Miles de fieles en Chiclayo celebran la elección de su obispo como Papa
CHICLAYO, Perú (OSV News) -- Miles de católicos abarrotaron la plaza frente a la Catedral de Santa María de Chiclayo en esta ciudad del...
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Pope pledges strengthened dialogue with Jews
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Among his first messages, Pope Leo XIV expressed his intention to strengthen the Catholic Church's ties with the Jewish community. "Trusting...
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'We look toward the new pontiff with Christian hope,' says ecumenical patriarch
(OSV News) -- Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople said he hopes Pope Leo XIV will "be a dear brother and collaborator … for the rapprochement...
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Pope Leo's motto, coat of arms pay homage to St. Augustine
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Pope Leo XIV's devotion to St. Augustine, his life and ministry as a member of the Augustinian order and his focus on the unity of...
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Ukrainian president speaks with Pope Leo, invites him to Ukraine
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy thanked Pope Leo XIV for his support of a just and lasting peace in Ukraine, and he invited...
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Pope thanks media, urges them to be peacemakers
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Pope Leo XIV asked journalists to be peacemakers by shunning prejudice and anger in their reporting, and he called for the release...
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Pope Leo prays for vocations, for peace and for mothers on Mother's Day
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- With a huge and festive crowd gathered in St. Peter's Square, Pope Leo XIV led his first Sunday recitation of the "Regina Coeli"...
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As missionary in Peru, future pope always close to the poorest, say Augustinian sisters
ROME (OSV News) -- Two days before the May 7 conclave began, Augustinian Sister Carmen Toledano texted her religious brother Monseñor Robert, whom...
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Who are the Augustinians, Pope Leo XIV's order?
(OSV News) -- In Pope Leo XIV's first greeting after being introduced as pope May 8, he described himself as a "son of St. Augustine." The first American...
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Pope Leo leaves Vatican to visit Shrine of Our Lady of Good Counsel
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Less than 48 hours after being elected, Pope Leo XIV got in the front seat of a minivan and traveled 40 miles southeast from the...
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2012-2025: Pope Leo on the need for the church to be open, welcoming
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Shortly after the election of Pope Leo XIV, several news outlets reported on his speech at the 2012 Synod of Bishops on the new evangelization...
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In boots during floods, in vestments at Mass: Peruvians claim Leo XIV as a local
ROME (OSV News) -- In a country where over 90% of the population identifies as Christian -- and nearly three-quarters as Catholic -- the election of a...
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'Doctrinal clarity, strong governance, thoughtful appointments' among Weigel's hopes for new papacy
ROME (OSV News) -- Only a few days have passed since the election of Pope Leo XIV, but the 266th successor of Peter has already given a hint on the style...
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Pope Leo XIV shares vision for papacy in age of artificial intelligence
Pope Leo XIV met with the College of Cardinals Saturday morning for his first official address since his election, outlining key priorities for his pontificate...
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As new pontificate begins, papal historians share first impressions of Francis' successor
(OSV News) -- After the entire world hears the words "Habemus Papam" and learns there's a new pope, the questions start: Who is he? What will he do, and...
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First American pope: White Sox fan, Villanova grad, Peru missionary, Vatican leader
(OSV News) -- Standing on loggia of St. Peter's basilica, newly elected Pope Leo XIV smiled, waved and appeared to hold back emotion May 8 as he introduced...
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10 things to know about Pope Leo XIV
(OSV News) -- As the Catholic Church welcomes its first American pope, here are 10 things to know about Pope Leo XIV, formerly Cardinal Robert F. Prevost. 1....
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Pope Leo to inaugurate his papacy May 18; has full calendar already
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Pope Leo XIV will officially inaugurate his papacy with Mass in St. Peter's Square May 18. Although he was pope from the moment...
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Pope's Augustinian brothers greet election with 'joyful disbelief,' deep spiritual affirmation
ROME (OSV News) -- He enjoys gelato after lunch, plays tennis weekly in the gardens of the Augustinian Curia in Rome and roots passionately for the Chicago...
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Survivor says new pope was ally in struggle against controversial movement
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Among the thousands of pilgrims along the main road leading to St. Peter's Square waiting anxiously for signs of smoke from the Sistine...
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New pope calls for Christian witness in world that finds faith 'absurd'
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Where Christians are "mocked, opposed, despised or at best tolerated and pitied" is where the Catholic Church's "missionary outreach...
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Full text of first public homily of Pope Leo XIV
(OSV News) -- Full text of the first public homily of Pope Leo XIV, given at a Mass for the College of Cardinals in the Sistine Chapel May 9, 2025. I...
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Pope Leo XIV: A biographical timeline
(OSV News) -- The following are key dates in the life and ministry of Pope Leo XIV, elected May 8, 2025, as the 266th successor to St. Peter. -- 1955:...
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Americans present for white smoke 'shocked' native son is now Pope Leo XIV
VATICAN CITY (OSV News) -- On the second day of the conclave, after white smoke billowed from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel, Americans in Rome reacted...
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El cardenal Prevost, misionero de EEUU, es elegido Papa y toma el nombre de León XIV
CIUDAD DEL VATICANO (CNS) -- El cardenal Robert F. Prevost, nacido en Chicago y prefecto del Dicasterio para los Obispos bajo el Papa Francisco, fue elegido...
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'Synodal and missionary': Pope Leo XIV's election affirms church's path of listening and dialogue, collaborators say
VATICAN CITY (OSV News) -- On May 8, the world met its new pope. Cardinal Robert Prevost, an American missionary and Vatican official, took the name Leo...
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Pope Leo XIV: Peacemaker and openness in an historic name
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Even before he stepped out on the balcony of St. Peter's Basilica and spoke May 8, Pope Leo XIV's choice of a name was a powerful...
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Full text of 'urbi at orbi' blessing by Pope Leo XIV
(OSV News) -- The following is the full text of the "urbi et orbi" blessing given by Pope Leo XIV after his election May 8, 2025. "Peace be with...
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Chicago native Cardinal Prevost elected pope, takes name Leo XIV
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Cardinal Robert F. Prevost, the Chicago-born prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops under Pope Francis, was elected the 267th pope...
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White smoke signals election of new pope
White smoke has emerged from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel, signaling the election of a new Pope. The identity of the new pontiff will be revealed...
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Faithful and furry: People and pets await next pope
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- It is not just people who flock to St. Peter's Square to watch the chimney atop the Sistine Chapel; some furry, faithful companions...
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Black smoke rises from Sistine Chapel as Thursday morning voting concludes without a pope
Black smoke rose from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel at 11:51 am Rome time on Thursday, signaling that the cardinals voting at the conclave have not...
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Conclave: First ballot fails to elect pope
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- As expected, the 133 cardinals who entered the Sistine Chapel May 7 failed to elect the next pope on their first ballot. After celebrating...
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Calling on the Holy Spirit and all the saints, cardinals begin conclave
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Invoking the help of the Holy Spirit and recognizing that millions of people all over the world were praying for them, 133 cardinals...
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FULL TEXT: Cardinal Re's homily for the Mass for the election of the Supreme Pontiff
Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, dean of the College of Cardinals, delivered this homily at the "Pro Eligendo Romano Pontifice" (For the Election of the...
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Choose the pope the world needs, dean urges cardinals before conclave
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- At Mass before the conclave that will elect the next pope, the dean of the College of Cardinals urged his brothers to choose the...
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Kenyan cardinal claims he wasn't invited for conclave; Vatican says invite is automatic
ROME (OSV News) -- Of the 135 cardinals eligible to enter the Sistine Chapel on May 7 to elect the next pope, one absence has sparked confusion, controversy...
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Papal ring, insignia destroyed at cardinals' final meeting
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- On the eve of the conclave that will decide the next pontiff, the ring and lead seal of the late Pope Francis were destroyed in the...
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Child protection commission urges prayers for cardinals in conclave
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- As the College of Cardinals continues to discuss the church's most pressing issues before the conclave, the Pontifical Commission...
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In final pre-conclave meetings, cardinals discuss war, dialogue
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- With less than 48 hours until the beginning of the conclave, the cardinals who will enter the Sistine Chapel to elect a new pope...
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Francis' final gift to Gaza: Popemobile will be transformed into mobile clinic for children
JERUSALEM (OSV News) -- With the declining situation in Gaza always in his heart, in his final months, Pope Francis bequeathed his popemobile to Caritas...
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Final preparations, discussions underway before conclave begins
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- As members of the College of Cardinals met May 5, all 133 cardinals who plan to enter the conclave to elect a new pope had arrived...
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At final memorial Mass, Pope Francis remembered as tireless shepherd
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- On the final day of official mourning for the death of Pope Francis, the late pontiff was remembered as someone who was determined...
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AI image of Trump as pope was 'not good,' cardinal tells reporters in Rome
ROME (CNS) -- An AI-generated image of U.S. President Donald Trump dressed as the pope "was not good," Cardinal Timothy M. Dolan of New York said in Rome. "I...
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St. Thérèse of Lisieux and her trust in God's merciful love still resonate with faithful
(OSV News) -- Bishop Donald J. Hying of Madison, Wisconsin, needed to make a difficult decision, so he turned to one of his favorite saints for help: St....
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Challenges the new pope will face -- and the qualities experts say he'll need
ROME (OSV News) -- In the days since the death of Pope Francis, cardinals have been meeting each morning at the Vatican to make decisions on the governance...
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Vatican guesthouse offers cardinals privacy, relaxed comfort
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- St. John Paul II had the Domus Sanctae Marthae built primarily to house cardinals in simple comfort during a conclave. Pope Francis,...
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Cardinal Parolin, top aide to Pope Francis, has key role in conclave
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Vatican secretary of state since early in the pontificate of Pope Francis, has long been near the top of...
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How the conclave works: It's guided by a rule book and a prayer book
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- The conclave to elect a new pope, scheduled to begin May 7, is governed by two texts: a rule book and a prayer book. The rule book...
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U.S. cardinal's résumé, demeanor land him on 'papabile' lists
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Cardinal Robert F. Prevost, the Chicago-born prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops under Pope Francis, is the U.S. cardinal most often...
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Cardinals approve electors for conclave, formally ask for prayers
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- The College of Cardinals confirmed that 135 members are eligible to participate in the conclave, the Vatican announced, and they...
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Vatican drivers, staff to swear oath of secrecy ahead of conclave
VATICAN CITY (CNS) – One by one, placing a right hand on the Book of Gospels, staff driving, cooking, cleaning and caring for the cardinals who will...
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Build communion with diversity, abbot tells cardinals before conclave
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- The cardinals preparing to elect a new pope must strengthen communion in the Catholic Church, promoting a form of unity that has...
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Cardinal says he will obey late pope's sanctions, not enter conclave
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Cardinal Angelo Becciu, who lost the rights associated with being a cardinal after Pope Francis asked him to resign in 2020, said...
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Where -- and when -- to watch for white smoke
(OSV News) -- The conclave is set to begin May 7, but the public only knows its end by iconic white smoke billowing out of the Sistine Chapel's chimney. Black...
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Pope loved his sculptures that gave visibility to the invisible, artist says
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- In St. Peter's Square, in the shadow of the 17th-century colonnade designed by Italian sculptor Gian Lorenzo Bernini, stands the...
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People with disabilities 'have a sense of the global church,' rejoice with caregivers during Rome jubilee
ROME (OSV News) -- In a mix of joy, excitement and sadness, families, associations and individuals from all over the world celebrated the Jubilee of People...
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Papal elections: Curiosities about age, nationality, firsts and lasts
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Pope Francis made history with his election in 2013 as the first Latin American as well as the first Jesuit ever elected. He was...
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In Rome, the real national sport isn't soccer. It's betting on the next pope
El cónclave para elegir al próximo Papa comenzará el 7 de mayo Por Justin McLellan, Catholic News Service CIUDAD DEL VATICANO (CNS) --...
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Over-80 cardinals still have role to play in choosing next pope
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- The 135 cardinals eligible to elect the next pope will enter the Sistine Chapel to begin the conclave May 7, the Vatican announced. The...
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Conclave has most cardinals, widest geographical mix in history
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- The conclave that begins May 7 is expected to be the largest in history, with a wide geographical mix of cardinal-electors. While...
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Conclave to elect next pope will begin May 7
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- The 135 cardinals eligible to elect the next pope will enter the Sistine Chapel to begin the conclave May 7, the Vatican announced. The...
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The next pope: Lists abound, certainty does not
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- The conclave that begins May 7 is expected to be the largest in history, with a wide geographical mix of cardinal-electors. There...
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U.S. cardinals who will enter conclave to elect pope
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Here is a list of the U.S. cardinals who are under the age of 80 and eligible to enter the conclave May 7 to elect a new pope: --...
Read MoreAt Jubilee of Teenagers, grief is mingled with joyful hope for church's future
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- For thousands of young teens who traveled to Rome for the Jubilee of Teenagers, the announcement of Pope Francis' death came as a...
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Gudziak: Pope Francis gave a gift to the world through surprise Trump-Zelenskyy encounter
ROME (OSV News) -- In a powerful, unexpected moment at the Vatican, U.S. President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met inside...
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Thousands line streets of Rome to bid final farewell to Pope Francis
ROME (CNS) -- The casket bearing the body of Pope Francis made its final journey through the streets of Rome accompanied by applause and shouts of gratitude...
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Pope spent pontificate going to peripheries; at funeral, they came to him
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- When Pope Francis was elected as the first Latin American pontiff, he said his brother cardinals went out of their way to pick someone...
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Homily for the funeral Mass of Pope Francis
Editor's note: This is the English translation of the prepared text of the homily, delivered in Italian by Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, dean of the College...
Read MorePoor and powerful pray for eternal repose of a pope 'with an open heart'
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Pope Francis was "a pope among the people, with an open heart toward everyone," said Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, dean of the College...
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As pope's casket is sealed, he is remembered for simplicity, humility
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- After an estimated 250,000 people had passed by the body of Pope Francis, lying in an open casket in front of the main altar in St....
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Rome's needy bid farewell to pope who lifted them up from misery
ROME (OSV News) -- It was a busy morning April 25 at the Elemosineria Apostolica, or Apostolic Almsgiving Office, behind the Vatican walls. As Cardinal...
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Pope Francis said Mary picked his burial place, cardinal says
ROME (CNS) -- "The Virgin Mary told me, 'Prepare the tomb.'" That is what Pope Francis said Mary told him when he was discerning whether to be buried in...
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Pope Francis: A pope of surprises to the very end
(OSV News) -- From the moment of his election, Pope Francis made clear from the balcony of St. Peter's Basilica that his first mandate was to serve as...
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Religious leaders remember Pope Francis as champion of dialogue
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Religious leaders from around the world mourned the death of Pope Francis April 21, hailing him as a tireless advocate for interreligious...
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World leaders remember Pope Francis as an important international player
(OSV News) -- World leaders offered condolences for Pope Francis almost immediately after the pontiff died April 21 -- a reflection of popes' importance...
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More than 19,000 people pay homage to pope in first nine hours
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- In the first nine hours that Pope Francis' body had lain in state in St. Peter's Basilica, more than 19,000 people stood in line...
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Pope Francis leaves complicated legacy on addressing the sexual abuse crisis
ROME (OSV News) -- Throughout his papacy, Pope Francis, who died April 21 at the age of 88, faced the sexual abuse crisis in the Catholic Church, attempting...
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'All sons and daughters of God': Pope Francis' legacy with Jews and Muslims
(OSV News) -- "God," Pope Francis once said, "is God for all; and if God is God for all, then we are all sons and daughters of God." This credo, spoken...
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Vatican releases unpublished papal reflection on old age
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Growing old isn't something to be feared, but rather something to embrace as a time of grace in one's life, Pope Francis wrote in...
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Prayer, pilgrims accompany pope's body to basilica
VATICAN CITY -- To the chanting of Christ's promise, "I am the resurrection and the life; whoever believes in me, even if he dies, will live," the mortal...
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Pope thanks nurse for taking him to St. Peter's Square one last time
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Pope Francis' final moments were peaceful, and he managed to give one last farewell to his nurse, Massimiliano Strappetti, before...
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Mass for Jubilee of Adolescents will be memorial Mass
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- With the death of Pope Francis, the April 27 canonization of Blessed Carlo Acutis was postponed and the Mass scheduled for that day...
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Cardinals hold first meeting after pope's death
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Cardinals already present in Rome and those who were able to get to the city after Pope Francis' death April 21 held their first...
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El funeral del Papa se celebrará el 26 de abril en la Plaza de San Pedro, su velorio público será del 23 al 25 de abril
CIUDAD DEL VATICANO (CNS) -- La Misa funeral del Papa Francisco se celebrará el 26 de abril en la Plaza de San Pedro, anunció el Vaticano. El...
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Pope's funeral set for April 26, public viewing April 23-25
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- The funeral Mass of Pope Francis will be celebrated April 26 in St. Peter's Square, the Vatican announced. Cardinal Giovanni Battista...
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He gave a face to the faceless: Francis is remembered as the pope of the poor
ROME (OSV News) -- In the last years of his papacy, the world saw the more serious, concerned and suffering face of Pope Francis. But with one group he...
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Special terms used during the period between popes
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Here is an explanation of some of the terms and practices related to the time between the death of Pope Francis April 21 and the...
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Pope died of stroke, heart failure, coma, Vatican says
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Pope Francis died April 21 after suffering a stroke and heart failure, said the director of Vatican City State's department of health...
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El Papa muere tras un derrame cerebral y un colapso cardiovascular, según el Vaticano
CIUDAD DEL VATICANO (CNS) -- El Papa Francisco murió el 21 de abril tras sufrir un "ictus" (derrame) cerebral y un colapso cardiovascular, dijo el...
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In final testament, pope asks for simple burial, prayed for peace
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- In his brief final testament, Pope Francis asked to be buried at Rome's Basilica of St. Mary Major and said he had offered his suffering...
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Crowds gather to pray the rosary for repose of pope's soul
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Just as hundreds of people had gathered at the Vatican each night to recite the rosary when Pope Francis was hospitalized, throngs...
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Pope died of stroke, heart attack, coma, Vatican says
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Pope Francis died April 21 after suffering a stroke and heart attack, said the director of Vatican City State's department of health...
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Vatican announces canonization of Blessed Acutis is postponed
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- With the death of Pope Francis, the canonization of Blessed Carlo Acutis, which was scheduled for April 27, has been postponed. "Following...
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U.S. cardinal to play key role until a new pope is elected
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- With the death of Pope Francis April 21, the practical aspects of overseeing the day-to-day needs of the church and organizing a...
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Pastor mundial: De palabra y obra, el Papa predicó la misericordia y la solidaridad
CIUDAD DEL VATICANO (CNS) -- El Papa Francisco, quien falleció el 21 de abril a la edad de 88 años, energizó a millones de católicos...
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Vatican announces pope's death to the world
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- U.S. Cardinal Kevin J. Farrell, the "camerlengo" or chamberlain of the Holy Roman Church, announced to the world that Pope Francis...
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Global pastor: In word and deed, pope preached mercy, outreach
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Pope Francis, who died April 21 at the age of at age 88, gave new energy to millions of Catholics -- and caused concern for some...
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Christians in the Holy Land celebrate Easter with 'no illusions,' but believing God is 'guiding history'
BETHLEHEM, West Bank (OSV News) -- The pews of the St. Catherine Church in Bethlehem were full and it was standing room only, as parishioners dressed in...
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Pope on Easter: Jesus' resurrection makes Christians pilgrims of hope
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- The hope Christians have is not a sign of avoiding reality but of trusting in the power of God to defeat sin and death as the resurrection...
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