Global Catholic News

Pope highlights sanctity of life in Year of Mercy visits

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Pope Francis donned a green hospital gown over his white cassock and entered the neonatal unit of a Rome hospital, peering in the incubators, making the sign of the cross and encouraging worried parents. The trip to the babies' ward of Rome's San Giovanni Hospital and then to a hospice Sept. 16 were part of a series of Mercy ...

Assassinated French priest joins procession of martyrs, pope says

[caption id="attachment_20296" align="alignright" width="167"] Pope Francis celebrates a memorial Mass for Father Jacques Hamel in the chapel of the Domus Sanctae Marthae at the Vatican Sept. 14. Father Hamel, seen in the photo on the altar, was murdered while celebrating Mass in Rouen, France, July 26; the two killers claimed allegiance to the Isl...

Mother Teresa: 'Do small things with great love'

[caption id="attachment_20186" align="alignright" width="197"] A statue of Saint Teresa of Kolkata holding a child is seen in a prayer garden at Cure of Ars Church in Merrick, N.Y. On Sept. 4, Pope Francis, who has spent this year preaching about mercy, canonized Mother Teresa, who traveled the world to deliver a single message: that love and carin...

Catholics in the Olympics

In the shadow of the Christ the Redeemer statue, Brazil, one of the world?s most Catholic countries, is playing host to many Catholic athletes.

Pope praises witness of 10 athletes on Refugee Olympic Team

VATICAN CITY (CNS) - In a personal message addressed to each of the 10 members of the new Refugee Olympic Team, Pope Francis wished them success in their events and thanked them for the witness they are giving the world. Naming each of the team's athletes from South Sudan, Syria, Congo and Ethiopia, Pope Francis said he had read some of the interv...

Don’t tuck life away, take risks, pope tells young people

By Junno Arocho Esteves Catholic News Service KRAKOW, Poland (CNS) -- Take risks and do not let life's obstacles get in the way of encountering the true joy and life that Jesus can give, Pope Francis told more than 1 million young people. "Don't be afraid to say 'yes' to him with all your heart, to respond generously and to follow him," the pope ...

Panama's bishops see World Youth Day 2019 as bridge, 'fiesta Latina'

KRAKOW, Poland (CNS) - Panama, which will host World Youth Day in 2019, is a small country, but the head of its bishops' conference has no doubts the church will be able to organize the event. "Panama, with its canal, is a bridge between two continents, and we'll also make it a symbolic bridge between young people, especially in Latin America," ...