From Pope Francis: I wish to announce that on Wednesday 28 June a Consistory will be held to appoint five new Cardinals. Their provenance from different parts of the world manifests the catholicity of the Church, which reaches all around the earth, and the assignment of a title or a diaconate in the city expresses ...read more

Pope Francis presided over a Mass in the Pauline Chapel of the Apostolic Palace, concelebrated with Cardinals present in Rome, on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of his Episcopal Ordination. Below is the working translation of the homily: In the first Reading, we heard how the dialogue continues between God and Abraham, that dialogue ...read more

Interested in Women Deacons? Read what Sebastian Gomes recently wrote on this topic. And the two interviews with Phyllis Zagano: Subject Matters and Witness with Fr. Rosica Either the Church ordains women to everything, or we don’t ordain deacons. There are two questions we have to answer: ‘What is Ordination?’ And ‘What is the Diaconate?’ ...read more

Message of His Holiness Pope Francis for the First World Day of the Poor 19 November 2017 Let us love, not with words but with deeds 1.“Little children, let us not love in word or speech, but in deed and in truth” (1 Jn 3:18). These words of the Apostle John voice an imperative that ...read more

What’s behind the frame? When Pope Francis is photographed during a papal trip, it’s more than just a simple snapshot. Researchers at the University of Missouri School of Journalism wanted to know what we’re actually seeing in these photographs. By looking at Pope Francis’s apostolic visit to Cuba, they found the cultural background of photojournalists ...read more

Mission at the heart of the Christian faith Dear Brothers and Sisters, Once again this year, World Mission Day gathers us around the person of Jesus, “the very first and greatest evangelizer” (Paul VI, Evangelii Nuntiandi, 7), who continually sends us forth to proclaim the Gospel of the love of God the Father in the ...read more

Pope Francis celebrated Mass on Sunday, the Solemnity of Pentecost, in St. Peter’s Square. Below, please find the full text of his homily in its official English translation: Homily of His Holiness Pope Francis Solemnity of Pentecost 4 June 2017 Today concludes the Easter season, the fifty days that, from Jesus’ resurrection to Pentecost, are ...read more

Join us in prayer for the intentions entrusted to us by Pope Francis. For June 2017, we join the Holy Father in praying for: National Leaders – That national leaders may firmly commit themselves to ending the arms trade, which victimizes so many innocent people. Daily Offering Prayer God, our Father, I offer You my day. ...read more

The Pontifical Swiss Guard is one of the smallest armies in the world, and one of the oldest still in operation. Its main responsibility is to protect the Pope and the Apostolic Palace. Although they have mostly held a ceremonial role in recent years, their training now includes unarmed combat and firearms. Not surprisingly, to ...read more

During the Holy Mass for the Canonization of Blessed Francisco and Blessed Jacinta Marto, Mons. Antonio Dos Santos Marto, bishop of Leiria-Fatima, greeted Pope Francis with those words: Greeting to the Holy Father from Mons. Antonio Marto, Bishop of Leiria-Fatima “My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my ...read more