Vatican News

For Pope Francis, when we receive Christ's mercy we must share it

Vatican City, Aug 10, 2016 / 12:11 pm (CNA/EWTN News).- Each of us must respond to the gift of mercy in our hearts by getting up and putting mercy into action, Pope Francis said Wednesday.

Speaking about a bishop who had in his cathedral one Holy Door of mercy for entering and one for exiting, Pope Francis said: “Let us also do the same with the journey that goes from the heart to the hands.”

Brazilian priest mentioned in 'Spotlight' film commits suicide

Vatican City, Aug 10, 2016 / 11:29 am (CNA/EWTN News).- Fr. Bonifacio Buzzi, a Brazilian priest convicted of child abuse and who was mentioned in the Oscar-winning film ‘Spotlight,’ committed suicide in his prison cell over the weekend.

According to Reuters, Fr. Buzzi, 57, hung himself with a sheet inside his jail cell in the Brazilian state of Minas Gerais Aug. 7 after having been arrested Friday.

Pope sends condolences to victims of Pakistan hospital attack

Vatican City, Aug 9, 2016 / 04:43 am (CNA/EWTN News).- Pope Francis offered his condolences to those affected by the “senseless and brutal” attack against a hospital in Quetta, Pakistan, which left dozens dead and over a hundred injured.

The Pope was “deeply saddened to learn of the loss of life” from Monday's attack, according to the telegram which was signed by Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin.

Pope: It's 'unacceptable' that civilians must pay the price of Syrian conflict

Vatican City, Aug 7, 2016 / 03:34 am (CNA/EWTN News).- On Sunday, Pope Francis lamented at how many defenseless civilians are forced to “pay the price” of the ongoing Syrian crisis, and he expressed his solidarity for those affected.

“Sadly, news of civilian victims of war continues to arrive from Syria, especially from Aleppo,” the Pope said during his weekly post-Angelus address, delivered to the crowds in St. Peter's Square from the Apostolic palace.

What Pope Francis has to say to this year's Olympic athletes

Vatican City, Aug 3, 2016 / 09:30 am (CNA/EWTN News).- Just two days before the Opening Ceremonies for the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Pope Francis offered a message to those who will be competing in the international games.

“In a world thirsting for peace, tolerance, and reconciliation, I hope that the spirit of the Olympic Games inspires all – participants and spectators – to ‘fight the good fight’ and finish the race together,” he said.

Pope creates commission to study women deacons

Vatican City, Aug 2, 2016 / 05:21 am (CNA/EWTN News).- Pope Francis has instituted a new commission for the study of women deacons, the Vatican announced Tuesday.

The decision comes several months after a papal audience with a group of religious sisters, during which Pope expressed his willingness to consider forming a commission to study women deacons, such as they existed in the early Church.

Full text of Pope Francis' in-flight presser from Poland

Aboard the papal plane, Jul 31, 2016 / 05:06 pm (CNA/EWTN News).- During his flight from Krakow to Rome on Sunday, Pope Francis gave a press conference to the journalists assembled aboard the papal plane. He reflected on the World Youth Day gathering in the Polish city, and the recent attempted coup in Turkey.

He also addressed abuse accusations against Cardinal Pell, the crisis in Venezuela, Islam and violence, and Panama – which will host the next World Youth Day.

Pope Francis disagrees with identifying Islam as violent

Vatican City, Jul 31, 2016 / 03:37 pm (CNA/EWTN News).- Pope Francis has questioned the claim that Islam should be identified with violence, in contrast to the Islamic State militant group, which he says is a fundamentalist sect of the religion.

“I do not believe it is right to identify Islam with violence,” the Pope told journalists during the July 31 papal flight to Rome following his apostolic journey to Poland. “This is not right and it is not true.”

Pages