Vatican News

Pope Francis: Every Christian must be prepared for martyrdom

Vatican City, Oct 30, 2015 / 10:36 am (CNA/EWTN News).- On Friday Pope Francis reflected on the life and death of Blessed Oscar Romero, who was recognized as a martyr earlier this year, stressing that each Christian ought to be ready to give their life for the faith.

“A martyr is not born. It's a grace that the Lord allows, and that in a way concerns every baptized person,” Pope Francis told a group pilgrims from El Salvador Oct. 30.

Africa abuzz ahead of Pope’s visit, Ugandan archbishop says

Vatican City, Oct 29, 2015 / 07:45 am (CNA/EWTN News).- As his country gets ready to receive their spiritual ‘grandfather,’ Archbishop John Baptist Odama of Gulu, Uganda said Pope Francis’ coming visit to Africa is a moment of both excitement and busy preparation.

“It is very wonderful, we are very excited in the country about the coming of the Pope,” Archbishop John Baptist Odama told CNA in an interview.

Prayer is the treasure of all religions, says Pope

Vatican City, Oct 28, 2015 / 11:04 am (CNA/EWTN News).- Pope Francis marked Wednesday's anniversary of the Second Vatican Council's declaration on the relation of the Church to non-Christian religion by saying the world looks to religious believers for their ability to pray.

“Prayer is our treasure, to which we draw in accordance with our respective traditions, to ask for the gifts for which humanity yearns,” he said at his Oct. 28 general audience at St. Peter's Square.

Pope Francis expected to visit Italian diocese of Milan in May

Vatican City, Oct 27, 2015 / 09:42 am (CNA/EWTN News).- Milan’s archbishop, Cardinal Angelo Scola, made an informal announcement Tuesday that Pope Francis will visit the archdiocese May 7, marking the first papal visit there since 2012.

“With joy and emotion we announce that Pope Francis, accepting our invitation, will be among us in Milan May 7,” Cardinal Scola announced in an Oct. 27 statement, posted to the diocese of Milan’s website.

Pope advises Gypsies to cultivate responsibility, openness

Vatican City, Oct 27, 2015 / 06:04 am (CNA/EWTN News).- Pope Francis met with Rome's Romani, or Gypsies, on Monday, asking them to take a new direction and embolden their efforts towards a life of inclusion, dignity, and responsibility.

"Time has come to uproot secular prejudice, preconceived ideas and the reciprocal diffidence that are often at the base of discrimination, racism and xenophobia," Pope Francis stated Oct. 26.

'Protect our common home', world's bishops ask climate change conference

Vatican City, Oct 27, 2015 / 12:08 am (CNA/EWTN News).- Negotiators of a global agreement on climate change must take effective action to protect creation, leading bishops from around the world said on Monday.

“This agreement must put the common good ahead of national interests. It is essential too that the negotiations result in an enforceable agreement that protects our common home and all its inhabitants,” said the bishops’ Oct. 26 appeal.

Pope visits elderly prelate who broke leg at Sunday's Mass

Vatican City, Oct 26, 2015 / 11:32 am (CNA/EWTN News).- Pope Francis Sunday evening paid a private visit to an elderly cardinal who is in hospital after having fallen and broken his leg in St. Peter's Basilica that morning.

Cardinal Roger Etchegaray, 93, lost his balance and fell while the Pope was greeting prelates following Mass for the closing of the Synod, according to an Oct. 25 statement by the Vatican Press office.

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