On July 11, 2105. the Pope left the Apostolic Nunciature in Asunción and went by car to the “Niños de Acosta Ñu” General Paediatric Hospital. Arriving at 8:30 a.m., he was greeted by the Hospital Director who accompanied him to the various departments of the hospital to visit some of the most seriously ill patients. During ...read more

On Friday, July 10, 2015, Pope Francis departed from Bolivia to Paraguay for the final leg of his Apostolic Journey to South America. He was greeted by Paraguayan President Horacio Cartes upon his arrival at Silvio Pettirossi International Airport in Asuncion. Shortly after, the Holy Father met with government authorities and diplomatic corps at Palacio ...read more

Much of the novelty surrounding the person and pontificate of Pope Francis can be attributed to his Argentine, Latin American background. His personal style, his understanding of church matters and his views on global issues are all shaped by that particular cultural experience. The significance of this cannot be overstated. So when Francis returns to ...read more

On Tuesday, July 7, 2015, Pope Francis visited the Pontifical Catholic University of Ecuador in Quito for a meeting the educators. Read the full text of his address below: My Brother Bishops, Father Rector, Distinguished Authorities, Dear Professors and Students, Dear Friends, I am very happy to be here with you this afternoon at the ...read more

On Tuesday, July 7, 2015, Pope Francis presided over a mass at the Parque Bicentenario in Quito, Ecuador for the Evangelization of Peoples, in front of over 1 million people. The full text of his homily can be found below: The word of God calls us to live in unity, that the world may believe. ...read more

Following Pope Francis’ visit to the Sanctuary of Divine Mercy in Guayaquil, the Holy Father presided at the Holy Mass at the Parque de Los Samanes for the faithful in Ecuador’s most populous city. The Mass was dedicated to the family. Read the full text of the Holy Father’s homily below: The Gospel passage which we ...read more

On Sunday, June 5, 2015, Pope Francis arrived in Ecuador for the start of his week long Apostolic Journey to South America. The full itinerary includes more than 24 thousand kilometers of travel over the course of the week, along with radical changes in altitude and temperature as well: in just seven days Pope Francis will ...read more

On July 5 Pope Francis embarks on his ninth voyage outside of Italy. It will also be the second time since his election that he sets foot on on South American soil. This visit will take him to Ecuador, Bolivia and Paraguay, and have him delicately side step home country. The visit and each of ...read more

We are days away from the opening of the Extraordinary Synod of Bishop on the Pastoral Challenges to the Family in the context of Evangelization, and the already things are heating up…most of that heat, however, is being generated by the media publishing interviews with prelates with opposing opinions on the same issues. There are ...read more

By Carol Glatz Catholic News Service VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Even though Cardinal-designate Lorenzo Baldisseri will be elevated to the College of Cardinals during a formal ceremony Feb. 22, he already has a red cap from the pope. When then-Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio was elected pontiff March 13 by his fellow cardinals in the Sistine Chapel, ...read more