In his homily at the morning Mass at the Casa Santa, Pope Francis called on Christians to be joyful, and said pessimism is not Christian. Contrasting the joyful countenance of a person who has been forgiven and redeemed, with the face of someone attending a wake, Pope Francis delivered a homily on the joy that springs from the forgiveness of sin and the closeness of the Lord. Both [...]
Pope Francis continued his catechesis on the Holy Mass at Wednesday's General Audience, beginning a series of reflections on the various parts of the Mass with a consideration of the introductory rites. At his General Audience on Wednesday, Pope Francis continued his catechesis on the Holy Mass, beginning a series of reflections on the various parts of the liturgy. [...]
December 20, 2017, Wednesday I was walking through St. Peter's Square this cold December evening, and I ran into two old friends. We were all in front of the manger scene by the obelisk in the middle of the square. This is what we saw: "What do you think of the manger scene?" I asked. "Terrible," [...]
Pope Francis has authorized 12 decrees on miracles, martyrdom and heroic virtues of 22 men and 5 women. Pope Francis on Monday took 27 men and women a step closer to sainthood. The Pope received Card. Angelo Amato, the Prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints and authorized him to promulgate 12 decrees regarding 22 men and [...]
The Congregation for the Causes of Saints has issued a new Instruction addressing the handling and authentication of relics, both during canonical processes leading to beatification/canonization and for the exposition of relics for the veneration of the faithful. By Christopher R. Altieri The Congregation for the Causes of Saints on Saturday issued an Instruction on the [...]
In the homily at the morning Mass, Pope Francis said Saint Joseph “took up” the fatherhood of Jesus, “a paternity that was not his own, but God’s.” In difficulties, in troubles, in darkness, we learn from St Joseph who knew “how to walk in darkness,” “how to listen to the voice of God,” “how to go [...]
On the Third Sunday of Advent - called "Gaudete Sunday" in reference to the introit traditionally sung at the Mass of the day, which begins, "Gaudete in Domino semper", Pope Francis prayed the traditional Angelus with the faithful gathered in St. Peter's Square, beneath the window of the Papal apartments in the Apostolic Palace. We bring [...]
The tenderness of God, was at the heart of the Pope’s homily this morning at Mass at the Casa Santa Marta. The tenderness of God, as his defining trait, was at the heart of the Pope’s homily this morning at Mass at the Casa Santa Marta. The theme was taken from the first reading from the [...]
The mother of God is a figure of the Church from whom we want to learn to be a Church that embraces all the richness and cultural diversity of the people of Latin America and the Caribbean, where no one feels ashamed or small. Pope Francis’ exhortation came in his homily at an evening Mass on to commemorate the feast of Our Lady [...]
Pope Francis told the faithful on Wednesday that missing out on Mass on Sundays means missing out an encounter with the Lord. Speaking to those present in the Paul VI Hall for the weekly General Audience, the Pope reflected on the question: “why go to Mass on Sunday?” Continuing his catechesis on the Eucharist Pope Francis reminded Christians that we [...]
