Journey toward Catholic-Orthodox unity began with an embrace, pope says
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- The journey of reconciliation between Catholics and Orthodox began with an embrace almost 60 years ago, a sign of how important personal...
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WYD in Lisbon showed 'universal dimensions of God's heart,' pope says
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Although he had an aide read his prepared talk to the people who had organized World Youth Day in Lisbon, Portugal, Pope Francis...
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Pope says he has serious bronchial infection
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- "As you can see, I am alive," Pope Francis told a group of health care managers Nov. 30. At the brief meeting with participants...
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On 'goodwill tour' to Nigeria, Kentucky bishop finds packed Masses, vibrant vocations
OWENSBORO, Ky. (OSV News) -- By the time he set off on his 16-day trip to Nigeria in October, Bishop William F. Medley of Owensboro had become something...
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Canon law must be part of church's mission of mercy, pope says
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- All the Catholic Church's structures, including tribunals and faculties of canon law, must undergo a "pastoral and missionary conversion"...
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Cardinal sends message to charismatic Catholics gathered in Dubai
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Some 3,000 charismatic Catholics living in the Persian Gulf gathered in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, for praise and worship and to...
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Catholic school leaders in Northern Ireland call on parents to reject new legislation on sex education
(OSV News) -- Catholic school leaders in Northern Ireland have called on parents to reject a plan by the British government that they say would "impose...
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Silence must be broken if abuse is to be eradicated, pope tells victims
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Everyone must work together to end the silence surrounding abuse if it is to be eradicated from the church and communities, Pope...
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Loving service is best evangelization, pope tells Franciscans
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Embracing poverty and modeling a fraternity that accepts everyone as a brother or sister, members of Franciscan orders are called...
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MAP: Are Holy Land pilgrimage sites threatened by the Israel-Hamas war?
Israel's war against Hamas, which began when the terrorist group launched a surprise attack on Israel Oct. 7, continued to rage throughout October...
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Nicaragua claims imprisoned bishop receives 'preferential' treatment
BUENOS AIRES (OSV News) -- The Nicaraguan government has released a series of photos and videos of imprisoned Bishop Rolando Álvarez of Matagalpa...
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'No one listened,' says alleged Rupnik victim, recalling fight with church system for truth
TURIN, Italy (OSV News) -- On Oct. 30, three days after Pope Francis lifted the statute of limitations and opened the path for a church trial and possible...
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Pope planning to withdraw Cardinal Burke's Vatican salary, sources say
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Pope Francis told the prefects of Vatican dicasteries that he saw no reason for the Vatican to continue giving U.S. Cardinal Raymond...
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Pope, still suffering from the flu, urges prayers for peace at audience
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- With a soft and raspy voice, Pope Francis began his weekly general audience by making the sign of the cross and explaining that "I'm...
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Pope cancels Dubai trip although Vatican says his health is improving
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- "With great regret," Pope Francis has accepted his doctors' advice to not travel to Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Dec. 1-3 and is...
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Ukraine churches remember Moscow's campaign of 'death by hunger'
(OSV News) -- Ukrainian church leaders have joined anniversary commemorations of the 1932-1933 Holodomor, or Great Famine, in which millions died in a...
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Pope: Places, mentalities must be more receptive to people with disabilities
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Making places more accessible for people with disabilities requires removing physical barriers and adjusting attitudes to be more...
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German bishop denounces Polish archbishop for letter to pope protesting Germany's reform course
WARSAW, Poland (OSV News) -- Tensions have flared between the presidents of the Catholic bishops' conferences of Germany and Poland over Germany's reform...
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God plants a seed in everyone; help it flourish, pope tells chaplains
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Be courageous in caring for and accompanying others, helping them to dream big, cultivating their unique gifts and flourishing, Pope...
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Media must show, promote respect for human dignity, pope says
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- An important part of the mission of Catholic media is to forgo the shocking, sensational or superficial when such stories present...
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Pope's health improving; he keeps some appointments
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Pope Francis is breathing easier after undergoing intravenous antibiotic treatment for pulmonary inflammation, the director of the...
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Pope leads Angelus from his residence because of illness
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Explaining that he had a "problem with inflammation of my lungs," Pope Francis led the recitation of the Angelus prayer from the...
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Pope undergoes CT scan to rule out lung problems
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Pope Francis underwent a CT scan at Rome's Gemelli Isola Hospital Nov. 25 to rule out pulmonary complications after canceling his...
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New Vatican letter fuels tensions with German bishops in row over reform
WUERZBURG, Germany (OSV News) -- Tensions between Rome and the majority of German bishops are again intensifying with Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Vatican...
Read More34 arrested in night of violence following stabbing attack outside Catholic school in Dublin
DUBLIN (OSV News) -- Irish police blame what they describe as a "lunatic, hooligan faction driven by far-right ideology" for a night of violence in Dublin...
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The real bishop behind Les Misérables is on the path to sainthood
PARIS (OSV News) -- If classical literature characters could become saints, France has a perfect example. The real bishop behind Victor Hugo's famous Les...
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Pope holds separate meetings with Israelis, Palestinians at Vatican
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- With hopes growing for a temporary, humanitarian cease-fire, Pope Francis met at the Vatican Nov. 22 with relatives of Israelis held...
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Polish archbishop urges pope to resist German church demands
(OSV News) -- The president of the Polish bishops' conference has bitterly criticized demands for liberal change by the church in neighboring Germany and...
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Acting to end abuse is 'non-negotiable,' pope says
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- The Catholic Church and all its members must end silence about clerical sexual abuse and ensure cases are no longer covered up, Pope...
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Pope sees threat of church in Germany moving away from Rome
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Pope Francis expressed his concern about concrete initiatives individual dioceses and the Catholic Church in Germany as a whole are...
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Spanish cardinal urges calm as protests mount over separatist amnesty
(OSV News) -- The president of the Spanish bishops' conference has appealed for calm following mass protests against the planned release of jailed Catalan...
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Destination Dubai: Pope heads to climate conference to press for action
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- When Pope Francis visits Dubai in the United Arab Emirates Dec. 1-3 to address the opening of the U.N. Climate Change Conference,...
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Javier Milei, who called pope a 'filthy leftist,' wins presidential elections in Argentina
BUENOS AIRES (OSV News) -- Upstart presidential candidate Javier Milei, who attacked Pope Francis as "filthy leftist," overwhelmingly won Argentina's presidential...
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Discerning will of the Holy Spirit requires 'a Christological ear,' Sydney archbishop says
SYDNEY (OSV News) -- Proposals from the Synod on Synodality can be judged by whether they call men and women to holiness, as the church does more work...
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'Poverty is a scandal,' pope says; Christians must use gifts for charity
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- The material, cultural and spiritual poverties that exist in the world are a "scandal" that Christians are called to address by putting...
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'Truly compassionate society protects its most vulnerable,' U.K. bishops say after baby's death
NOTTINGHAM, England (OSV News) -- British bishops expressed their condolences to Dean and Claire Gregory, parents of 8-month-old Indi, who died Nov. 13...
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Honoring the dead: Vatican Museums expand access to necropolis
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- In the month Catholics traditionally honor the dead, the Vatican Museums opened a new entrance to an ancient necropolis where carved...
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Sagrada Familía basilica in Barcelona inaugurates the towers of the Evangelists
BARCELONA, Spain (OSV News) -- It seemed like one of Antonio Gaudí's dreams come true. On Nov. 12, the papal nuncio to Spain, Archbishop Bernardito...
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Vatican aims to have a net-zero-emissions vehicle fleet by 2030
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- As part of a plan to reduce its CO2 footprint, Vatican City State has launched a program to replace its existing vehicle fleet with...
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Catholics must not join Masonic groups, membership remains serious sin
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Catholics are still forbidden from joining Masonic organizations and, with an increasing number of Catholics joining Masonic lodges...
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Pope returns Mater Ecclesiae Monastery to use by contemplative nuns
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Pope Francis has invited a community of Benedictine nuns from Argentina to move into the Mater Ecclesiae Monastery in the Vatican...
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Indi Gregory, British girl whose life support was halted by court, dies
NOTTINGHAM, England (OSV News) -- Indi Gregory, a British girl whose parents battled the British courts to have her life support extended, died at 1:45...
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UPDATE: UK judges reject moving infant to Rome, order immediate removal of life support
LONDON (OSV News) -- Some of the most senior judges in the U.K. ruled late Nov. 10 that the Italian intervention in Indi Gregory's case to move the infant...
Read MoreFrench bishops criticize President Macron's idea to guarantee right to abortion in constitution
(OSV News) -- Gathered at their plenary assembly in Lourdes Nov. 3-8, the French bishops discussed abortion, migration and mission -- the latter received...
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Priests who minister to poor, other Argentines urge pope to visit his homeland
BUENOS AIRES (OSV News) -- Almost immediately after Pope Francis was elected in March 2013, Argentines expected him to visit. A flood of young Argentines...
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Pope joins knights and dames of Holy Sepulchre in praying for peace
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Pope Francis joined leaders of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem in praying for peace in Israel and Palestine,...
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Pope encourages children to speak up, work for peace
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- In a celebration of life, peace, joy and harmony, thousands of children representing young people on every continent greeted Pope...
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Jesus loves those who put their trust in him, pope says at memorial Mass
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- God seeks and loves those who are humble because it allows him to be a part of their lives, Pope Francis said. "This is Christian...
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Italian consul fights to save UK girl's life after judge orders removal of life support
NOTTINGHAM, England (OSV News) -- An appeal has been filed challenging a Nov. 8 ruling by a British judge that Indi Gregory's life support must be removed...
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Doctrinal dicastery says transexuals can be baptized
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- If it would not cause scandal or confusion among other Catholics, "a transsexual -- even one who has undergone hormone treatment...
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Italy grants citizenship to critically ill 8-month-old refused further treatment in UK
ROME (OSV News) -- The Italian government granted citizenship to Indi Gregory, an 8-month-old child suffering from a degenerative disease who is at the...
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Cardinal denies working on changes to procedures for papal elections
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Cardinal Gianfranco Ghirlanda, a top adviser to Pope Francis on matters involving canon law, denied reports the pope had asked him...
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Faith is a call to dialogue and peacemaking, pope tells rabbis
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Christians and Jews are called to bear witness to God's word through dialogue and "to his peace with our actions," Pope Francis said...
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Charismatic renewal must help dioceses with lay formation, pope says
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Charismatic renewal movements should provide support and advice to bishops and priests by accompanying, guiding and deepening the...
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Pope says 'duplicity of heart' threatens Christian witness
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Preaching one thing but doing another puts the authenticity and credibility of Christian witness at risk, Pope Francis said. Reflecting...
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It was never about her, but about Jesus, says producer of Mother Teresa film
WADOWICE, Poland (OSV News) -- In 1988, when he was a convicted drug addict serving time in prison, he thought of God as a severe Father who punishes rather...
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Synod, soccer, sexuality: Pope gives another wide-ranging interview
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- In an hourlong interview with Italy's main news program, Pope Francis announced he would travel to Dubai in early December for the...
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