On the Feast of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Pope Francis released a letter for the Year of Consecrated Life. The Year of Consecrated Life begins on November 30, 2014 and ends February 2, 2016. Find the full text of the letter below: Dear Brothers and Sisters in Consecrated Life, I am writing ...read more

Pope Francis and Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople jointly presided over an ecumenical prayer service on Saturday evening in the church of St. George, within the Ecumenical Patriarchate. Below, please find the full text of the allocution His All Holiness, Bartholomew, prepared for the occasion. Your Holiness, In offering glory to the all-good God in Trinity, ...read more

Pope Francis has presented these gifts during his visit to the Ecumenical Patriarchate in Phanar: Gift of the Holy Father to the Holy Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate The two sheets reproduced in facsimile belong to the Greek Barberinian manuscript 372 of the Vatican Apostolic Library. The original (mm. 223 x 168), in parchment, composed ...read more

Below you will find the full text of Pope Francis’ Homily during the Ecumenical Prayer Service in St. George’s Church in Istanbul: Your Holiness, my dear Brother Bartholomew, Each evening brings a mixed feeling of gratitude for the day which is ending and of hope-filled trust as night falls. This evening my heart is full of ...read more

Below you will find the full text of Pope Francis’ homily during Mass at the Cathedral of Istanbul: In the Gospel, Jesus shows himself to be the font from which those who thirst for salvation draw upon, as the Rock from whom the Father brings forth living waters for all who believe in him (cf. ...read more

Three priests and a layperson where arrested in Spain after Pope Francis encouraged an abuse victim to take his case to authorities. The victim, a 24 year old, male,  Opus Dei supernumerary, wrote to Pope Francis after hearing the pontiff statements about zero tolerance for abusers and people who cover up abuse. Upon reading the ...read more

The full text of Pope Francis’ address to Religious Leaders in Turkey can be found below: Mr President, Religious and Civil Authorities, Ladies and Gentlemen, I am pleased to meet with you today in the course of my visit to your country.  I thank the President of this distinguished office for his cordial invitation which ...read more

Pope Francis arrived for his Apostolic Trip to Turkey on November 28, 2014 and was greeted with a crowd at the airport. Find the full text of his welcome address below: Mr President, Mr Prime Minister, Distinguished Authorities, Ladies and Gentlemen, I am pleased to visit your country so rich in natural beauty and history, and filled ...read more

On Thursday while Americans feast on turkey on Thanksgiving Day, Pope Francis prepares for his three-day Apostolic Journey to Turkey for another kind of feast: of ecumenical relations, interreligious dialogue and peace. Breaking another record for papal trips, Pope Francis on Friday sets off on his second international journey this week alone, travelling to the ...read more

The Vatican bank has repatriated twenty three million euros that were frozen for more than three years, by Italian authorities. The Institute for Works of Religion, commonly known as the Vatican bank, announced the repatriation of the money in a statement released November 18. The funds were unblocked in 2011 but was not repatriated because ...read more