is great, he will forgive my many sins’ and…
Letter from Rome All eyes and ears will be on the Vatican during an unprecedented gathering February 21-24 to discuss the protection of minors in the Catholic Church. When Pope Francis announced the international meeting in September, it sparked an optimistic note that the global problem of abuse finally would be tackled with a…
The sacred liturgy is meant to help the people of God conform their heart, mind and actions more closely to Christ, Pope Francis said. “We know that it is not enough to change liturgical books to improve the quality of the liturgy. To just do this would be a deception,” he said. “For life to…
Defending the weak or hopeless and becoming a servant to those most in need is the best promotion one can ever receive, Pope Francis told new and old cardinals. “None of us must feel ‘superior’ to anyone. None of us should look down at others from above. The only time we can look at a…
Calling torture a “mortal sin,” Pope Francis called on Christians to help victims of this crime against human rights. Marking the United Nations’ International Day in Support of Victims of Torture yesterday, June 26, the Pope tweeted: “Torture is a mortal sin! Christian communities must commit themselves to helping victims of torture.” The Pope has spoken…
Everyone should have access to essential health services and no one should have to fall into poverty to obtain needed care, a Vatican representative said. “For many poor communities, families and individuals, access to the much-needed health care services remains an unachieved objective,” said Archbishop Ivan Jurkovic, Vatican observer to U.N. agencies in Geneva. “We…
What do the Sistine Chapel, a used car with 186,000 miles on the odometer and a statue of Our Lady of Lujan made out of metal from an abandoned factory have in common? Besides being found in the Vatican Museums’ collections, the 1984 Renault, the Renaissance frescoes and the recycled scrap all help showcase Pope…
Pope Francis is first of all a shepherd who makes seeking out the lost and forgotten his top priority. But he also knows that wherever he goes, the cameras and news coverage will follow. He leveraged his pull on the media spotlight early in his papacy when he went to Lampedusa for his very first…
Before he was elected Pontiff, Pope Francis had a reputation for not liking to do interviews. “Really, I don’t give interviews. But I don’t know why. I can’t, that’s just how it is. I find it a bit tiresome, but I’m grateful for your company,” he told the more than 70 journalists from all over…
To overcome fear, discrimination and conflict, people must have a deep desire to open themselves up to God and his mercy, and work actively for peace every day, Pope Francis said. God’s plan for creation is peace, “which always meets opposition from humanity and the devil”, he said during a one-day visit to Bosnia-Herzegovina on…