By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service  VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Pope Francis formally began his ministry as bishop of Rome and as pope by pledging to protect the Catholic Church, the dignity of each person and the beauty of creation, just like St. Joseph protected Mary and Jesus. “To protect …

By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service  VATICAN CITY (CNS)— Although attempts were made to simplify the ceremony, Pope Francis officially inaugurated his ministry as pope and bishop of Rome in a liturgy filled with biblical symbolism and signs of the universality of his mission. Also Read: Inaugural homily: Pope Francis …

By Carol Glatz Catholic News Service VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Pope Francis‘ papal motto is based on the Gospel account of “The Call of St. Matthew,” the tax collector, in a homily given by St. Bede the Venerable. The pope decided to keep his episcopal motto and coat of arms …

Follow Pope Francis’ trip to the United States HERE. By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Pope Francis said that “as things got dangerous” in the conclave voting, he was sitting next to his “great friend,” Brazilian Cardinal Claudio Hummes “who comforted me.” When the former Cardinal …

By John Stegeman The Catholic Telegraph Pope Benedict XVI made history by becoming the first pope to send a tweet, and again by becoming the first pope to officially join Twitter. Pope Francis, already fast becoming known as a pope of the people, has now followed in those footsteps. The …

By John Stegeman The Catholic Telegraph  A surveying of media reports concerning the 266th pope shows the former Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio to be a man of humble stature, a man of the people and most of all a man of God. Here are some of the more interesting stories on …

By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service  VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Pope Francis is “a Jesuit’s Jesuit” who understands the importance of St. Francis of Assisi in the life of St. Ignatius of Loyola, founder of the Society of Jesus, said the Jesuits’ secretary for the promotion of the faith. U.S. …

See most recent stories on the pope and the Catholic Church here By John Stegeman The Catholic Telegraph Memes, almost by their very nature, are modern. The world means “a cultural item that is transmitted by repetition in a manner analogous to the biological transmission of genes” but as we’ve reported …

By Carol Zimmermann Catholic News Service VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Two U.S. cardinals described Pope Francis as an ideal choice to lead the church in the modern world. “He is the perfect choice for this moment in the church,” said Washington Cardinal Donald W. Wuerl March 14. Cardinal Timothy M. …

By Catholic News Service  WASHINGTON (CNS) — Catholic leaders worldwide expressed words of hope and joy in calling upon Catholics to come together as one body behind the papacy of Pope Francis. International political leaders also offered words of congratulations and pledged to work with the new pontiff on common …