Justin McLellan is a journalist based in Rome with Catholic News Service. He holds a bachelor's degree in philosophy and theology from the University of Notre Dame.
The Catholic Church should not be discouraged by the challenge of confronting sex abuse, Pope Francis said, rather it must take concrete steps in developing policies to preserve the dignity of its members.
"In confronting the scandal of abuse and the suffering of
Pope Francis will continue his custom of celebrating Holy Thursday Mass in a prison during Holy Week 2024, the Vatican said.
In a statement released March 6, the Vatican announced that the pope will visit the women's prison at the Rebibbia correctional facility
The Marian apparitions claimed to have taken place outside of Rome were decreed "not supernatural" by the local bishop.
Since 2016, Gisella Cardia has claimed to be seeing visions of the Virgin Mary in the central Italian town of Trevignano Romano, some 30
Just as Jesus drove out merchants from the temple in Jerusalem, Christians should cleanse themselves from a transactional relationship with God by developing an intimacy with him like that of a family in their home, Pope Francis said.
Speaking to some 20,000 people
Western theology risks becoming an abstract and rationalized conversation among academics rather than a tool for nourishing the faith of God's people, the papal preacher said.
"Theology, above all in the West, has increasingly moved away from the power of the Spirit to
This Lent, Christians should become "seekers of light" by keeping their sights set on the light of Jesus through prayer and participating in the sacraments, Pope Francis said.
"This is a good Lenten resolution: cultivating a welcoming outlook, becoming 'seekers of light,' seekers
After two years of supporting communities throughout Ukraine since Russia's full-scale invasion of the country, the Vatican-based charity confederation Caritas Internationalis is shifting to a long-term response plan to address the humanitarian fallout from the prolonged conflict in Ukraine.
"According to experts, the
The cardinal accustomed to preaching to popes and officials of the Roman Curia is now taking his Gospel message directly to the faithful through social media.
For six days during Lent, the Vatican was releasing brief -- approximately two minutes long -- spiritual
In an age when even one's most intimate thoughts and feelings can become fodder for social media, Lent is a time to cast aside appearances and to find God at work in the depths of the heart, Pope Francis said.
Without realizing it,
Months after throwing verbal jabs at Pope Francis along the campaign train, Argentine President Javier Milei brought smiles and cookies to the Vatican for his highly anticipated meeting with the pope Feb. 12. Although the Vatican did not share the content of