Clergy abuse survivors grateful after private meetings with pope
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- After private meetings with Pope Francis, three survivors of clergy sexual abuse from Chile said they felt they had been heard and were hopeful for changes in the way the Catholic [...]
Update: Survivor hopes papal meeting will bring end to ‘culture of abuse’
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- A survivor of clergy sexual abuse in Chile said he hopes his meeting with Pope Francis will be an opportunity to make a difference and bring an end to a culture [...]
Pope leads prayers for inter-Korean summit
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Pope Francis led thousands of people in St. Peter's Square in prayers for the success of the inter-Korean summit, scheduled for April 27. South Korean President Moon Jae-in and North Korea's [...]
Raise a cone: Rome’s poor celebrate pope’s name day with gelato
ROME (CNS) -- Cones raised in the air, the crowd gathered for dinner at the Sant'Egidio Community's soup kitchen toasted Pope Francis on his name day, the feast of St. George. The gelato was offered [...]
Italy grants citizenship to Alfie Evans in attempt to guarantee his care
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- The Italian government granted citizenship to Alfie Evans, a seriously ill British toddler, in a last-minute effort to prevent doctors in England from withdrawing life-support. The Italian foreign ministry, in a [...]
Pope calls for end to ‘needless bloodshed’ in Nicaragua
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Pope Francis called for an end to violence in Nicaragua after several days of protests against proposed social security legislation led to the deaths of more than two dozen people. "I [...]
Update: Father of Alfie Evans meets pope, begs for help to save his son
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Begging Pope Francis to help his son, Alfie, Tom Evans met with the pontiff, pleading for "asylum" in Italy so his seriously ill son may receive care and not be euthanized [...]
‘Is my dad in heaven?’ little boy asks pope
ROME (CNS) -- After circling a massive, crumbling public housing complex on the outskirts of Rome, Pope Francis had an emotional encounter with the neighborhood's children. Question-and-answer sessions with youngsters are a standard part of [...]
‘Schizoid’ world brags it’s free while chained to greed, pope says
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Christian freedom is being free from worldly ambition, fashion and passion and being open to God's will, Pope Francis said. The world today "is a bit schizoid, schizophrenic, right? It shouts, [...]
Pope apologizes for ‘serious mistakes’ in judging Chilean abuse cases
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- In a letter to the bishops of Chile, Pope Francis apologized for underestimating the seriousness of the sexual abuse crisis in the country following a recent investigation into allegations concerning Bishop [...]
Update: Pontifical Commission for Latin America proposes synod on women
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- The Catholic Church in Latin America must recognize and appreciate the role of women and end the practice of using them solely as submissive laborers in the parish, said members of [...]
Holiness means being loving, not boring, pope says
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- God calls all Christians to be saints -- not plastic statues of saints, but real people who make time for prayer and who show loving care for others in the simplest [...]