IMAGE: CNS/Paul Haring By Cindy Wooden VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Pope Francis will send high-level observers to the pan-Orthodox council meeting in Crete as a sign of respect, support and encouragement of the Orthodox Church. The Holy and Great Council of the Orthodox Church was scheduled to open June 19, …

IMAGE: CNS/Nancy Wiechec By Carol Glatz VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Pope Francis will visit the Nazi death camps of Auschwitz and Birkenau during his visit to Poland for World Youth Day in Krakow. He will also commemorate the 1,050th anniversary of Christianity in Poland, pray at the icon of the …

By Carol Glatz VATICAN CITY (CNS) — A “my way or the highway” attitude is not Catholic — it’s heretical, Pope Francis said. “Jesus always walks with us, he gives us the ideal, he accompanies us toward the ideal, he frees us from this cage of rigidity of the law,” …

IMAGE: CNS/Bob Mullen By Philippe Vaillancourt MONTREAL (CNS) — Canada’s most visited Catholic shrine is about to get a facelift. St. Joseph Oratory, managed by the Congregation of the Holy Cross, will see $80 million ($63 million U.S.) in upgrades and new installations in a five-year project set to begin …

IMAGE: CNS/Paul Haring By Carol Glatz VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Jesus’ first miracle of changing water into wine expresses his invitation to share in the joy of the new covenant and reminds people to do as he commands, Pope Francis said. The miracle also shows how he transformed the law …

IMAGE: NS photo/Karen Callaway, Catholic New World By Colleen Dulle WASHINGTON (CNS) — When Deacon Joseph Jensen entered Our Lady of Good Counsel Passionist Seminary in Warrenton, Missouri, in the late 1950s, he realized he was the only student in his class who had read the Bible. Deacon Jensen, now …

By Carol Glatz VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Prayer powers the light that Christians are called to share with the world, Pope Francis said. “You can do many great things for the church — a Catholic university, a school, a hospital — and they will even build you a monument as …

IMAGE: CNS photo/Catholic Press Photo By Nancy Wiechec PHOENIX (CNS) — Muhammad Ali leaves an indelible mark on the world not only as a fighter and athlete but as a man of faith, courage and generosity. The three-time heavyweight champion and self-titled “The Greatest” boxer of all time died at …

IMAGE: CNS/Paul Haring By Junno Arocho Esteves VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Even in the midst of suffering and death, Christians can become witnesses of the resurrection and the power of God’s compassion, Pope Francis said as he proclaimed two new saints. In the Sunday Gospel reading, Jesus’ raising of a …

By Carol Glatz VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Pope Francis will set up a panel of legal experts to help him in deciding whether to remove a religious superior or bishop from office for failing to protect minors and vulnerable adults from sex abuse. Vatican offices will continue to investigate claims …