Staff Report The Archdiocese of Cincinnati sent a letter to local media Wednesday to help clear up confusion in the wake of Pope Francis Sept. 1 letter announcing an expansion of faculties for priests to absolve the sin of abortion. Calling some of the coverage, “misleading and confusing,” the Archdiocese …

Catholic News Service MCALLEN, Texas — At Sacred Heart Church in McAllen, members of the community, most of them volunteers at a respite center for immigrants at Sacred Heart parish hall, were invited to a special event by ABC News, but were not informed in advance of just how special that event …

By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service VATICAN CITY — In an extraordinary gesture for the Year of Mercy, Pope Francis has extended to priests worldwide the authority to absolve women for the sin of abortion and has decreed the full validity during the year of the sacrament of confession celebrated by …

By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service VATICAN CITY — “Do something to put a stop to the violence and oppression,” Pope Francis asked the international community after calling attention once again to the fate of persecuted Christians, especially in the Middle East. After reciting the Angelus Aug. 30, Pope Francis told …

By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service VATICAN CITY — Parents who juggle packed work and family schedules deserve a Nobel Prize in mathematics for doing something not even the most brilliant scientists can do: They pack 48 hours of activity into 24, Pope Francis said. “I don’t know how they do …

By Elise Harris CNA/EWTN News VATICAN CITY — On Sunday Pope Francis said that the Eucharist is no mere symbol, but is in fact the true body and blood of Jesus Christ, which has the ability to transform our hearts and minds to be more like him. “The Eucharist is …

By Lou Baldwin Catholic News Service PHILADELPHIA (CNS) — As lecterns go, it is strictly utilitarian, a simple walnut stand with none of the ornamentation commonly found in mid-19th-century furnishings. Yet it has a distinguished past and is about to have a distinguished future. At a news conference Aug. 7 …

By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service VATICAN CITY — Catholics who have divorced and are civilly remarried “are not, in fact, excommunicated — they are not excommunicated — and they absolutely must not be treated as if they were,” Pope Francis said. Resuming his Wednesday general audiences Aug. 5 after a …

CNA/EWTN News Pope Francis has invited the youth of the world on pilgrimage to World Youth Day 2016 –and on Sunday he became the first pilgrim to register himself. “Today we open registration for the thirty-first World Youth Day, to be held next year in Poland,” he said. “I invite …

By Carol Glatz Catholic News Service  VATICAN CITY — After decades of world leaders trying to set global goals to address climate change and extreme poverty, city mayors gathered at the Vatican to pledge they will take real action and lead the fight on their streets. Pope Francis told the mayors …