At 10 am this morning in the Vatican Basilica, Pope Francis presided at the celebration of the Mass on the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God in the Octave of Christmas and in commemoration of the 50th World Day of Peace on the theme: “Nonviolence: A Style of Politics for Peace.” Below you will find ...read more

At 5:00 pm today, December 31 in the Vatican Basilica, Pope Francis presides over the first Vespers of the Solemnity of Mary Mother of God, followed Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament, the the singing of the traditional hymn Te Deum of thanksgiving at the end of calendar year and Eucharistic Benediction. Here is the Holy ...read more

Dear Brothers and Sisters, Happy Christmas! Today the Church once again experiences the wonder of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Saint Joseph and the shepherds of Bethlehem, as they contemplate the newborn Child laid in a manger: Jesus, the Saviour. On this day full of light, the prophetic proclamation resounds: “For to us a child is ...read more

“The grace of God has appeared for the salvation of all men” (Tit 2:11). The words of the Apostle Paul reveal the mystery of this holy night: the grace of God has appeared, his gift is free; in the Child given unto us the love of God is made visible. It is a night of ...read more

«Nonviolence: a Style of Politics for Peace » At the beginning of this New Year, I offer heartfelt wishes of peace to the world’s peoples and nations, to heads of state and government, and to religious, civic and community leaders. I wish peace to every man, woman and child, and I pray that the image ...read more

Join us in prayer for the intentions entrusted to us by Pope Francis. For December 2016, we join the Holy Father in praying for: End to Child-Soldiers – That the scandal of child-soldiers may be eliminated the world over. Europe – That the peoples of Europe may rediscover the beauty, goodness, and truth of the Gospel which gives ...read more

On Sunday, December 4, 2016 Fidel Castro’s funeral will be held in Cuba. He died last week at the age of 90. The government announced, following his death, nine days of national mourning for one of the most popular and controversial figures of the last 60 years. The Catholic Church had a fundamental role to play ...read more

The 2017 message for the World Day of Prayer for Vocations was released Wednesday entitled, “Led by the Spirit for Mission”. In the message for this 54th World Day of Prayer for Vocations, the Pope reflects on the missionary dimension of our Christian calling. The Holy Father says that “commitment to mission is not something ...read more

Away from the limelight, Pope Francis spent one Friday a month, over the course of the Jubilee Year of Mercy, putting into practice the corporal and spiritual works of mercy. Locations were never announced beforehand and so in the past year, he surprised the sick and the elderly, retired priests, women who have been abused, ...read more

Misericordia et misera FRANCIS TO ALL WHO READ THIS APOSTOLIC LETTER MERCY AND PEACE Misericordia et misera is a phrase used by Saint Augustine in recounting the story of Jesus’ meeting with the woman taken in adultery (cf. Jn 8:1-11). It would be difficult to imagine a more beautiful or apt way of expressing the mystery ...read more