By Junno Arocho Esteves VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Refugees, often perceived by society as an added cost or a problem, are a gift and a reflection of the face of God, Pope Francis said. People who escape oppression, war, pollution or “the unjust distribution of the planet’s resources are a …

IMAGE: CNS photo/Henry Romero, Reuters By WASHINGTON (CNS) — Six members of the Servant Sisters of the Home of the Mother, including a young nun from Northern Ireland, are among the dead in the strongest earthquake to strike Ecuador since 1979. Sister Clare Theresa Crockett, 33, of Londonderry, died while …

IMAGE: CNS/Paul Haring By Cindy Wooden ROME (CNS) — After less than 48 hours in Rome, “dream” is the word used most often by the six Syrian adults Pope Francis brought back to Italy with him from a refugee camp in Greece. By April 18, the couples — who asked …

IMAGE: CNS/Paul Haring By Carol Glatz VATICAN CITY (CNS) — What you say and how you live always go hand in hand, building up the church and the people of God, Pope Francis told new priests. “Therefore, may your doctrine be nourishment to the people of God, joy and supporting …

IMAGE: CNS/Paul Haring By Cindy Wooden ABOARD THE PAPAL FLIGHT FROM GREECE (CNS) — When an aide suggested Pope Francis offer to fly some Syrian refugees back to Rome with him, the pope said he agreed immediately because it was “an inspiration of the Holy Spirit.” In the end, he …

IMAGE: CNS/Paul Haring By Cindy Wooden MYTILENE, Greece (CNS) — Pope Francis’ five-hour visit to Greece ended with him offering safe passage to Italy to 12 Syrian Muslims, half under the age of 18. The Vatican had kept secret the pope’s plan to invite the members of three Syrian families …

IMAGE: CNS/Paul Haring By Cindy Wooden MYTILENE, Greece (CNS) — Although their speeches were punctuated with policy appeals, Pope Francis and Orthodox leaders focused their visit to the island of Lesbos on the faces, stories and drawings of refugees. Pope Francis, Orthodox Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople and Archbishop Ieronymos …

IMAGE: CNS/Paul Haring By Carol Glatz VATICAN CITY (CNS) — U.S. presidential candidate Bernie Sanders said attending a Vatican conference on Catholic social teaching did not represent a political endorsement of his run for higher office.  When asked about the controversy surrounding the invitation during a presidential campaign cycle and …

IMAGE: CNS photo/EPA By LAGOS, Nigeria (CNS) — Two Nigerian bishops called on the government to hasten its efforts to free 219 school girls who were abducted by insurgents two years ago. Bishops Matthew Audu of Lafia and George Dodo of Zaria urged officials to boost intelligence gathering efforts and …

By Carol Glatz VATICAN CITY (CNS) — The fight against HIV/AIDS is being hampered by continued stigma against those who are infected, a lack of access to appropriate medical care and fake antiretroviral drugs pedaled on the black market, said activists taking part in a Caritas Internationalis conference. Caritas brought …