FAITH/STORIES
Vatican norms for Jubilee indulgence include pilgrimage, penance, service
By Cindy Wooden, Catholic News ServicePilgrims passing through the Holy Door of St. Peter's Basilica during the Holy Year 2025, going to confession, receiving Communion and praying for the intentions of the pope can receive an indulgence, but so can inmates in prison and those who work to defend human life or assist migrants and refugees.
How an adult film star fell in love with Jesus, quit her career and became Catholic
By Gina Christian, öÏÓãÊÓƵapp NewsBree Solstad, formerly a top pornographic content creator, recently announced her conversion to Catholicism and her decision to walk away from her previous career.
Nothing grows in a death grip, so dare to let yourself go
Several times in the last year, after speaking on grief and loss, I have been asked a question with variations on the same theme: What do we do when it feels like we cannot go on?
Mightier than the sword: Words are a Swiss Guard's best weapon
By Carol Glatz, Catholic News ServiceOne of the oldest military corps in the world, the Pontifical Swiss Guard, has always armed itself with the best gear available in its 518 years of active service protecting the pope.
Meeting Anglican primates, Pope Francis talks about overcoming divisions
By Cindy Wooden, Catholic News ServiceUnity within Christian communities and the unity of all the churches will grow only as believers draw closer to Jesus and learn to be honest in examining if they are listening to the Holy Spirit or to their own preferences, Pope Francis told leaders of the worldwide Anglican Communion.
Top Vatican cardinal says Pope Francis' reforms will continue
By Cindy Wooden, Catholic News ServiceThe reform projects launched by Pope Francis -- reforming not just institutions like the Roman Curia, but attitudes and pastoral approaches -- will not be reversed, even though some may take different forms in the future, said Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Vatican secretary of state.
Film a glimpse of Benedictines via strangeröÏÓãÊÓƵapp eyes
By Anna FarrowAt the heart of the documentary De l’autre côté is the unlikely friendship between the Brazilian-Canadian filmmaker Lessandro Sócrates and the cloistered nuns of the Abbey of Sainte-Marie des Deux-Montagnes, Que.
Dicastery condemns attacks on human dignity
By Cindy Wooden, Catholic News ServiceBeing a Christian means defending human dignity and that includes opposing abortion, the death penalty, gender transition surgery, war, sexual abuse and human trafficking, the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith said in a new document.
Pope Francis meets with family members of Hamas hostages
By Justin McLellan, Catholic News ServiceEight people united in their anguish carried into the papal library posters bearing the faces of their loved ones who are held in captivity by Hamas.
Easter marks the 'rebirth of hope amid the ruins of failure,' Pope Francis says
Easter is a promise that no matter how dark the world may seem and no matter how heavy the burdens one carries, victory belongs to the Risen Christ and all who believe in him, Pope Francis said.
Pope Francis washes feet of women inmates at Rome prison for Holy Thursday
By Cindy Wooden, Catholic News ServiceAs Pope Francis poured water over their feet, dried them with a towel and kissed their feet, 12 women inmates at Rome's Rebibbia prison wept.
On Palm Sunday, Pope Francis prays people open hearts to God, quell all hatred
By Carol Glatz, Catholic News ServiceOnly Jesus can deliver humanity from hatred and violence, Pope Francis said on Palm Sunday."Jesus entered Jerusalem as a humble and peaceful king," he said in brief remarks after celebrating Palm Sunday Mass in St. Peter's Square. He prayed that the faithful would open their hearts to the Lord because he alone "can deliver us from animosity, hatred, violence, because he is mercy and the forgiveness of sins."
Vatican court upholds climate activists’ conviction
By Cindy Wooden, Catholic News ServiceThe Vatican City appeals court upheld the conviction of two Italian climate activists who glued their hands to an ancient sculpture in the Vatican Museums.