Pope: Professing the faith without good works is just spouting hot air
Understanding God's commandments and church doctrine is useless if those truths aren't put into practice, Pope Francis said.
"A faith without bearing fruit in life, a faith that doesn't bear fruit in works is not faith," the pope said in a Mass homily, focusing on the day's first reading from the Book of James.
Actor’s addictions, lifestyle raise questions about Catholic funeral
Talented. Troubled. Tragic. An alliteration of adjectives that could be used to describe Philip Seymour Hoffman's life, addiction and demise.
Catholic leaders praise missioners who stay in Central African Republic
Catholic leaders in the Central African Republic praised the courage of missionary priests and nuns who remained in the country during the current conflict, despite offers of evacuation.
"That most have remained here is the greatest act of witness our church has given," said Bishop Nestor-Desire Nongo Aziagbia of Bossangoa, Central African Republic.
Pope calls for ‘intelligent, courageous, loving’ approach to families
Opening a two-day meeting of the world's cardinals, Pope Francis said the church's pastoral approach to helping couples must be "intelligent, courageous and full of love" because the family today is "looked down upon and mistreated."
Pope, Ukrainian church leaders call for end to violence in Ukraine
After a night of violent confrontations between protesters and police and the deaths of more than two dozen people, Pope Francis and Ukrainian church leaders called Feb. 19 for an end to all violence and a serious commitment to dialogue for the good of Ukraine.
Go directly to confession, don’t wait, pope says at audience
If you haven't been to confession recently, don't wait, Pope Francis told people at his weekly general audience. One may walk into the confessional with a heavy heart, but forgiveness brings freedom and lightness.
"If a lot of time has passed, don't lose even one more day. Go," the pope said Feb. 19
Facing the truth about ourselves is a step toward holiness, pope says
Facing the truth about ourselves is not easy, Pope Francis told the faithful at a parish on the outskirts of Rome. He also spoke forcefully about the sin of gossip.
Pope to engaged couples: After ‘I do,’ comes ‘may I, thank you, sorry’
"The perfect family doesn't exist, nor is there a perfect husband or a perfect wife, and let's not talk about the perfect mother-in-law!" Pope Francis said to laughter and applause.
Massgoer says society needs to see importance of sacrament of marriage
The octogenarian lovebirds come every year to celebrate World Marriage Day at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels.
Married at La Placita Church in Los Angeles Nov. 25, 1951, 85-year-old Ralph Guerrero and his wife, Mary, 84, were the longest-married couple among 81 couples at the World Marriage Day Mass in English at the cathedral Feb. 9.
‘Chess game at lightning speed’: Nun says hockey’s in her blood
Despite claiming citizenship in both Canada and the United States, U.S.-born Sister Helena Burns always pulls for the maple leaf in international hockey. The 2014 Olympics will be no different.