By Francis X. Rocca Catholic News Service  VATICAN CITY — As leader of the universal church, a pope must direct his ministry in both of the ways traditionally described by the Latin terms “ad intra” and “ad extra”: inwardly to the church itself, and outwardly to the rest of the …

By John Stegeman The Catholic Telegraph One catechetical joke asks the question, “What is the difference between a sinner and a saint? The answer — confession. According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church, “after having attained the age of discretion, each of the faithful is bound by an obligation …

By Catholic News Service WASHINGTON — In his first year as the 265th successor of Peter, Pope Francis “has brought to light new dimensions of the Petrine ministry and added new life to the office he holds,” the U.S. bishops’ Administrative Committee said March 11. He has done this in …

By Catholic News Service PEORIA, Ill. — A seven-member team of medical experts convoked by the Vatican reported there is no natural explanation for the survival of a child delivered stillborn and whose heart did not start beating until 61 minutes after his birth.

By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service  ROME — Lent is meant to wake up Christians and help them see that God can give them the strength to change their lives and their surroundings, Pope Francis said. Before receiving and distributing ashes at an evening Mass March 5, Ash Wednesday, Pope …

By Carol Glatz Catholic News Service VATICAN CITY — When Cardinal Jean-Louis Tauran walked onto the central balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica, telling the crowds in Latin: “I announce to you a great joy. We have a pope!” not many people recognized the name of then-Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio of Buenos …

Staff Report The 2014 Fish Fry guide, presented by The Catholic Telegraph is now available online HERE. Nearly 4,000 people visited the Fish Fry calendar in 2013, making it the third-most popular feature on www.thecatholictelegraph.com behind the Festival Guide and Mass Time Calendar.

Feb. 28, 2014 Staff Report Though first announced Feb. 11, the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI took effect one year ago on Feb. 28, 2013.

This coming March 18, the Archdiocese of Cincinnati is participating for the first time in a national campaign simply titled “The Light is On for You.” Begun in New York, it is a night where every parish throughout the archdiocese will have confessions offered from 7-9 p.m. It has met …

You know you’re getting old when words you knew so well from childhood change their meaning…without you even being aware of it. Take “troll” for example. Growing up I associated trolls, always grouchy and hungry, with the classic fairy tale “Three Billy Goats Gruff.” Come to find out trolls no …