Cindy Wooden is a journalist with Catholic News Service.
Just before some 1,500 priests, bishops and cardinals renewed their priestly promises, Pope Francis asked them to embrace "compunction," which he said was "an aspect of the spiritual life that has been somewhat neglected yet remains essential."
Looking at its etymology, he said
Pope Francis told Catholics in the Holy Land that he knows Holy Week this year is "so overshadowed by the Passion and, as yet, so little by the Resurrection."
In a letter published March 27, Pope Francis told the region's Catholics that he
For the first time in his 11-year papacy, Pope Francis has chosen to write his own meditations for the Good Friday Way of the Cross service at Rome's Colosseum, the head of the Vatican press office said.
For the service March 29, Pope
The Holy Spirit is like a line prompter at a theater, behind the scenes and constantly whispering to Christians the words of Jesus, said the preacher of the papal household.
"However, he does not mechanically suggest the words of the Gospel, like from
Pope Francis has not accepted an invitation to travel to Moscow in June to meet with Vladimir Putin, the director of the Holy See press office said.
A report on the website of Intelligence Online, a French journal, "does not correspond to the
"War is always a defeat," Pope Francis said, urging people at his general audience to pray that leaders in war-torn nations would have the courage to negotiate for peace.
"We must make every effort to discuss, to negotiate to end war. Let's pray
At the request of Pope Francis, three Jesuit-run institutions of higher learning in Rome -- the Pontifical Gregorian University, the Pontifical Biblical Institute and the Pontifical Oriental Institute -- will formally become one university in May.
Jesuit Father Arturo Sosa, superior general of
Asked to reminisce about his life and where he was at key moments in history, the 87-year-old Pope Francis obliged, but also used the opportunity to talk about the lessons the events hold today and his hope for the future.
The book, "Life:
A pope's ministry is meant to last his lifetime, Pope Francis said, and, at least until now, he has not considered resigning.
However, he wrote in a new book, if he were seriously impaired, he would resign, but unlike the late Pope Benedict
Christians should pray for the grace to look at others with the same mercy and care with which Jesus looks at them, Pope Francis said.
"No one is perfect. We are all sinners, we all make mistakes, and if the Lord were to