Vatican News

Victims always come first, Pope tells trafficking summit

Vatican City, Jun 5, 2016 / 12:03 am (CNA/EWTN News).- Pope Francis asked judges, prosecutors and magistrates gathered at the Vatican for a summit on human trafficking this week to remember that the victims always come first.

“The victims are the first who need to be rehabilitated and reintegrated into society — and their traffickers and executioners must be given no quarter and pursued,” the Holy Father said in his address to the judges on June 3.

Pope approves new Vatican department for the Laity, Family, and Life

Vatican City, Jun 4, 2016 / 11:43 am (CNA/EWTN News).- Pope Francis has approved the institution of a new Vatican department dedicated to the family, the laity, and life.

According to a set of statutes released Saturday, the new department will promote “the pastoral care of the family, maintain the dignity and basic good of the Sacrament of marriage, favor the rights and responsibilities of the Church in civil society.”

Pope Francis embraces child writer in a wheelchair

Vatican City, Jun 3, 2016 / 12:03 am (CNA).- Thirteen-year-old Veronica Cantero Burroni fulfilled a dream on Wednesday, when she got to see Pope Francis, who offered her a warm embrace at the end of his general audience.

Veronica, who turns 14 this month, lives in the Argentine city of Campana and gets around in a wheel chair due to a neurological disease. However, this has not stopped her from becoming a writer and publishing five books.

What Pope Francis wants the world's priests to know

Vatican City, Jun 2, 2016 / 03:53 pm (CNA/EWTN News).- Pope Francis spoke candidly to thousands of priests this week during a special retreat for the Year of Mercy. The upshot of what he told them? We as priests are sinners, and we need God's mercy as much as everyone else.

The Pope encouraged them to look to the Prodigal Son as a way to overcome the scandal of sin and celebrate God’s mercy and forgiveness in their lives and their ministry.

You have my gratitude, Pope Francis tells prison chaplains

Vatican City, Jun 1, 2016 / 11:29 am (CNA/EWTN News).- Pope Francis has sent a special message to support the work of prison chaplains during the Year of Mercy.

“He especially wishes to assure all who are serving prison communities of his prayerful solidarity and deep gratitude for their efforts in upholding the human dignity of all those incarcerated,” Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican Secretary of State, said to a European meeting of chaplains June 1.

Pope Francis: Pray to God, not to a mirror

Vatican City, Jun 1, 2016 / 06:59 am (CNA/EWTN News).- One who prays with humility and awareness of his or her sin speaks to God, Pope Francis said on Wednesday, whereas one who prays with arrogance and self-righteousness is speaking to a mirror.

“It is not enough to ask ourselves how often we pray,” the Pope said to the thousands of people gathered in St. Peter's Square for the weekly general audience. “We must also ask ourselves how we pray, or rather, how our heart is.”

What Pope Francis wants us to learn from Mary's Visitation

Vatican City, May 31, 2016 / 12:11 pm (CNA/EWTN News).- In his homily at daily Mass on Tuesday, Pope Francis pointed to Mary’s encounter with Elizabeth at the Visitation as a lesson in service and joy in the Christian life.

“Serving others is a Christian sign,” he said during morning Mass in the Vatican’s Santa Marta residence, according to Vatican Radio.

George Clooney among celebrities honored by Pope Francis

Vatican City, May 30, 2016 / 08:08 am (CNA/EWTN News).- On Sunday, Pope Francis praised Hollywood actors George Clooney, Salma Hayek, and Richard Gere at a conference promoting a Vatican education initiative that helps poor communities.

Speaking in the Paul VI's Synod Hall, the Pope reminded the celebrities of their responsibility to “help the world recover the language of gestures.”

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