Vatican News

Days before encyclical's release, Pope condemns culture of waste

Vatican City, Jun 11, 2015 / 01:35 pm (CNA/EWTN News).- After revealing that the topic of consumerism will be a key theme in his upcoming encyclical, Pope Francis today delivered a speech condemning food waste and the indifference of states when confronted with the topic of hunger.

“Statistics on waste are very concerning: a third of food products end up under this heading,” the Pope told members of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in a June 11 audience.

US joins forces with Holy See in fighting tax fraud

Vatican City, Jun 11, 2015 / 12:59 am (CNA/EWTN News).- On Wednesday, the Holy See and the United States signed a joint agreement to promote the prevention of tax evasion at the international level.

In the first accord of its kind between the U.S. and the Holy See, the two States agreed to share tax information per the U.S. Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA). One high-ranking Vatican official said that with the agreement, the friendships and cooperation between the two has reached “an even higher level.”

When you care for a sick family member, you are a 'hidden hero,' Pope says

Vatican City, Jun 10, 2015 / 10:13 am (CNA/EWTN News).- During his weekly general audience, Pope Francis lauded families for the “hidden heroism” of caring for a sick loved one.

“These are the heroes. This is heroism of the family!” the pontiff said during his June 6 catechesis.

The Pope spoke of men and women who come to work, sleep-deprived after having cared for a sick family member.

“This hidden heroism is done with tenderness and with courage when someone is sick at home,” he said.

Pope receives briefing on activities at Pontifical Council for Legislative Texts

Vatican City, Jun 10, 2015 / 02:01 am (CNA/EWTN News).- During his visit to the Pontifical Council for Legislative Texts last week, Pope Francis was updated on the office's important work, which is focused on interpreting the laws of the Church.

As part of his tour of various dicasteries in the Roman Curia, the Pope on June 1 visited the Pontifical Council for Legislative Texts, followed by the Congregations for the Causes of Saints, Bishops, and Divine Worship.

Days after Medjugorje comment, Pope downplays predictable visions

Vatican City, Jun 9, 2015 / 07:59 am (CNA/EWTN News).- Days after declaring that a decision on the Medjugorje apparitions would be coming soon, Pope Francis cautioned against basing one’s faith solely on predicted visions or anything other than Christ himself.

In his June 9 daily Mass at the Vatican’s Saint Martha Guesthouse, Pope Francis cautioned against those who look for God “with these Christian spiritualties that are a little ethereal,” calling them “modern Gnostics.”

Pope Francis: Men and women are different for a reason

Vatican City, Jun 8, 2015 / 03:52 pm (CNA/EWTN News).- The value and beauty of marriage, based on the complementarity of man and woman, is lamentably being challenged by “gender ideology,” Pope Francis warned the bishops of Puerto Rico on Monday.

“The complementarity of man and woman, the crown of the divine creation, is being questioned by gender ideology in the name of a freer and more just society,” the Pope said June 8 at the Vatican's Santa Marta hall.

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