Pope Francis shakes hands with Israeli President Reuven Rivlin during a private audience at the Vatican on 15 November. Photo: Paul Haring/CNS. By Carol Glatz Pope Francis welcomed Israeli President Reuven Rivlin to the Vatican on 15 November for a private discussion that included the importance of building greater trust between Israelis and Palestinians. During their 35-minute meeting...

Pope Francis kisses a baby during his general audience in St Peter’s Square at the Vatican on 7 November. Photo: Paul Haring/CNS. By Carol Glatz Life is for loving, not amassing possessions, Pope Francis said on 7 November during his weekly general audience. In fact, the true meaning and purpose of wealth is to use it to lovingly serve others and promote human dignity, the Holy Father ...

Pope Francis celebrates Mass on the feast of All Souls on 2 November at Laurentino Cemetery in Rome. Photo: Paul Haring/CNS. By Cindy Wooden The Mass for the feast of All Souls is “realistic, concrete” in calling Catholics to remember the people and events of their past, to consider how they live today and to hope for eternal life with God and their loved ones who preceded them, Pope Fran...

Pope Francis holds his pastoral staff as he celebrates the closing Mass of the Synod of Bishops on young people, the faith and vocational discernment in St Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican on 28 October. Photo: Paul Haring/CNS. By Carol Glatz Speaking on behalf of all adult Catholics, Pope Francis formally closed the Synod of Bishops by asking young people for forgiveness. “Forgive us i...

Melbourne Auxiliary Bishop Mark Edwards shares a laugh with Indonesian youth delegate Anastasia Indrawan before a session of the Synod of Bishops on young people, the faith and vocational discernment at the Vatican on 9 October. The synod’s final document will seek to address issues concerning all young people and not just those issues facing young men and women living in Western countries, s...

The banners of new saints Oscar Romero and Paul VI hang from the facade of St Peter’s Basilica as Pope Francis celebrates the canonisation Mass for seven new saints in St Peter’s Square at the Vatican on 14 October. Photo: Paul Haring/CNS. By Catholic News Service Reporters Carrying Pope Paul VI’s pastoral staff and wearing the blood-stained belt of Archbishop Oscar Romero of San Salvador...

Then-Cardinal Theodore McCarrick, retired Archbishop of Washington, and Cardinal Donald Wuerl of Washington concelebrate Mass in 2010 in St Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican. Photo: Nancy Wiechec/CNS. By Cindy Wooden Cardinal Marc Ouellet, prefect of the Congregation for Bishops, claims former Cardinal Theodore E McCarrick had been told by Vatican officials to withdraw from public life beca...

A woman in a home for seniors in Vienna. Catholic experts have called for palliative care to become standard around the world. Photo: Harald Schneider/EPA. By Jo Ann Zuniga Catholic experts have called for palliative care to become standard around the world. A female religious suffering from metastatic breast cancer in the final stages received medication to ease severe pain and thanke...

Pope Francis holds a letter presented by Cardinal Joseph Zen Ze-kiun, retired bishop of Hong Kong, during his general audience in early January at the Vatican. Photo: Paul Haring/CNS. By Cindy Wooden The Vatican has announced that all of the Catholic bishops in China are in full communion with the Pope for the first time in decades. Pope Francis lifted the excommunications or irregular...

Sebastian Duhau from Diocese of Parramatta. Photo: ACBC. Twenty-two-year-old Sydney-based Sebastian Duhau will soon be making his way to the Vatican as Australia’s youth auditor at the upcoming General Synod of Bishops on Young People, Faith and Vocational Discernment. Mr Duhau, from the Diocese of Parramatta, was nominated and accepted to participate in the General Synod itself, along wi...