VATICAN, April 21, 2013 (CNA/EWTN News).- Just after ordaining 10 men to the priesthood, Pope Francis called on young Catholics to ask Jesus “what he wants from you and be brave!” “There are many young people today, here in the square. Let me ask this: have you sometimes heard the voice of the Lord through [...]

VATICAN, April 19, 2013 (CNA/EWTN News).- The former Los Angeles Lakers player Vlade Divac was thrilled to meet with the Swiss Guard to discuss sports and learn about their work at the Vatican. “I was very excited to be here, and they have a basketball team here with very tall people,” the 7-foot, 1-inch Divac [...]

VATICAN, April 19, 2013 (CNS) — In an austerity move like those being taken by governments around the world, the Vatican will not pay its employees a bonus marking the March 13 election of Pope Francis but will instead make a donation to charity. “In the past, on the occasion of the start of a [...]

VATICAN, April 19, 2013 (CNA/EWTN News).- The eight cardinals Pope Francis has chosen to advise him on church governance and reform of the Curia come from a variety of backgrounds and countries, bringing with them diverse views and realms of experience. Paolo Gherri, a professor of theology and canon law at the Pontifical Lateran University, [...]

VATICAN, April 18, 2013 (CNA/EWTN News).- Pope Francis, who has quickly become known for his austere style, will continue using his simple black shoes and has called his shoemaker from his hometown of Buenos Aires, Argentina to repair them. For 40 years, 81 year-old Carlos Samaria has provided shoes from his store on the outskirts [...]

ROME, April 18, 2013 (CNA/EWTN News).- The most powerful Catholic leader in Syria met Pope Francis today to ask the Vatican to get more involved in bringing peace to his tortured homeland. “I think it’s time the Vatican plays a bigger role, when we hear about weapons here and there,” said Patriarch Gregory III Laham. [...]

VATICAN, April 18, 2013 (CNA/EWTN News).- Pope Francis tweeted a prayer request for the victims of a fertilizer plant explosion in Texas. “Please join me in praying for the victims of the explosion in Texas and their families,” he said on the English channel of his Twitter account, which uses the handle @Pontifex. Between five [...]

VATICAN, April 17, 2013 (CNS) — Pope Francis called for prayers for the victims of a deadly explosion in Texas. In a short message sent from his @Pontifex Twitter account, the pope told the more than 2.3 million followers on his English account to “Please join me in praying for the victims of the explosion [...]

VATICAN, April 18, 2013 (CNS) — In the teaching of Pope Francis, the devil has a more dastardly agenda than just convincing people to break one of the Ten Commandments; “the enemy” wants them to feel weak, worthless and always ready to complain or gossip. In his first month in office, Pope Francis continually preached [...]

VATICAN, April 17, 2013 (CNA/EWTN News).- One month into his papacy, Pope Francis has made his first episcopal and administrative appointments and has met with heads of state and the faithful, but one decision that is likely to play a key role in his reform project will be how he deals with the Vatican’s financial [...]