The best way to usher in a truly “new” year is to stop waiting for things to get better on their own, and instead recognize what is essential and reach out now to help others, Pope Francis said.
On New Year’s, pope calls for taking the risk of changing the world
Love comes first, pope says in letter on teaching of St. Francis de Sales
Pope Francis said he was convinced that the French saint’s “flexibility and his farsighted vision have much to say to us,” especially in recognizing the real-life struggles of ordinary people and judging faith by love.
Pope Benedict’s funeral will respect his wishes to be simple
After the funeral Mass, the coffin will be taken to St. Peter’s Basilica and then to the Vatican grotto for burial. It was widely reported before his death that his burial site would be in the chapel where St. John Paul II’s body rested until his beatification in 2011.
Retired Pope Benedict’s funeral scheduled for Jan. 5
The 95-year-old pope’s remains will be in St. Peter’s Basilica beginning the morning of Jan. 2 for people to pay their last respects and offer their prayers. The funeral Mass, presided over by Pope Francis, will be in St. Peter’s Square Jan. 5 starting at 9:30 a.m. Rome time.
Pope Francis says retired Pope Benedict is ‘very sick’
“Ask the Lord to console him and sustain him in his witness of love for the church until the very end,” Pope Francis said.
Photos: See Bishop-elect Neary’s first days in the diocese
Bishop-elect Neary was in St. Cloud for the announcement Dec. 15 and a press conference that was held at the Diocesan Pastoral Center that morning.
With America magazine pope talks about church division, women, abortion
Jesuit Fathers Matt Malone and Sam Sawyer, respectively the outgoing and incoming editors of America, executive editor Kerry Weber, Vatican correspondent Gerard O’Connell and podcast host Gloria Purvis interviewed Pope Francis Nov. 22. The interview was released Nov. 28.
Visiting his family, pope celebrates feast of Christ the King
The visit was timed to coincide with the 90th birthday of Carla Rabezzana, the pope’s second cousin. And, after landing in Portacomaro near Asti Nov. 19 and stopping for a prayer in a village church, Pope Francis headed straight to Rabezzana’s house for lunch.