Global Church News

• 

  Pope meets with clergy abuse victims, says crimes can’t be secret

  Oct 01, 2015

  Pope Francis met with a group of survivors of sexual abuse Sept 27 and later told bishops that he was overwhelmed by a sense of embarrassment, and was committed to holding accountable those who harmed children.

  
• 

  Visiting prison, Pope says all people need forgiveness, cleansing

  Oct 01, 2015

  While pilgrims in Philadelphia put up with a long weekend of lines and security checks at the papal venues, the Pope reached out to a group of people whose lives are lines and security checks for years at a time.

  
• 

  ‘No justification whatsoever’ for lack of housing

  Oct 01, 2015

  “We can find no social or moral justification, no justification, no justification whatsoever, for lack of housing,” Pope Francis told an audience of about 200 clients of Catholic Charities gathered at St Patrick Church.

  
• 

  At White House, hours in line for brief welcoming ceremony

  Oct 01, 2015

  The 11,000 ticketed guests and a cast of hundreds of extras — military units, musicians and federal employees — who waited on the White House lawn to greet Pope Francis Sept 23 were clearly there as fans of the visiting pope.

  
• 

  Pope’s visit to Catholic Charities meal seen as sign of hope for the poor

  Oct 01, 2015

  Benedict Zama looked out from her table and Pope Francis was coming towards her moments after he arrived at the St Maria’s Meal programme of Catholic Charities of the Washington Archdiocese.

  
• 

  Stop bickering, the world needs your help

  Oct 01, 2015

  The past, the promise and the potential of the United States must not be smothered by bickering, and even hatred, at a time when the US people and indeed, the world, need a helping hand, Pope Francis told the US Congress.

  
• 

  Jesus still walks our streets. Tell everyone!

  Oct 01, 2015

  Pope Francis on Friday, Sept 25 had a brief, but urgent reminder for the Catholics of New York City. They must proclaim the joy of God and remember to care for all those who go unnoticed in their metropolis, because they have seen the “great light” of Jesus Christ.

  
• 

  Transformation is the way of the Church

  Oct 01, 2015

  One of Pope Francis’ most recent appointments to the episcopal ranks in the United States thinks the model of Church the Pope was proposing in his talk to bishops on Sept 23 is one that seeks engagement with and transformation of, culture rather than rigidly standing against it or apart from it.

  
• 

  Pope’s address to bishops encourages dialogue

  Oct 01, 2015

  For an hour or so the first full day of his U.S. visit, Pope Francis was immersed in a setting quite different from the raucous scenes of adoring throngs lining the streets, the crush of thousands at an official White House greeting and thousands more gathered for the liturgy during which Fr. Junipero Serra was canonized.

  
• 

  Religious liberty is a gift from God. Defend it!

  Oct 01, 2015

  In a Philadelphia moment laden with symbolism, Pope Francis on Saturday, Sep 26 encouraged all Americans and all religions to unite against efforts that would limit religious freedom.