WASHINGTON (CNS) – Bishop David A. Zubik of Pittsburgh urged Mass-goers preparing to rally in Washington for the annual March for Life to "connect the dots" linking all manner of life issues.             At a Jan. 22 Mass at the Basilica...
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VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Let the Year of Mercy be the time to end all family feuds, to forgive each other and let bygones be bygones, Pope Francis said. "I think about so many brothers and sisters who are estranged from their families; they don't speak to each other," he said during his weekly general...
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VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Professional pilgrimage planners and those who regularly receive or accompany pilgrims set off on their own Year of Mercy pilgrimage in late January. Most had experience working with pilgrims to Lourdes, Fatima, the Vatican and World Youth Days. But one had a unique experience...
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WASHINGTON (CNS) -- A growing number of U.S. public school districts are combining lessons in world religions with U.S. government and politics as they grapple with closing schools for religious holidays. "The question is not should we do it. We have to do it to live with one another. How do we do...
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VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Catholic, Orthodox and Protestant Christians are called to work together in order to be a visible sign that God's mercy excludes no one, Pope Francis said during his general audience Jan. 20. The pope reflected on the theme of the annual week of Prayer for Christian Unity whi...
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VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- The Italian comedian talking about a new Pope Francis book was not joking when he said being a minister of God's mercy can have social and political implications. The corporal works of mercy of feeding the hungry and clothing the naked might not be controversial, but they are...
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WASHINGTON (CNS) -- Although President Barack Obama's final State of the Union address Jan. 12 hit a fair amount of key Catholic issues, it did not go into detail on them. The speech focused more on general themes than specific policies, which was not surprising since this is his last term. He emp...
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VATICAN CITY (CNS) – Being ministers of God's mercy, church members overcome "prejudice and rigidity," taking risks like Jesus did in order to heal and to save, Pope Francis said.             In Jesus' day, lepers were cast out of the com...
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VATICAN CITY (CNS) - God's mercy is constant and limitless; he is faithful in his mercy for his children, even when they are unfaithful, Pope Francis said. The greatness and power of God unfolds in his "love for us, who are so small, so incapable," he said at his weekly general audience Jan. 13. I...
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VATICAN CITY (CNS) - 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 journali...
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