News & Commentary

An Italian policeman watches as immigrants board a van after they disembarked from an Italian coast guard boat at the port in Lampedusa, Italy, July 9. The day before in Lampedusa, Pope Francis lamented the sufferings of people who flee their homeland and mourned those who have died doing so. The island has been a landing point for scores of immigrants from Africa attempting to make their way to Europe. (CNS photo/Paul Haring) (July 9, 2013)

Migrants are not enemies, just brothers and sisters in need, Pope Leo says

At a time when people feel powerless to help migrants and refugees, Christians must continue to insist that "there is no justice without compassion, no legitimacy without listening to the pain of others," Pope Leo XIV said.
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Pope: If you can’t go to confession, take your sorrow directly to God

People who cannot get to confession because of the coronavirus lockdown or another serious reason can go to God directly, be specific about their sins, request pardon and experience God’s loving forgiveness, Pope Francis said.
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Time: Lockdown’s Unexpected Gift

I was video chatting with my childhood friend yesterday. We haven’t talked in almost a year and we were organizing a virtual happy hour with our high school friends. Why hadn’t we thought about doing this before?
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Pope to nurses, midwives: ‘Thank you for your service’

The coronavirus pandemic has drawn well-deserved attention to nurses and midwives, who are among "the saints next door," dedicated to helping people in some of the most joyful or painful moments of their lives, Pope Francis said.
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Soviet prisoners of conscience petitioned John Paul II for help

Soviet political prisoners from various backgrounds begged St. John Paul II's help in secret messages after his 1978 election, according to a former inmate in recollections published for the late pope's hundredth birthday.
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Advocates fight traffickers who thrive despite pandemic

Advocates fighting human traffickers are alerting children, parents and vulnerable adults that the coronavirus pandemic has pushed traffickers into new venues, potentially endangering more people to being exploited.
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Church shows creativity ministering during pandemics

The Catholic Church's acceptance of a ban on gathering for public worship and following other painful COVID-19 restrictions reflects its long-held understanding that faith, service and science are not at war with one another.
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