The President of Palestine, Mahmoud Abbas, delivered remarks to the participants in the Invocation for Peace here at the Vatican on Sunday evening. Below, please find the full text, in English, of President Abbas’ prepared remarks. In the Name of God, the Most Gracious and Most Merciful Your Holiness Pope Francis Your Excellency President Shimon Peres, ...read more

The President of Israel, Shimon Peres, delivered remarks at the Invocation for Peace gathering in the Vatican on Sunday evening. Below, please find the full text, in English, of President Peres’ prepared remarks. Your Holiness Pope Francis, Your Excellency President Mahmoud Abbas, I have come from the Holy City of Jerusalem to thank you for ...read more

Pope Francis delivered remarks to the Presidents of Palestine and Israel, Mahmoud Abbas and Shimon Peres, along with the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, Bartholomew I, and delegations representing Jews, Christians and Muslims, all of whom were gathered in the Vatican Pentecost Sunday evening to pray for peace in the Middle East and throughout the world. ...read more

Watch live Sunday June 8th at 12:00 pm ET / 9:00 am PT Before the ceremony The two Presidents will arrive at the Vatican within 15/20 minutes of each other (18.15- 18.30). They will be welcomed at the entrance of the St. Martha Residence by the Holy Father. The Holy Father will hold a short ...read more

Pray for peace in the Holy Land with Pope Francis By Oscar Andrés Cardinal Rodríguez Maradiaga, SDB June 4 2014 Pope Francis has invited Israeli and Palestinian leaders to the Vatican to pray for peace in the Holy Land this Pentecost Sunday. On his pilgrimage to the Holy Land, the Pope said,  “All of us ...read more

(Vatican Radio) In contrast to Pope John Paul II, whose memory is still fresh in the minds of many people, the pontificate of “Good Pope John” XXIII may seem like distant history. Pope Francis’ decision to canonize the two together has served as an opportunity for younger Catholics to rediscover the Pope who called the ...read more

Father Molinari, longtime promoter of saints’ causes, dies at 90 in Rome. Below is the story by Cindy Wooden of Catholic News Service ROME (CNS) — Italian Jesuit Father Paolo Molinari, official promoter of sainthood causes great and small, died at the age of 90 at the Jesuit headquarters in Rome May 2. From 1957 to 2010, ...read more

Here below is the full text in English of Pope Francis’ homily at the mass of Canonization of Pope John Paul II and Pope John XXIII: At the heart of this Sunday, which concludes the Octave of Easter and which John Paul II wished to dedicate to Divine Mercy, are the glorious wounds of the risen Jesus. ...read more

Prayer to St. John XXIII: St. John XXIII, Your simple and meek persona carried the scent of God & the desire of goodness was inflamed in the heart. Pray for us so that we do not limit ourselves to mourn the darkness but rather to enkindle the light, bringing Christ everywhere and always praying to ...read more

Pope John Paul II holds his crosier as he prays during Palm Sunday Mass in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican in this undated photo. (CNS photo/Catholic Press Photo) ...read more