By Paul McMullen Catholic News Service BALTIMORE — For four hours April 27, Freddie Gray Jr. was patiently and prayerfully memorialized. That peace, however, was extremely fragile. Gray, 25, died April 19, one week after being arrested on a weapons charge and sustaining a severe spinal cord injury in West …

By Catholic News Service  WASHINGTON — Pope Francis has accepted the retirement of Archbishop Michael J. Sheehan of Santa Fe, New Mexico, and named Bishop John C. Wester of Salt Lake City, Utah, to succeed him. Archbishop Sheehan, who has headed the Santa Fe Archdiocese since1993, turned 75 last year, …

By Ann Schneible CNA/EWTN News  Kathmandu, Nepal — Pope Francis led the crowds gathered in Saint Peter’s Square for the weekly Regina Caeli address in praying for the victims of Saturday’s earthquake in Nepal which has claimed thousands of lives. “I wish to express my closeness to the populations struck …

By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service VATICAN CITY — In every relationship, including one’s relationship with Jesus, it is important to remember that “first encounter,” that initial, life-changing moment of love, Pope Francis said. Celebrating Mass April 24 in the chapel of the Domus Sanctae Marthae, Pope Francis used the …

By Joyce Duriga Catholic News Service CHICAGO — Alfredo Fricano is probably one of the only people who could get away with telling Cardinal Francis E. George he looked like a “bum.” Once the cardinal’s longtime barber — who his clients just call Alfredo — saw him on TV and …

By Catholic News Service  WASHINGTON— Pope Francis has accepted the resignation of Bishop Lawrence E. Brandt of Greensburg, Pennsylvania, and appointed as his successor Father Edward C. Malesic, judicial vicar of the Diocese of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Just one day prior, the Holy Father accepted the resignation of Bishop David E. …

By Catholic News Service  VATICAN CITY — Marking the celebration of Earth Day, Pope Francis asked that everyone recognize the earth as God’s gift to protect and cultivate, sharing the world’s natural resources. May the way people treat the earth “not be guided by greed, manipulation and exploitation, but rather …

CNA A communications official with Catholic Relief Services said that the organization is aware that one of their vice presidential employees is in a same-sex civil marriage, and is in deliberations about it. “Rick Estridge has served CRS for 16 years and currently holds the position as our vice president …

By Alan Holdren CNA/EWTN News A Nigerian bishop says that he has seen Christ in a vision and now knows that the rosary is the key to ridding the country of the Islamist terrorist organization Boko Haram. Bishop Oliver Dashe Doeme says he is being driven by a God-given mandate …

By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service  VATICAN CITY — Pope Francis has accepted the resignation of Bishop Robert W. Finn of Kansas City-St. Joseph, Missouri, who was convicted in 2012 on one misdemeanor count of failing to report suspected child abuse. The Vatican announced the bishop’s resignation April 21, specifying …