IMAGE: CNS photo/Paul Haring By Cindy Wooden VATICAN CITY (CNS) — The life of a young person and the vocation to which God calls each one is "holy ground" that pastors and parents must respect, nurture and encourage, Pope Francis wrote in a new apostolic exhortation. "Christus Vivit" ("Christ Lives"), …

IMAGE: CNS photo/Rashid Umar, Reuters By SAN ANTONIO (CNS) — The marketplace, not elected officials, should decide whether a company should open an outlet in a particular location, said San Antonio Archbishop Gustavo Garcia-Siller. In a March 27 statement, he said he has been asked what he thinks of the …

IMAGE: CNS photo/Bob Roller By Mark Pattison SILVER SPRING, Md. (CNS) — Many people might not have noticed that Anna Gallagher took over Feb. 1 as executive director of the Catholic Legal Immigration Network, known as CLINIC. If they hadn’t, they certainly would have March 8, when she called a …

IMAGE: CNS photo/Jose Cabezas, Reuters By Junno Arocho Esteves VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Nations that actively engage in arms dealing and help foment war in other countries should not expect to find peace in their own lands, Pope Francis said. During a wide-ranging interview with the Spanish news program, "Salvados," …

IMAGE: CNS photo/Paul Haring By Cindy Wooden ABOARD THE PAPAL FLIGHT TO ROME (CNS) — To fight clerical sexual abuse, the Catholic Church must have clear laws and procedures, but it also must engage in "spiritual combat," because it is obvious the devil is at work, Pope Francis said. After …

IMAGE: CNS photo/Paul Haring By Cindy Wooden RABAT, Morocco (CNS) — Celebrating Mass with members of Morocco’s tiny Catholic community, Pope Francis praised them for the many ways they "bear witness to the Gospel of mercy in this land." At the Mass March 31 in an arena at Rabat’s Prince …

IMAGE: CNS photo/Paul Haring By Cindy Wooden RABAT, Morocco (CNS) — Moving from ideals and principles to concrete examples, Pope Francis met in Morocco with Muslim men and women studying to be prayer leaders and preachers and with dozens of migrants assisted by Caritas. A religious faith respectful of others …

IMAGE: CNS photo/Debbie Hill By Cindy Wooden RABAT, Morocco (CNS) — Ten days after U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo’s visit to Jerusalem brought renewed attention to the status of the city, Pope Francis and King Mohammed VI of Morocco pleaded for international recognition of "the unique and sacred character …

IMAGE: CNS photo/Remo Casilli, Reuters By Junno Arocho Esteves VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Jesus does not view sinners as transgressors who must be punished according to the law, but as people in need of hope and freedom from sin, Pope Francis said. "It is Jesus who, with the power of …

IMAGE: CNS photo/Joshua Roberts, Reuters By WASHINGTON (CNS) — The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops joined representatives of two leading Catholic charitable organizations in calling on a federal agency to withdraw or modify a plan to require some adults receiving food assistance to work or enroll in training programs or …