Pope Francis greets victims of violence outside the Vatican nunciature in Bogota, Colombia, Sept. 8. (CNS photo/L’Osservatore Romano) Some of the most moving encounters that the Holy Father had in Colombia went mostly under-reported. Some of these took place each evening at the Apostolic Nunciature in Bogotá, where he was staying. At the gathering with ...read more

Join us in prayer for the intentions entrusted to us by Pope Francis. For August 2017, we join the Holy Father in praying for: Artists – That artists of our time, through their ingenuity, may help everyone discover the beauty of creation. Daily Offering Prayer God, our Father, I offer You my day. I offer ...read more

Join us in prayer for the intentions entrusted to us by Pope Francis. For July 2017, we join the Holy Father in praying for: Lapsed Christians – That our brothers and sisters who have strayed from the faith, through our prayer and witness to the Gospel, may rediscover the merciful closeness of the Lord and the beauty ...read more

On the Solemnity of the Apostles Peter and Paul, at 9:30 am at St. Peter’s Square, Pope Francis blessed the pallia (plural of pallium), taken from the Confession of the Apostle Peter and destined for Metropolitan Archbishops appointed during the past year. The pallium will then be imposed on each Metropolitan Archbishop by the Pontifical ...read more

At 4:00 pm today in St. Peter’s Basilica, Pope Francis held a Public Ordinary Consistory for the creation of 5 new Cardinals that included for the imposition of the scarlet beretta, the presentation of the ring and the assignment of the Title or Diaconia. The celebration began with the greeting, prayer, and reading a passage ...read more

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

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

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