IMAGE: CNS/Paul Haring By Junno Arocho Esteves VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Pope Francis called on Catholics and Orthodox Christians to pray for children in Syria who are suffering because of the ongoing conflict in the country. “The children of Syria invite children from all over the world to join in …

IMAGE: CNS/Paul Haring By Junno Arocho Esteves VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Deacons are called to be servants who set aside their own self-serving plans and are generous with their lives, Pope Francis said. A servant “is not a slave to his own agenda,” but rather always is prepared for the …

IMAGE: CNS photo/Jim Lo Scalzo, EPA By Carol Zimmermann WASHINGTON (CNS) — Immediately after the Supreme Court sent the contraceptive case back to the lower courts May 16, some called the decision a punt — the football analogy of sending the ball back to the other team — or in …

IMAGE: CNS photo/Lucy Nicholson, Reuters By WASHINGTON (CNS) — Archbishop Jose H. Gomez of Los Angeles said in a May 25 statement that a planned increase in federal immigration raids is “yet another depressing sign of the failed state of American immigration policy.” The raids were announced in mid-May. Archbishop …

By Junno Arocho Esteves VATICAN CITY (CNS) — To follow the path of Christ means to serve the poor and the downtrodden while not turning Christian virtues simply into ideas and humanitarian endeavors, Pope Francis said. “In them, you touch and serve the flesh of Christ and grow in union …

IMAGE: CNS/Paul Haring By Carol Glatz VATICAN CITY (CNS) — The former secretary to a saint and the oldest member of the College of Cardinals died May 26 at the age of 100. Italian Cardinal Loris Capovilla, who served St. John XXIII before and after he became pope, died in …

CLEVELAND — Amid the anger, the attacks and the sometimes boisterous nature of this year’s presidential campaign, the Archdiocese of Cincinnati is encouraging parishioners to remember that civility in politics is a virtue. To bring the point home, the archdiocesan Catholic Social Action Office has unveiled the “Civilize It” campaign, stressing …

IMAGE: CNS/Paul Haring By Cindy Wooden ROME (CNS) — A Corpus Christi procession should honor Christ’s gift of himself in the Eucharist, but also should be a pledge to share bread and faith with the people of the cities and towns where the processions take place, Pope Francis said. Just …

IMAGE: CNS photo/Paulo Cunha, EPA By Cindy Wooden VATICAN CITY (CNS) — When then-Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger met the press in 2000 for the formal release of the so-called Third Secret of Fatima, he said he knew many people would be disappointed. Almost 16 years later, at the beginning of a …

IMAGE: CNS photo/L’Osservatore Romano via Reuters By Doreen Abi Raad BEIRUT (CNS) — Lebanese leaders in Muslim-Christian dialogue said they hoped Pope Francis’ meeting with Ahmad el-Tayeb, grand imam of al-Azhar University, would lead to new relationships. Maronite Father Fadi Daou, chairman of Adyan, a foundation for interfaith studies and …