Much attention has been given to the pope’s concern for the poor, which was reflected in his choice of Francis as his papal name. But as Pope Francis explained to journalists three days after his election, he also chose the name Francis because St. Francis of Assisi is “the man of peace. … He is the man Read more
The Queen will visit Pope Francis at the Vatican in April, Buckingham Palace announced. A February 4 statement said Queen Elizabeth II and her husband, Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, will meet the pope on April 3. The queen and prince will visit Rome at the invitation of Italian President Giorgio Napolitano, the statement Read more
With the sometimes rabid exception of people at the ultra-traditionalist fringe of Catholicism who sputter at seeing him being respectful toward non-Catholics and acting “undignified,” Catholics are very pleased with Pope Francis. More notable, though, is the wild adulation he draws from those outside the Church, even more adulation, it appears, than he draws from Read more
Philomena Lee, the woman whose story inspired the Oscar nominated film “Philomena”, this week attended Mass in St Peter’s Square before meeting Pope Francis at his weekly General Audience. “Philomena” is the movie of Lee’s search for her adopted son. Lee, now 80, was an unmarried mother in Ireland in the 1950’s, and put into Read more
“Women in the church are more important than bishops and priests,” the pope insisted in July. “That’s what we have to try to explain better, because I believe we don’t have a way of making that explicit theologically.” Here’s the key point: When Francis talks about “more space” for women, it’s less about creating new Read more
Samoa’s Head of State, His Highness, Tui Atua Tupua Tamasese Efi iis visiting Germany and Italy. His Highness is expected to meet with the Federal President of Germany, Joachim Gauck during the visit and is invited to the opening of a museum exhibit in Munich. His Highness is also meeting with the Head of the Read more
Pope Francis is following New Zealand’s double Grammy award winning Lorde, and appearing on the cover of Rolling Stone. Mark Binelli, author of the 7,700 word cover story, highlighted Pope Francis’ universal appeal, which, he says is cutting across all major demographics, age, gender, political views and even religious affiliation. Entiled, “Pope Francis: The times Read more
A street art image of Pope Francis portrayed as SuperPope has been scrubbed clean by Italian police. The work by Italian artist Mauro Palotta depicted Pope Francis as a white caped flying super-hero with clenched fist with a bag of values (valores). The mural met with Vatican approval so much that they tweeted a photo Read more
Pope Francis, Saturday, told members of Neocatechumenal Way to pay attention to cultural differences when they go about missionary work. He said the Catholic Church’s overall unity is more important than the details of their own practices. Pope Francis also told the groups they are also to respect the authority and guidance of local bishops. The Neocatechumenate’s religious Read more
Pope Francis yesterday expressed the hope that the conflict in Syria “will finally come to an end this year” and that this month’s Geneva 2 conference would mark the beginning of a peace process. The pope made that observation in the context of the traditional papal address given each January to the diplomatic corps in Read more