Cindy Wooden, Catholic News Service
Chinese bishops who served prison, labour camp times remembered among deceased cardinals, bishops
VATICAN CITY – Praying for cardinals and bishops who died in the past year, Pope Francis urged people to remember the priestly witness they gave.
Catholic Church never likely to ordain women, Pope says
ABOARD THE PAPAL FLIGHT FROM SWEDEN – The Catholic Church insistence that it cannot ordain women to the priesthood and episcopacy is a teaching likely to last forever, Pope Francis said.
Vatican cardinal explains limits of eucharistic sharing
MALMO, Sweden – The Catholic Church continues to insist that sharing the sacrament of Communion will be a sign that Christian churches have reconciled fully with one another, although in some pastoral situations, guests may be invited to the Eucharist, said Cardinal Kurt Koch.
Pope offers new Beatitudes for saints of a new age at Mass in Sweden
MALMO, Sweden – The saints are blessed because they were faithful and meek and cared for others, Pope Francis said.
Ecumenical gathering: Catholics, Lutherans promise to serve the poor, work for peace
MALMO, Sweden – The sheet of ice and the penalty boxes were gone from Malmo Arena Oct. 31 as Catholics and Lutherans filled the stands and promised to work together for peace – particularly in Syria – and for justice – especially for refugees.
Pope, Lutheran leaders begin Reformation commemoration with prayer
LUND, Sweden – Urging Catholics and Lutherans to take decisive steps toward unity, Pope Francis nevertheless offered no new openings to the idea of sharing Communion before full unity is achieved.
Pope arrives in Sweden for what he calls important ecumenical event
MALMO, Sweden – Under a thick gray sky, Pope Francis was welcomed to Sweden with a small formal ceremony, which conveyed by its brevity that the trip was not a formal state visit, but had another purpose.
South Sudan leaders seek Pope's support as they work for peace
VATICAN CITY – In a newly independent nation where more than 70 percent of the population is Christian, leaders of the Christian churches are indignant about the violence raging around them.
VATICAN CITY – Pope Francis' recent insistence on "walking ecumenism," the notion that Christians will draw closer to each other as they work together to help the poor, should resonate well with Lutherans and Catholics in Sweden.
Sorrow and joy: Marking the Reformation with honesty about the past
VATICAN CITY – As Catholics and Lutherans prepare to mark the 500th anniversary of the start of the Protestant Reformation, Pope Francis said they should feel "pain for the division that still exists among us, but also joy for the brotherhood we have already rediscovered."