Pope tells cardinals they are servants, not courtiers

Celebrating Mass with the newest members of the College of the Cardinals one day after their elevation, Pope Francis urged them to regard their new role not as one of worldly honor but of humble service and sacrifice.

Catholic agencies aiding homeless find task bigger during brutal winter

The need for food, clothes and shelter has been constant in a brutal winter marked by soaring snow totals and dangerously plunging cold temperatures this winter.

Felt hats, head wraps, red robes: Cardinals represent worldwide church

The tasseled felt hats of German horse riders and the brightly colored head wraps of women from the Antilles were just a few signs of the Catholic Church's universality on display Feb. 22, as pilgrims celebrated the creation of new cardinals.

Former prisoners rely on faith, support to get back on their feet

Being released from prison can be a daunting challenge. Many former prisoners find themselves in unfamiliar cities with little or no money, no job, sometimes no family or friends to help. All of them carry the stigma of having spent time in prison.

Synod official says survey shows great suffering, need to rebuild trust

The responses to the Vatican questionnaire about Catholics' family life reflect a great amount of suffering around the world, said the general secretary of the synod.

Pope names presidents for synod on family

Pope Francis named a French, a Philippine and a Brazilian cardinal to serve as the three presidents of the extraordinary Synod of Bishops on the family in October.

Addressing income inequality: A higher minimum wage is just the start

Raising the minimum wage is one step to fixing wage disparities, but only one step. Still, it's the remedy that has been grabbing headlines

Vatican starts hiring freeze, forbids overtime in effort to cut costs

The Vatican announced an immediate end to new hires, wage-increases and overtime in an effort to cut costs and offset budget shortfalls.

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.