"The church is a mother, and she must travel this path of mercy," the pope said.

Civilian Catholic chaplains, unable to perform religious duties at U.S. military bases during the first weekend of the federal government shutdown, were getting back on the job as the shutdown continued into its second week."We're now being told priests can return to work," said John S

Religious leaders gathered on Sept. 30 to denounce "political brinkmanship."

At Georgetown, four panelists analyzed the first months of Francis' papacy.

Recognizing that Blessed John XXIII and John Paul II have widespread reputations for holiness and that years of studying their lives and actions have proven their exceptional virtue, Pope Francis announced he would declare his two predecessors saints at a single ceremony April 27.The pope made the a

The advisory group of cardinals appointed by Pope Francis will become a regular Vatican council.

Backstabbing and gossip hurt people and harm God's desire for a united human family, Pope Francis said. Unity is a gift from God, "but often we struggle to live it out," he said. "We are the ones who create lacerations."The pope also asked people to pray for persecuted C

'It is not my work only. It is the Lord's." Such was the summation of Sister Angelique Namaika, a member of the Augustine Sisters of Dungu and Doruma, as she spoke to reporters in an international conference call upon winning the Nansen Refugee Award bestowed annually by the U.N. H

One day after the tragic shooting at the Washington Navy Yard, Cardinal Donald W. Wuerl celebrated a Mass for consolation and healing in which he prayed for the victims of the rampage and asked God to "heal the wounds in our society so that we can prevent tragedies such as we have just witnesse

Tanil Kahiaian, a refugee from the Syrian city of Aleppo, said he is doing what he can for the others fleeing his country. He, his wife and two children escaped the Syrian war almost a year ago, and since he has watched "tens of thousands" pour into neighboring Turkey as he did."It is