By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service  LA PAZ, Bolivia — Praising Bolivia’s efforts to include all its citizens in the country’s economic, political and social life, Pope Francis also defended the record and the right of the Catholic Church to be an active member of society and the right of the bishops …

By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service  GUAYAQUIL, Ecuador — Even if a pastoral proposal for helping a Catholic family with problems seems scandalous at first, it is possible God could use that proposal to bring healing and holiness, Pope Francis said. Encouraging and celebrating family life during a Mass July 6 in …

By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service VATICAN CITY — In word and deed, Pope Francis will take his vision of a Catholic’s approach to family life, parish life, charity, economics, immigration and good governance to Cuba and the United States during a Sept. 19-27 visit. Visiting both Cuba and the United …

By Barbara J. Fraser Catholic News Service LIMA, Peru  — When Pope Francis lands in Ecuador July 5, he will be returning to a country where he has long-standing bonds of ministry and friendship. He will celebrate one such bond the next day, lunching with 90-year-old Father Francisco Cortes, known as …

By Laura Ieraci Catholic News Service VATICAN CITY  — More than 1.5 million people are expected for the Mass with Pope Francis in Philadelphia this September, said organizers of the next World Meeting of Families. A high-level delegation from Philadelphia, led by Archbishop Charles J. Chaput, was in Rome as …

By Laura Ieraci Catholic News Service VATICAN CITY — The deep hurts that spouses inflict on each other cause great suffering to their children and, in some cases, lead to a separation that is “morally necessary” to protect spouses and children from more serious forms of violence, Pope Francis said …

By Laura Ieraci Catholic News Service VATICAN CITY — It took place in silence and lasted only a few minutes, but Pope Francis’ time of prayer and contemplation before the Shroud of Turin was marked with gestures of reverence and tenderness. Revered by many as the burial cloth of Jesus, …

By Dennis Sadowski Catholic News Service  WASHINGTON — Pope Francis speaks with a pastor’s voice and with deep respect for science in calling the world to address threats to all life on earth through environmental degradation and the mindset of a “throwaway culture” in his encyclical, said the president of the …

By John Stegeman The Catholic Telegraph Today marked the release of Pope Francis’ encyclical, Laudato Si, or Praised Be to You. The encyclical deals extensively with environmental issues. While The Catholic Telegraph and many world media organizations were just getting a chance to digest the nearly 200-page document, Tony Stieritz, Director …

By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service  VATICAN CITY — The earth, which was created to support life and give praise to God, is crying out with pain because human activity is destroying it, Pope Francis says in his long-awaited encyclical, “Laudato Si’, on Care for Our Common Home.” All who believe …