At 5:00 this afternoon in the Vatican Basilica, Pope Francis presided over the Rite of Reconciliation of several penitents with individual confession and absolution. Below is the homily pronounced by the Holy Father during the Liturgy of the Word of today’s Penitential celebration. ...read more

Join us in prayer for the intentions entrusted to us by Pope Francis. For March 2018, we join the Holy Father in praying for: Formation in Spiritual Discernment. ...read more

The final lessons of John XXIII and Benedict XVI G.K. Chesterton once wrote: “It is of the new things that men tire… of fashions and proposals and improvements and change. It is the old things that startle and intoxicate. It is the old things that are young.” This was the paradoxical justification Chesterton gave for ...read more

Sebastian Gomes speaks with Cardinal Donald Wuerl about Pope Benedict XVI, his resignation, and the Papal Transition to Pope Francis. ...read more

By Sebastian Gomes, Special to CNN In hindsight we see how calculated Benedict’s thinking was, and not only about his resignation. He called an unexpected consistory to be held on November 24 in which he created six new cardinals, none of them coming from Europe. That came nine months after the previous consistory, meaning that ...read more

Pope Benedict XVI delivered his final public homily on February 13, 2013 during Ash Wednesday Mass, just days after announcing his resignation. Here is the full homily. ...read more

2018 Migrants and Refugees Message The Church has celebrated the World Day of Migrants and Refugees each year since 1914. This is an occasion for the Church and people of faith to reflect upon the role migration has played in our tradition, express concern for migrants, refugees, and people on the move, and build awareness ...read more

2018 Lenten Message of His Holiness Pope Francis “Because of the increase of iniquity, the love of many will grow cold” (Mt 24:12) Dear Brothers and Sisters, Once again, the Pasch of the Lord draws near! In our preparation for Easter, God in his providence offers us each year the season of Lent as a ...read more

Join us in prayer for the intentions entrusted to us by Pope Francis. For December 2017, we join the Holy Father in praying for: Saying “No” To Corruption – That those who have material, political or spiritual power may resist any lure of corruption. Daily Offering Prayer God, our Father, I offer You my day. ...read more

Pope Francis’ Homily for the Final Mass of his Apostolic Visit: Jan. 21, Las Palmas Air Base, Lima, Peru: “Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and proclaim to it the message that I tell you” (Jon 3:2). With these words the Lord spoke to Jonah and directed him to set out towards that great ...read more