quot The dignity of the human person and the common good rank higher than the comfort of those who refuse to renounce their privileges quot 218 In a simple sentence Pope Francis summarizes the bedrock of Catholic social doctrine human dignity the common good and the preferential option for t

"Through the sensus fidei the church becomes a sacrament of salvation to the world." Amanda C. Osheim on "Evangelii Gaudium"

At the end of his life ill and dying St Francis of Assisi told his fellow friars ldquo Let us begin brothers to serve the Lord God for up until now we have done little or nothing rdquo His first biographer Thomas of Celano comments on the Saint rsquo s exhortation ldquo Francis did not

From James Martin, S.J.: "Evangelii Gaudium" is Pope Francis’s ringing response to prophets of doom.

Today Pope Francis announced the canonization of Pierre Favre, S.J., aka Peter Faber.

After decades of the United States and Iran demonizing the other it is a welcome development that the two countries are sitting down to negotiate differences over Iran rsquo s nuclear program and may be within reach of a settlement Will they be allowed to make it or will Israel rsquo s Prime Mini