Vatican News

Pope Francis: Now is the time for mercy

Vatican City, Apr 11, 2015 / 11:12 am (CNA/EWTN News).- In a world marked by suffering and fierce persecution – especially of Christians – now “is the time for mercy,” Pope Francis said, speaking at the vigil for the Feast of Divine Mercy.

Reflecting on the ongoing persecution faced by Christians, the Pope said, “our prayer is all the more intense and becomes a cry for help to the Father, who is rich in mercy, that he may sustain the faith of our many brothers and sisters who are in pain.”

Practical help for the demon-possessed: Vatican rolls out new exorcism course

Vatican City, Apr 10, 2015 / 04:02 am (CNA/EWTN News).- This month the Vatican will gather a wide range experts in the field of exorcism with the aim of shedding light on demonic possession from both theological and scientific perspectives.

The annual course, “Exorcism and Prayer of Liberation,” is designed for priests and lay persons interested in learning how to recognize a case of demonic possession when they see one – and what to do about it.

Kasper is not the 'Pope's theologian,' says leading African cardinal

Vatican City, Apr 9, 2015 / 05:08 pm (CNA/EWTN News).- A top African cardinal says that German cardinal Walter Kasper – who's stirred controversy over his views promoting Communion for the divorced and remarried – does not necessarily represent Pope Francis' theological stance.

He also rejected efforts to claim the Pope for either side of the debate ahead of the upcoming synod on the family.

Pope Francis brings down hammer, says 'Don’t mess with children'

Rome, Italy, Apr 8, 2015 / 06:20 am (CNA/EWTN News).- Pope Francis said Wednesday that children are never a mistake, and called adults out for building faulty systems that leave children exploited and abandoned, rather than treated as the blessings they are.

“Brothers and sisters, think about this well: you don't mess with children,” the Pope told pilgrims present in St. Peter’s Square for his April 8 general audience.

How the Holy See is using diplomacy to aid Christians in the Middle East

Vatican City, Apr 8, 2015 / 02:08 am (CNA/EWTN News).- In the face of increased persecution of Christians in the Middle East, the Holy See's diplomatic arm is developing a strategy to shed light on Christian martyrs, helping those remaining to stay in their homeland and to foster interreligous dialogue.

A visible effect of this commitment is a joint statement issued by the United Nations Human Rights Council March 13, which was drafted by the Holy See together with Lebanon and Russia.

If you're looking for the truth, you'll find the Resurrection Pope says

Rome, Italy, Apr 4, 2015 / 12:57 pm (CNA/EWTN News).- During his homily for the Easter Vigil Pope Francis said that the Resurrection of Jesus is a mystery we can only enter by going out of ourselves and looking for the truth.

 

“To enter into the mystery demands that we not be afraid of reality: that we not be locked into ourselves, that we not flee from what we fail to understand, that we not close our eyes to problems or deny them, that we not dismiss our questions,” the Pope said April 4.

 

True martyrs die in prayer – not with clenched fists, papal preacher says

Vatican City, Apr 3, 2015 / 11:35 am (CNA/EWTN News).- In his homily for the celebration of the Passion of Our Lord on Good Friday, papal preacher Father Raniero Cantalamessa called for a spirit of forgiveness amid rising persecutions in the world.

“True martyrs for Christ do not die with clenched fists but with their hands joined in prayer,” Fr. Cantelamessa said, according to the English translation published by Vatican Radio.

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