'Hope and dignity:' Pope calls for peace in Easter message
VATICAN CITY — On Christianity's most joyful day, Pope Francis called for peace in a world marked by war and conflict, "beginning with the beloved and long-suffering land of Syria" and extending to Israel, where 15 Palestinians were killed on the Israeli-Gaza border two days before Easter Sunday.Francis reflected on the power of Christianity's core belief — that Jesus rose from the dead following crucifixion — in his formal "Urbi et Orbi" Easter message delivered from the balcony of St.
VATICAN CITY — On Christianity's most joyful day, Pope Francis called for peace in a world marked by war and conflict, "beginning with the beloved and long-suffering land of Syria" and extending to Israel, where 15 Palestinians were killed on the Israeli-Gaza border two days before Easter Sunday.Francis reflected on the power of Christianity's core belief — that Jesus rose from the dead following crucifixion — in his formal "Urbi et Orbi" Easter message delivered from the balcony of St.
Francis marks 5 years as pope amid love, disenchantment
VATICAN CITY — Pope Francis marked his fifth anniversary as pope Tuesday by receiving votes of confidence from his predecessor and current Vatican No. 2, even as surveys showed his reform-minded papacy was turning off some of the most faithful, church-going Catholics.First out of the gate to give him thumbs-up was Emeritus Pope Benedict XVI, whose historic resignation paved the way for Francis' election on March 13, 2013.In a letter released on the eve of Francis' anniversary, Benedict publicly dismissed as "foolish prejudice" the opinions of critics who say Francis has no theological heft and represents a rupture from Benedict's papacy.Benedict said a new Vatican-curated volume of books on Francis' theology "shows Pope Francis is a man of profound philosophical and theological training and helps to see the interior continuity between the two pontificates, with all the differences in style and temperament."Francis frequently downplays the work of theologians, and his critics have flagged his cautious opening to allowing divorced and civilly remarried Catholics to receive Communion as a sign that dogma under the Church's first Jesuit pope is adrift.Francis' supporters insist he is in complete harmony with church teaching and Benedict's doctrinaire papacy.
VATICAN CITY — Pope Francis marked his fifth anniversary as pope Tuesday by receiving votes of confidence from his predecessor and current Vatican No. 2, even as surveys showed his reform-minded papacy was turning off some of the most faithful, church-going Catholics.First out of the gate to give him thumbs-up was Emeritus Pope Benedict XVI, whose historic resignation paved the way for Francis' election on March 13, 2013.In a letter released on the eve of Francis' anniversary, Benedict publicly dismissed as "foolish prejudice" the opinions of critics who say Francis has no theological heft and represents a rupture from Benedict's papacy.Benedict said a new Vatican-curated volume of books on Francis' theology "shows Pope Francis is a man of profound philosophical and theological training and helps to see the interior continuity between the two pontificates, with all the differences in style and temperament."Francis frequently downplays the work of theologians, and his critics have flagged his cautious opening to allowing divorced and civilly remarried Catholics to receive Communion as a sign that dogma under the Church's first Jesuit pope is adrift.Francis' supporters insist he is in complete harmony with church teaching and Benedict's doctrinaire papacy.
Pope on Christmas: Bethlehem trek's like today's migrations
ROME -- Pope Francis in Christmas Eve remarks Sunday likened the journey of Mary and Joseph to Bethlehem to the migrations of millions of people today who are forced to leave homelands for a better life, or just for survival, and he expressed hope that no one will feel "there is no room for them on this Earth."Francis celebrated late evening Christmas vigil Mass in the splendor of St.
ROME -- Pope Francis in Christmas Eve remarks Sunday likened the journey of Mary and Joseph to Bethlehem to the migrations of millions of people today who are forced to leave homelands for a better life, or just for survival, and he expressed hope that no one will feel "there is no room for them on this Earth."Francis celebrated late evening Christmas vigil Mass in the splendor of St.
Pope Francis blows out birthday candle on extra-long pizza
VATICAN CITY — Pope Francis has blown out his birthday candle on an extra-long pizza at the Vatican to the delight of children.Francis, who turned 81 on Sunday, then told the children, who use a Vatican health service, to "eat all four meters (13 feet)" saying it will make them grow.Later, thousands of children in St.
VATICAN CITY — Pope Francis has blown out his birthday candle on an extra-long pizza at the Vatican to the delight of children.Francis, who turned 81 on Sunday, then told the children, who use a Vatican health service, to "eat all four meters (13 feet)" saying it will make them grow.Later, thousands of children in St.
Pope devotes Mass to poor, calls indifference a 'great sin'
VATICAN CITY — Celebrating Mass with poor people in the splendor of St.
VATICAN CITY — Celebrating Mass with poor people in the splendor of St.
Holy Call: Pope Francis phoning space station Thursday
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — Pope Francis is making his first phone call off the planet — and into space.On Thursday, the pope will reach out to the six astronauts on the International Space Station.
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — Pope Francis is making his first phone call off the planet — and into space.On Thursday, the pope will reach out to the six astronauts on the International Space Station.
Pope Francis prays for Manchester blast victims, Coptic Christians in Egypt
VATICAN CITY -- Pope Francis is urging prayers for the victims of the Manchester concert attack and has denounced how "so many young lives were cruelly broken."Francis led thousands of people in St.
VATICAN CITY -- Pope Francis is urging prayers for the victims of the Manchester concert attack and has denounced how "so many young lives were cruelly broken."Francis led thousands of people in St.
President Trump, Pope Francis: After clashing, a search for common ground
VATICAN CITY — They are stylistic opposites, one a bombastic tycoon-turned-president, the other a famously modest pope.
VATICAN CITY — They are stylistic opposites, one a bombastic tycoon-turned-president, the other a famously modest pope.
Pope Francis prays in silence for all mothers in heaven and on earth
VATICAN CITY — Pope Francis has invited faithful in St.
VATICAN CITY — Pope Francis has invited faithful in St.
Pope Francis urges Egypt imams to teach and preach tolerance, peace
CAIRO -- Pope Francis urged Egypt's leading imams on Friday to teach their students to reject violence in God's name and preach messages of peace and tolerance instead, forging ahead with a delicate visit to the Arab world's most populous country following a spate of deadly Islamic militant attacks against Christians.Francis arrived to a subdued welcome and a heavy police presence at Cairo's international airport.
CAIRO -- Pope Francis urged Egypt's leading imams on Friday to teach their students to reject violence in God's name and preach messages of peace and tolerance instead, forging ahead with a delicate visit to the Arab world's most populous country following a spate of deadly Islamic militant attacks against Christians.Francis arrived to a subdued welcome and a heavy police presence at Cairo's international airport.
Pope Francis on Easter: Cling to faith amid wars and hatred
VATICAN CITY — In an impromptu Easter Sunday speech, Pope Francis on Sunday encouraged people to hold fast in their "fearful hearts" to faith despite all the wars, sickness and hatred in the world, acknowledging that many wonder where God is amid so much evil and suffering.Tens of thousands of faithful braved heavy security checks — and, later, a brief downpour from what had been sunny skies — to enter St.
VATICAN CITY — In an impromptu Easter Sunday speech, Pope Francis on Sunday encouraged people to hold fast in their "fearful hearts" to faith despite all the wars, sickness and hatred in the world, acknowledging that many wonder where God is amid so much evil and suffering.Tens of thousands of faithful braved heavy security checks — and, later, a brief downpour from what had been sunny skies — to enter St.
Pope Francis attends Good Friday service recalling Jesus' suffering
VATICAN CITY — Pope Francis prostrated himself in prayer during a solemn Good Friday service in St.
VATICAN CITY — Pope Francis prostrated himself in prayer during a solemn Good Friday service in St.
Pope Francis on Palm Sunday decries suffering from war, terrorism
VATICAN CITY — Pope Francis on Sunday decried a deadly attack on a Coptic church in Egypt during Palm Sunday celebrations, just weeks before his planned visit to Cairo.The pontiff expressed his "deep condolences" to the Coptic patriarch, Tawadros II, calling him "my brother," to the Coptic church and "all of the dear Egyptian nation," and said he was praying for the dead and injured in the attack that occurred just hours earlier as Francis himself was marking Palm Sunday in St.
VATICAN CITY — Pope Francis on Sunday decried a deadly attack on a Coptic church in Egypt during Palm Sunday celebrations, just weeks before his planned visit to Cairo.The pontiff expressed his "deep condolences" to the Coptic patriarch, Tawadros II, calling him "my brother," to the Coptic church and "all of the dear Egyptian nation," and said he was praying for the dead and injured in the attack that occurred just hours earlier as Francis himself was marking Palm Sunday in St.
Prince Charles to Pope Francis: It's impossible to know what to get you
VATICAN CITY — Prince Charles has given Pope Francis a picnic basket full of tea and chocolate, sheepishly admitting "It's impossible to know what to get Your Holiness!"Charles and his wife, Camilla, offered the gift at the end of a half-hour meeting Tuesday at the Vatican, the fourth day of their Brexit-inspired charm offensive to reassure Britain's allies.
VATICAN CITY — Prince Charles has given Pope Francis a picnic basket full of tea and chocolate, sheepishly admitting "It's impossible to know what to get Your Holiness!"Charles and his wife, Camilla, offered the gift at the end of a half-hour meeting Tuesday at the Vatican, the fourth day of their Brexit-inspired charm offensive to reassure Britain's allies.
Pope Francis open to studying ordination of married men as priests
BERLIN — Pope Francis says the church must study whether it's possible to ordain married men to minister in remote communities facing priest shortages.In an interview published Thursday with Germany's Die Zeit, Francis stressed that removing the celibacy rule is not the answer to the Catholic Church's priest shortage.
BERLIN — Pope Francis says the church must study whether it's possible to ordain married men to minister in remote communities facing priest shortages.In an interview published Thursday with Germany's Die Zeit, Francis stressed that removing the celibacy rule is not the answer to the Catholic Church's priest shortage.
Pope urges faithful to consult Bible as often as cellphones
VATICAN CITY — Pope Francis has called on the faithful to consult the Bible with the same frequency as they might consult their cellphones for messages.Francis urged a packed St.
VATICAN CITY — Pope Francis has called on the faithful to consult the Bible with the same frequency as they might consult their cellphones for messages.Francis urged a packed St.
Man who used to be priest at Wauwatosa school accused of inappropriate contact with young girl
MILWAUKEE -- A long-time priest could now face a long prison sentence.
MILWAUKEE -- A long-time priest could now face a long prison sentence.
Priests from Milwaukee, Burlington appointed by Pope Francis as "Auxiliary Bishops"
MILWAUKEE -- Milwaukee native Father Jeffrey Haines and Burlington native Father James Schuerman have been appointed by Pope Francis as Auxiliary Bishops for the Archdiocese of Milwaukee.According to a release from Milwaukee Archbishop Jerome Listecki, the appointments were announced in Rome, on January 25th.The two priests will be ordained bishops by Archbishop Listecki at the Cathedral of St.
MILWAUKEE -- Milwaukee native Father Jeffrey Haines and Burlington native Father James Schuerman have been appointed by Pope Francis as Auxiliary Bishops for the Archdiocese of Milwaukee.According to a release from Milwaukee Archbishop Jerome Listecki, the appointments were announced in Rome, on January 25th.The two priests will be ordained bishops by Archbishop Listecki at the Cathedral of St.
Parishioners celebrate birth of Jesus at Mass in Milwaukee, New York, the Vatican
MILWAUKEE -- Church services are a big part of the Christmas Eve and Christmas Day celebrations for many families.At the Cathedral of St.
MILWAUKEE -- Church services are a big part of the Christmas Eve and Christmas Day celebrations for many families.At the Cathedral of St.
Pope Francis wishes Christmas peace to those scarred by war
VATICAN CITY — Pope Francis has wished Christmas peace for people scarred by wars and those who lost loved ones to terrorism that he says is sowing "fear and death" in many cities and countries.Speaking from the central balcony of St.
VATICAN CITY — Pope Francis has wished Christmas peace for people scarred by wars and those who lost loved ones to terrorism that he says is sowing "fear and death" in many cities and countries.Speaking from the central balcony of St.