Don't be 'couch potatoes,' get up and evangelize, pope says

A crucifix is seen as Pope Francis walks down steps during his general audience in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican April 18. CNS photo/Paul Haring VATICAN CITY -- Christians must be willing to move where the Spirit leads them and not be benchwarmers on the sidelines of efforts to evangelize, Pope Francis said. More ... Thursday, April 19, 2018

Name given at Baptism gives sense of identity, belonging, pope says

VATICAN CITY -- Naming a child is an important task for parents, because it gives children a sense of identity and belonging to their family and to God, Pope Francis said. More ... Wednesday, April 18, 2018

Church needs prophets, not critics, pope says at morning Mass

VATICAN CITY -- The church needs true prophets who not only speak the truth fearlessly, but also empathize with the suffering of their people, Pope Francis said. More ... Tuesday, April 17, 2018

Catholic universities must prepare students for dialogue, pope says

VATICAN CITY  -- Catholic universities are "called to be workshops of dialogue and encounter in the service of truth, justice and the defense of human dignity at every level," Pope Francis told a delegation from Pennsylvania's Villanova University. More ... Monday, April 16, 2018

Gospel calls Christians to reject economy that exploits, pope says

VATICAN CITY -- The Gospel requires Christians to "denounce personal and social sins committed against God and neighbor in the name of the god money and of power for its own sake," Pope Francis wrote. More ... Friday, April 13, 2018

Baptism opens door to Holy Spirit's action, pope says

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Parents who prefer not to baptize their children in the hopes that they will "understand and ask for baptism" as adults lack faith that the Holy Spirit will act in their child's life, Pope Francis said. More ... Wednesday, April 11, 2018

As young people speak to church, they must listen to Jesus, pope says

VATICAN CITY -- The Catholic Church wants to listen to young people and know where they are coming from, but young Catholics must be ready to listen to Jesus and discover where he wants to lead them, Pope Francis said. More ... Monday, April 9, 2018

Don't be afraid of shame, open hearts to God's mercy, Pope says

VATICAN CITY -- Feeling ashamed of one's sins does not mean wallowing in guilt, rather it is the gateway all men and women can use to experience firsthand God's tender mercy and forgiveness, Pope Francis said. More ... Sunday, April 8, 2018

Leave Mass praising God, not gossiping about others, pope says

VATICAN CITY -- The final words at Mass -- "Go in peace" -- are an invitation to Christians to proclaim God's blessings through their lives, not an opportunity to go outside and speak ill of others, Pope Francis said. More ... Wednesday, April 4, 2018

Pope's Easter appeals for peace include special prayers for Syria, Gaza

VATICAN CITY – In his Easter appeal for peace throughout the world, Pope Francis made special mention of the ongoing "carnage" in Syria and the recent violence along Israel's border with the Gaza Strip, violence the Pope said had not spared "the defenseless."    More ... Monday, April 2, 2018

Christ is victorious over all that divides people, pope says

VATICAN CITY -- Easter is a feast that calls Christians to gather together, make a commitment to dialogue and to work for the common good, Pope Francis said. More ... Monday, April 2, 2018

Hope of Easter breaks routine, renews lives, Pope says during Vigil

VATICAN CITY – Truly celebrating Easter means allowing Jesus to triumph over personal fears and give life to hope, creativity and care for others, Pope Francis said. Easter is "an invitation to break out of our routines and to renew our lives, our decisions and our existence," the Pope said during the Easter Vigil March 31 in St. Peter's Basilica.  More ... Sunday, April 1, 2018

Jesus does not give up on anyone, Pope tells prisoners

ROME -- Before washing the feet of 12 prisoners, Pope Francis told them and hundreds of inmates to remember that Jesus constantly stands before them with love, ready to cleanse their sins and forgive them. More ... Friday, March 30, 2018

Pope: Jesus' Church offers truth, comfort despite efforts to discredit it

ROME  -- Leading a prayer to God for the grace to feel ashamed and repentant for so many sins in the world, Pope Francis highlighted the hope that always comes from Jesus. More ... Friday, March 30, 2018

Pope: Christians may be sinners, but they can't be corrupt, Mafioso

VATICAN CITY -- Though they may go to church and say they are people of faith, the corrupt and "mafioso" have absolutely nothing Christian about them, Pope Francis said. More ... Wednesday, March 28, 2018