By Hannah Brockhaus Vatican City, Dec 21, 2019 / 05:44 am (CNA).- The very first way the Child Jesus revealed the love and goodness of the Father was in smiling at his parents, just “like every newborn baby in this world,” Pope Francis said Saturday. “When we look at a …

IMAGE: CNS photo/Vatican Media By VATICAN CITY (CNS) — When a group of children sang a belated "Happy Birthday" to Pope Francis and gave him a big cake, he needed to think twice before not eating some of it before lunch. "The cake looks good," the pope told children served …

IMAGE: CNS photo/courtesy Legionaries of Christ By Cindy Wooden ROME (CNS) — Demonstrating a strong "chain of abuse," the Legionaries of Christ said its founder, the late Father Marcial Maciel Degollado, sexually abused at least 60 minors and that at least another 51 youngsters were abused by Father Maciel’s victims …

By Jonah McKeown Denver, Colo., Dec 22, 2019 / 04:01 pm (CNA).- When John O’Brien was in high school, his father, while only in his forties, was admitted to an assisted living facility because of Pick’s disease, a rare disorder similar to Alzheimer’s. “I spent many nights of my high …

By Kevin Jones Camden, N.J., Dec 23, 2019 / 07:19 am (CNA).- Affordable housing is a problem for many Americans, but for the low-income residents of Camden, a Catholic non-profit is working hard to make sure they have the budgeting skills, the life skills, and the community connections to become …

Würzburg, Germany, Dec 20, 2019 / 10:24 am (CNA).- In what came as a surprise to many members of the Catholic elite in Germany, Pope emeritus Benedict XVI has launched a foundation for Catholic journalism in his home country. “I want the Catholic voice to be heard,” the retired Roman …

By Mary Farrow Erie, Pa., Dec 20, 2019 / 03:45 pm (CNA).- When Dr. Gertrude Barber became the assistant superintendent of the Erie School District in Pennsylvania, the standard practice for educating children with disabilities and special needs was to institutionalize them. This did not sit well with Barber, who …

By Hannah Brockhaus Vatican City, Dec 21, 2019 / 07:54 am (CNA).- Pope Francis Saturday accepted the resignation of Cardinal Angelo Sodano as dean of the College of Cardinals and declared that the position will now have a five-year term limit with the possibility of renewal. Previously, cardinal dean, considered …

Vatican City, Dec 21, 2019 / 04:00 am (CNA).- When Church historians look back on the last ten years, they’ll have several historic and important moments to study. And Catholics who’ve lived through the last decade may feel that changes, often one right after another, were both dizzying and exciting. …

IMAGE: CNS photo/Paul Haring By Cindy Wooden VATICAN CITY (CNS) — After accepting the resignation of 92-year-old Cardinal Angelo Sodano as dean of the College of Cardinals, Pope Francis changed the norms of the office so that the dean would be elected to a five-year term renewable only once. Cardinal …