Vatican News

How does God show mercy to us? Through the Church, Pope says

Vatican City, Dec 16, 2015 / 10:05 am (CNA/EWTN News).- The Church is the “living sign” of God's love and mercy in the world, Pope Francis said during his Wednesday general audience. He reflected on the universality of communion as demonstrated by the global scale of the Jubilee of Mercy.

“May this ecclesial communion become more and more intense, because the Church is in the world the living sign of the love and mercy of the Father,” the Pope said in his Dec. 16 catechesis.

Vatican finances get a positive report card from European watchdog

Vatican City, Dec 16, 2015 / 12:01 am (CNA/EWTN News).- The Council of Europe's second progress report on the reform of Vatican finances, released Tuesday, found that the Holy See has addressed many of the deficiencies in its financial system, while continuing to urge that it ramp up money laundering prosecutions.

The Dec. 15 report was released by Moneyval, the Council of Europe’s anti-money laundering committee.

Coming soon: A new American saint?

Vatican City, Dec 15, 2015 / 04:14 pm (CNA/EWTN News).- Pope Francis yesterday authorized the Heroic Virtue of Brother William Gagnon, giving him the title of Venerable and launching him on the first step on the potential path to sainthood.

Cardinal Angelo Amato, prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints, presented Brother Gagnon’s name to the Holy Father along with a list of others at an audience Dec. 14.

Pope Francis ups effort to make annulments more accessible

Vatican City, Dec 15, 2015 / 03:19 pm (CNA/EWTN News).- On Friday Pope Francis clarified a few points in his streamlined marriage annulment process. He reiterated that not only do the new rules trump everything that came before them, they also restore power to the Vatican’s main marriage court in order to prevent unnecessary procedural delays.

To obtain peace, we have to fight indifference with mercy, Pope says

Vatican City, Dec 15, 2015 / 04:17 am (CNA/EWTN News).- Pope Francis’ message for 2016’s World Day of Peace is packed with bold pastoral and practical advice for both the Church as well as international leaders.

In it, he focused on the need to work for peace by overcoming the attitude of indifference and fostering a greater sense of solidarity, mercy and compassion.

There's no 'vocation to laziness', Pope Francis tells young people

Vatican City, Dec 14, 2015 / 11:40 am (CNA/EWTN News).- Pope Francis on Monday met with an Italian initiative aimed at offering support to unemployed and underemployed youth, saying their responsibility is to help young people rediscover the “vocation” of work in the context of their human dignity.

Pope Francis urges action after Paris climate agreement reached

Vatican City, Dec 13, 2015 / 06:48 am (Aid to the Church in Need).- In his Sunday Angelus address Pope Francis commended world leaders for reaching an agreement in the recently-concluded Paris climate talks, urging the international community promptly put it into action.

“The conference on climate has just concluded in Paris with the adoption of an agreement, defined by many as historic,” the Pope said Dec. 13.

Pope Francis was right about condoms and HIV

Vatican City, Dec 13, 2015 / 04:02 am (CNA/EWTN News).- On his return flight from Africa, as Pope Francis fielded the customary questions from the press, he challenged a journalist on a question about condom use in the fight to prevent HIV.

As Jesus' birth nears, sadness is 'not allowed,' Pope says

Vatican City, Dec 13, 2015 / 03:40 am (CNA/EWTN News).- On Gaudete Sunday Pope Francis opened the Holy Door of Rome’s basilica of St. John Lateran, telling attendees that the joy of Jesus’ birth overcomes the sadness caused by hatred and violence.

As Christmas approaches, “we cannot let ourselves be taken in by fatigue; sadness in any form is not allowed, even though we have reason to be with the many concerns and the many forms of violence which hurt humanity,” the Pope said Dec. 13.

Pope celebrates Our Lady of Guadalupe, confirms Mexico trip

Vatican City, Dec 12, 2015 / 11:55 am (CNA/EWTN News).- Pope Francis officially announced the date he would venerate the shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico during his homily for the Marian feast at the Vatican.

Speaking at the Dec. 12 Mass in St. Peter's Basilica, the Pope said he will venerate the shrine on Feb. 13, 2016, where he will pray that Christian communities may be “oases and sources of mercy,” and a witness to charity “that does not allow exclusions.”

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