God forgives sins so that joy, not sadness, can flourish once again in one’s heart, Pope Francis has said.

Statistical indicators show Mauritius’ rapid economic growth has benefited all sectors of society, lifting thousands out of poverty over the past 30 years, but Pope Francis still urged the island’s Catholics to be careful.

Pope Francis has this weekend announced he will create 13 new cardinals on 5 October, choosing prelates from 13 different nations as a sign of “the missionary vocation of the Church that continues to proclaim the merciful love of God to all men and women of the earth”.

Do Catholics believe that the Eucharist is truly the Body and Blood of Christ?

Marking the anniversary of the Geneva Conventions, Pope Francis urged nations to recall the need to protect the life and dignity of the victims of war and armed conflict.

Pope Francis acknowledged the shame and frustration felt by priests who are discouraged by the actions of fellow clergy members who betrayed the trust of their flock through sexual abuse, and abuse of conscience and power.

Three months after the Easter Sunday attack (21 April) in Sri Lanka, where a suicide bomber killed close to 100 people, the first Holy Mass was celebrated on the 21 July at Saint Sebastian’s Church in Katuwapitiya, Negombo.

Pope Francis urged Syrian President Bashar Assad to put an end to his country’s eight-year-long conflict and seek reconciliation for the good of the nation and its vulnerable people.

In the light of “a worrying negative prejudice” against the Catholic Church, Pope Francis has recently ordered the publication of a document affirming the absolute secrecy of everything said in confession and calling on priests to defend it at all costs, even at the cost of their lives.

With “overwhelming joy”, Bishop Daniel Jenky of Peoria has this week announced that Pope Francis had approved a miracle attributed to the intercession of Archbishop Fulton Sheen.