By Rhina Guidos Catholic News Service PHILADELPHIA — It’s difficult to forget Pope Francis’ passionate Sept. 26 speech, his gestures and the tone of his voice when he addressed the value of the family in Philadelphia. A “society grows strong, grows in goodness, grows in beauty and truly grows if …

By Kurt Jensen Catholic News Service WASHINGTON — When Pope Francis encountered and blessed children during his apostolic visit to the United States, there were events everyone saw because they were on live TV, with others known only their participants. These were sometimes by chance. Other times, there was advance …

By Dale Gavlak Catholic News Service JERUSALEM — A Palestinian Catholic tour guide whose family has lived in Jerusalem for generations and whose spiritual heritage stretches as far back as the first century church laughed as he recounted the story. “An Israeli official once asked me if I was a …

By Ed Langlois Catholic News Service PORTLAND, Ore. — St. Joseph Parish in Roseburg hosted an emotional Mass the evening of Oct. 1 for 10 people who died in a shooting that morning at Umpqua Community College. Auxiliary Bishop Peter Smith traveled from Portland for the liturgy. Authorities in Roseburg, …

By Catholic News Service WASHINGTON — The U.S. Senate passed legislation to reauthorize the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom Sept. 30, but the measure was awaiting action by the House. A day earlier Bishop Oscar Cantu of Las Cruces, New Mexico, urged Congress in a letter to pass the …

VATICAN CITY — Everyone has a guardian angel who is advising and protecting each individual on earth, Pope Francis said at morning Mass. Whenever people hear a little voice in their head, “‘Well, do this. That would be better. You mustn’t do this …’ Listen! Don’t turn against him” because …

By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service VATICAN CITY — Pope Francis planned two gatherings of the Synod of Bishops to focus on the family and urged participants to use the year between the assemblies as a time for “true spiritual discernment” with both study and prayer. In the months leading …

By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service VATICAN CITY — Pope Francis’ meeting with Kim Davis, the county clerk from Kentucky who was jailed for refusing to issue marriage licenses, does not equate support for her “position,” the Vatican spokesman said after discussing the issue personally with the pope. Jesuit Father …

By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service VATICAN CITY — Content and comfortable Christians tend to be joyless Christians because they stop remembering the goodness of God and yearning to be closer to him, Pope Francis said. “I ask myself, and it would be good for all of us to ask …