IMAGE: CNS photo/Bob Roller By Rhina Guidos BALTIMORE (CNS) — Earlier this year, as communities faced tensions, protests and violence, following a spate of shootings and killings of black men by police, Archbishop Joseph E. Kurtz of Louisville, Kentucky, as president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, asked dioceses …

IMAGE: CNS photo/Robert Duncan By Carol Glatz VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Even though Cardinal-designate Kevin J. Farrell had asked his secretary to hold all phone calls so he could finish his work, one caller insisted on getting through. “She came in and said that the pope was on the telephone, …

IMAGE: CNS photo/Bob Roller By Carol Zimmermann BALTIMORE (CNS) — The U.S. bishops chose to break from tradition during this year’s fall assembly by celebrating Mass at the church known as the “Mother Church” of black Catholics in West Baltimore instead of the usual venue: Baltimore’s historic basilica. “I pray …

IMAGE: CNS/Paul Haring By Cindy Wooden VATICAN CITY (CNS) — In a rather simple prayer service Nov. 19, Pope Francis will create 17 new cardinals and symbolically bind them to ancient church traditions. In the months following the consistory — as any gathering of cardinals is called — the new …

IMAGE: CNS/Paul Haring By Cindy Wooden VATICAN CITY (CNS) — The Year of Mercy brought more than 20 million pilgrims to Rome, but for Pope Francis, the idea always was that the celebration of God’s mercy would be local: have people experience God’s love in their parishes and send them …

IMAGE: CNS photo/Bob Roller By Mark Pattison BALTIMORE (CNS) — In small and often intimate gestures, there are big lessons for bishops to learn as they exercise their ministry, said Archbishop Joseph E. Kurtz of Louisville, Kentucky, in his final address as president of the U.S. bishops’ conference. “No words …

IMAGE: CNS photo/Bob Roller By Carol Zimmermann BALTIMORE (CNS) — Archbishop Christophe Pierre, the new apostolic nuncio to the United States, urged U.S. bishops Nov. 14 to pay close attention to young Catholics to both learn from them and help them to deepen their faith. “Many young people are not …

IMAGE: CNS photo/Jorge Duenes, Reuters By Rhina Guidos BALTIMORE (CNS) — In a letter read Nov. 14 during the fall general assembly of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, the chairman of the bishops’ Committee on Migration, Auxiliary Bishop Eusebio L. Elizondo of Seattle, called on President-elect Donald Trump “to …

IMAGE: CNS photo/Oscar Martinez, Reuters By David Agren MEXICO CITY (CNS) — An outspoken priest who had been reported missing in the state of Veracruz was found alive, but with signs of torture. Father Jose Luis Sanchez Ruiz, pastor of Twelve Apostles parish in Catemaco — a town known for …

IMAGE: CNS photo/Diego Azubel, EPA By Cindy Wooden VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Four cardinals said they formally asked Pope Francis to clarify his teaching on Communion for the divorced and civilly remarried and, not receiving a response after two months, they released their letter to the press. “We have noted …