With 18 days to go before his plane touches down on U.S. soil, the U.S. media is focusing on the places the pope will visit in their country, how to get tickets and where to buy pope memorabilia. At the same time a much different church is quietly preparing to welcome Pope Francis to Cuba. ...read more

Join us in prayer for the intentions entrusted to us by Pope Francis. For September 2015, we join the Holy Father in praying for: Opportunities for the Young – That opportunities for education and employment may increase for all young people. Catechists – That catechists may give witness by living in a way consistent with the faith they proclaim. Daily ...read more

To my Venerable Brothers Cardinal Peter Kodwo Appiah Turkson, President of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace Cardinal Kurt Koch,  President of the Pontifical Council for the Promotion of Christian Unity Sharing the concern of my beloved brother, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, for the future of creation (cf. Laudato Si’, 7-9), and at the suggestion ...read more

By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Like their Orthodox brothers and sisters, Catholics formally will mark Sept. 1 as the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation, Pope Francis has decided. The day of prayer, the pope said, will give individuals and communities an opportunity to implore God’s help ...read more

Rome, the eternal city, is conveniently located just barely inland from Italy’s Tyrrhenian coast and is surrounded by hills. This combination of geographical features means the summer months are hot, humid and smoggy. By August, it is next to impossible to breathe in the city. Thus Roman residents flee and take refuge in the beach ...read more

Pope Francis has returned to his regular schedule of activities at the Vatican. He held his first general audience this week after taking a one month break. His statement that divorced and remarried Catholics should not be treated as if they have been excommunicated made headlines around the world. However, the real issue that the ...read more

Join us in prayer for the intentions entrusted to us by Pope Francis. For June 2015, we join the Holy Father in praying for: Volunteers– That volunteers may give themselves generously to the service of the needy. Outreach to the Marginalized– That setting aside our very selves we may learn to be neighbors to those who find ...read more

With one papal trip barely over, attention is already turning to the next papal trip: Cuba and the U.S. The official schedule was released at the end of June. The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops released the theme and logo of that portion of the trip some time ago. The motto is “Love is our ...read more

(Pope Francis listens attentively to speakers at the World Meeting of Popular Movements in Bolivia on July 9.  Photo courtesy of CNS) In two years Pope Francis has said enough about the global economic system to spark both enormous enthusiasm and heavy criticism.  The story is still developing, but after his recent trip to Latin ...read more

The following is a translation of a reflection posted by Madonna Lee on Pope Francis’ Visit to South America on our Chinese website. Each week, Madonna posts a reflection on what she sees happening in the Church, and many come back each week to read her reflections. Now and then, we would like to share ...read more