By Cindy Wooden VATICAN CITY (CNS) — The superior general of the traditionalist Society of St. Pius X said Pope Francis, rather than denouncing errors in Catholic doctrine, has “encouraged” them. “The Society of St. Pius X prays and does penance for the pope, that he might have the strength …

IMAGE: CNS/Paul Haring By Carol Glatz VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Prayer is a key that opens the door to God, unlocks selfish, fearful hearts and leads people from sadness to joy and from division to unity, Pope Francis said on the feast of Sts. Peter and Paul. Prayer is “the …

IMAGE: CNS illustration/Liz Agbey By Chaz Muth SAN DIEGO (CNS) — There is something distinctive about the chapel where Father William J. Brunner now celebrates Mass. It floats. To be more precise, it’s in a space aboard the U.S. Navy’s warship USS America docked in San Diego. The fresh-faced, 31-year-old …

IMAGE: CNS illustration/Liz Agbey By Chaz Muth WASHINGTON (CNS) — At first glance, it’s difficult to distinguish Father Lukasz J. Willenberg as a Catholic priest as he gathers with U.S. Army paratroopers preparing for a training jump at Pope Field near Fayetteville, North Carolina. Instead of wearing the traditional black …

IMAGE: CNS photo/Paul Hackett, Reuters By Simon Caldwell MANCHESTER, England (CNS) — Catholic bishops condemned a sharp rise in xenophobic and racist attacks following Britain’s vote to leave the European Union. Cardinal Vincent Nichols of Westminster said the “upsurge of racism, of hatred toward others is something we must not …

IMAGE: CNS photo/L’Osservatore Romano, handout By Junno Arocho Esteves VATICAN CITY (CNS) — In his first public address in almost a year, retired Pope Benedict XVI expressed his sincere gratefulness to Pope Francis, saying that his goodness “from the first moment of your election, in every moment of my life …

IMAGE: REUTERS By Doreen Abi Raad BEIRUT (CNS) — Suicide bombers attacked a predominantly Christian village in northeast Lebanon twice in one day, and residents called on the government to support them, saying Islamic State fighters were holed up on the outskirts of town. Two separate sets of four suicide …

IMAGE: CNS photo/Toby Melville, Reuters By Jonathan Luxmoore OXFORD, England (CNS) — European Catholic leaders expressed concern that the decision by United Kingdom voters to leave the European Union threatened unity across the continent, but they also cautioned the EU bloc to rethink its values and priorities. The concerns arose …

IMAGE: CNS photo/Michael Reynolds, EPA By Carol Zimmermann WASHINGTON (CNS) — In a 5-3 vote June 27, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down restrictions on Texas abortion clinics that required them to comply with standards of ambulatory surgical centers and required their doctors to have admitting privileges at local hospitals. …

During his flight from Armenia to Rome on Sunday, Pope Francis gave a press conference to the assembled journalists aboard the papal plane. He reflected on his three-day trip to Armenia, his upcoming trips to Azerbaijan and Poland, the role of the Pope emeritus, Christian unity, and the reformation. He …