Characterizations of Pope Francis abound. In something that hasn’t happened since 1979, when John Paul II did it, Pope Francis this week made the Time magazine cover story everywhere in the world except the United States – which went with a story about the ‘not guilty’ verdict in a case against a white man who Read more
My Facebook newsfeed in recent days has been filled with exciting stories and photos about World Youth Day (WYD)—which ended today with a Mass in Rio. Yet again, we have had some amazing quotes from Pope Francis on his visit to Brazil reminding us about the church’s social and ethical obligations towards the poor. However, Read more
Pope Francis comment this week that he would not judge priests for their sexual orientation has stirred discussion and debate around the world. “If someone is gay and he searches for the Lord and has good will, who am I to judge?” the pope was quoted by reporters. The pope’s remarks came up during an Read more
The Vatican bank has launched a website in the wake of a series of scandals and criticism for alleged lack of transparency. Vatican Radio quoted bank president Ernst von Freyberg that the site will provide information “on our reforms and the things we do in the world and how we support the Church and its Read more
Pope Francis this week revealed his plan to travel to Italy, Jerusalem, and Asia in the coming months. “I think papal trips are always good,” the pope was quoted as saying during the flight back to Rome after a week in Brazil. Pope Francis, however, said there is still “nothing definite-definite,” but added that he Read more
A photograph from WYD shows Pope Francis clearly wearing a chotki around his wrist. A chotki is a “prayer rope,” similar to the rosary, used by the Orthodox and Eastern rite Catholics. When praying, the user normally holds the prayer rope in the left hand, leaving the right hand free to make the Sign of the Read more
Urging the hierarchy to be more pastoral than administrative, Pope Francis has said bishops should ask whether they and their priests are serving “the People of God as a whole” rather than “the Church as an organisation”. The Pope was speaking in Rio de Janeiro to the co-ordinating committee of the Latin American Bishops’ Council Read more
Pope Francis has sent out three million World Youth Day participants to be missionaries — a task he said was mandatory, not optional. “Jesus is speaking to each one of us, saying: ‘It was wonderful to take part in World Youth Day, to live the faith together with young people from the four corners of Read more
A Vatican official facing money-laundering charges has appealed to Pope Francis, insisting he is innocent and claiming he was betrayed by his superiors. Accused cleric Monsignor Nunzio Scarano wrote to the Pope from Rome’s Regina Caeli prison, where he is detained on charges of planning to bring €20 million in cash ($NZ33.5 million) into Italy Read more
The following essay is an excerpt from the forthcoming book Open Mind, Faithful Heart: Meditations on Christian Discipleship by Jorge Mario Bergoglio, Pope Francis. A theologian of our time tells us that “our dialogue with God is of a precarious nature; it is really just compensating for our lack of deeper communication and understanding with Read more