You have a duty “not only of forming fine minds, but also of developing generous hearts.” This was Pope Francis’ exhortation as he received a delegation from Jesuit-run Loyola University of Chicago, on May 20, 2024, at the Vatican. “We need men and women who are ready to put their skills at the service of Read More…

After excerpts were broadcast about a month ago, CBS aired the full “60 Minutes” interview with Pope Francis on May 19, 204. The Pope’s interview with CBS was the first one-on-one of a pope with American TV. It was recorded on April 24, in light of the Pope’s creation of World Children’s Day, the first of Read More…

In a brief reflection before and after praying the midday Regina Caeli on this feast of Pentecost, Pope Francis urged the faithful to allow God’s word to penetrate and fill our hearts. “He speaks to us with … the words that the Father and the Son say to each other,” the Pope reflected. Here are Read More…

Pope Francis celebrated Mass in St. Peter’s on this feast of Pentecost. Here is a Vatican translation of his homily: ~ The account of Pentecost (cf. Acts 2:1-11) shows us two areas of the Holy Spirit’s working in the Church: in us and in mission, with two characteristics: power and gentleness. The Spirit’s work in us is powerful, as symbolized by the signs Read More…

With a Motu proprio called Fide Incensus, published on May 18, 2024, and bearing a signature of the same day from St. John Lateran (though Pope Francis was on a pastoral visit to Verona), the Argentine Pontiff grants an “equipollent beatification” of the 12th-century French religious Guy of Montpellier (1160-1209). With the “equipollent” canonization or Read More…

In “fair Verona” where Shakespeare placed Romeo and Juliet, Pope Francis called for justice, peace, and a spirit of taking care of our neighbor. The Pope made a day trip to Verona on Saturday, May 18. He had a meeting with priests and religious, and another with children, before chairing the meeting “Arena of Peace: Read More…

“The Holy Spirit constitutes the soul, the life blood of the Church and of every individual Christian: He is the Love of God who makes of our hearts his dwelling place and enters into communion with us.” This is how Pope Francis defined the Holy Spirit during the general audience of April 9, 2014. That Read More…

The Orthodox Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, Bartholomew I, revealed during a visit to Lisbon, Portugal, that Pope Francis is considering a visit to Turkey with him in 2025. Although the Vatican hasn’t yet confirmed the trip, the Patriarch said on May 16 that a mixed Orthodox-Catholic commission is working on the preliminary arrangements. If the Read More…

Pope Francis met with a group of priests who have been ordained for more than 40 years for two hours in the Roman parish of San Giuseppe al Trionfale, in the afternoon on May 14, 2024, the Holy See Press Office stated the same day. Together, they discussed the issues that priests can face in Read More…

A jubilee, according to biblical tradition, is a special year of remission of sins, debts, and universal pardon. In the book of Leviticus, a jubilee year is mentioned to occur every 50 years. During that year, slaves and prisoners would be freed, debts would be forgiven, and the mercies of God would be particularly manifest. Read More…

In a discreet corner of the Basilica of St. Mary Major, between the prayerful murmurs of the Pauline Chapel and the mystical, almost unreal silence of the Sforza Chapel: This is where Pope Francis chose to be buried, as he revealed last December. We report from this basilica in Rome’s historic center, where seven popes Read More…

Perhaps the most famous words about charity in the Bible are those written by St. Paul to the Corinthians. Pope Francis, in reflecting on these words at the May 15 general audience, wondered if the Corinthians were like us: “Who knows, perhaps in the community of Corinth, no one thought they had committed a sin, Read More…