Category: Daily News

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 morning appointments because of what the Vatican press office described as a slight flu. The results of the CT scan were negative, and the pope returned to his residence, the…

VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Pope Francis appealed for perseverance in praying for peace, especially in the Holy Land where the conflict is no longer “warfare,” but has become “terrorism.” “Please, let’s move toward peace. Pray for peace,” the pope said. “May the Lord help us to not keep going to the point of killing everyone.”…

VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Whether simple or elaborate, the same every year or constantly changing, a Nativity scene echoes “the beauty of our faith,” Pope Francis wrote. Marking the 800th anniversary of St. Francis of Assisi putting together the first Christmas crèche in a cave in Greccio, Italy, the Vatican publishing house compiled texts by…

VATICAN CITY (CNS) — When Mbengue Nyimbilo Crepin told Pope Francis of his harrowing journey to Italy and about the deaths of his wife and 6-year-old daughter in the desert along the border between Libya and Tunisia, the pope told him he had been praying for them since July. Nyimbilo, known as “Pato,” sobbed Nov.…

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 their God-given capacity for charity and love into action, Pope Francis said.  The poor, whether “the oppressed, fatigued, marginalized, victims of war,” migrants, the hungry, those without work or…

VATICAN CITY (CNS) — In the month Catholics traditionally honor the dead, the Vatican Museums opened a new entrance to an ancient necropolis where carved marble sarcophagi sit near open graves filled with bones. In the Via Triumphalis Necropolis, some of the tombs and cremation urns have the person’s name on them. Others also include…