A mass of thanksgiving for the election of Pope Francis will be celebrated on Friday at 6pm at Shrine of the Three Hearts church at Vaoala, in Samoa. This year has been one of surprise for the Catholics of Samoa at events at the tip of the hierarchy of their church. First there was the Read more
Cardinal Timothy Dolan has told reporters a surprising story of how the newly elected pope decided to take the bus back to the hotel Wednesday with the rest of the cardinals instead of riding in the Holy Father’s car. Dolan said most of the cardinals had taken buses back to their residence in the Vatican Read more
In his first public Mass, Pope Francis urged the Catholic Church on Thursday to stick to its Gospel roots and shun modern temptations, warning that it would become just another charitable group if it forgot its true mission. In a heartfelt, simple homily, the Argentinian pope laid out a clear moral path for the 1.2-billion-member Read more
As an Argentinian cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio is said to have a good relationship with Argentinian Jews. Rabbi David Rosen, the director of interfaith affairs for the American Jewish Committee, said that the new pope is a “warm and sweet and modest man” known in Buenos Aires for doing his own cooking and personally answering his phone. Read more
Pope Francis began his first full day as leader of the Catholic Church praying at the Basilica of Saint Mary Major in Rome, Vatican spokesman Federico Lombardi said. His calendar for the next five days is: Thursday, 5am – Celebrates Mass with cardinals at Sistine Chapel Friday, 11pm – Meets with the full College of Cardinals, electors Read more
Italian bishops were quick to congratulate the new pope. Too quick: They got the wrong man. The Italian Bishops’ Conference Wednesday sent a congratulatory email to one of their own, Milan Cardinal Scola — tipped as a hot conclave favorite. They quickly corrected themselves and issued a new message to the real winner, Argentine Jorge Read more
The election of a new pope is always an exciting moment for the Church and the world. After weeks of uncertainty, it seems there is good reason to celebrate the election of Pope Francis I, and to congratulate and offer support to him in the immense task ahead. The excitement of the election of a Read more
Some of the staff of Challenge 2000, a youth development agency, are excited by the election of Pope Francis because he is a man who has a proven track record of serving the poor and working for social transformation. “At a time where the world is struggling with many issues it is heartening to hear of the example Read more
A conclave which began with no clear front-runner has come to a unexpected and surprisingly quick conclusion, Cardinals electing Jeorge Mario Bergoglio as Pope. He has taken the name Francis. Archbishop Bergoglio is a man who gave up his official house for a small apartment, he cooks his own meals, and travels to work by Read more
Wellington Catholics say the surprise selection of Jorge Mario Bergoglio from Argentina as new pope is a sign of new ideas being brought into the troubled church establishment. The news was broken to Wellington’s Catholics during morning mass at Sacred Heart Cathedral. A messenger entered the chapel and handed a piece of paper with Cardinal Read more