Pope Francis

In this video grab from handout footage taken and released by the the National Police of Ukraine on March 9, 2022, people are helped out of a damaged building of a children's hospital following a Russian air strike in the southeastern city of Mariupol. Photo by Handout/National Police of Ukraine/AFP…

Pope Francis issued his toughest condemnation yet of the invasion of Ukraine, saying on Sunday the “unacceptable armed aggression” must stop. Speaking to thousands of people in St Peter's Square for his Sunday blessing, Francis also said the killing of children and unarmed civilians was “barbaric” and with “no valid…

VATICAN CITY (RNS) — Stepping up his already concerted efforts to secure peace in Ukraine, Pope Francis will deploy two of his most trusted Vatican officials, both cardinals, to go to Ukraine to seek an end to the conflict and to advocate for immigrants and refugees and foster relations with…

Pope Francis issued an emotional plea for an end to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine during his weekly address at St. Peter’s Square on Sunday. “This is not just a military operation, but a war, which sows death, destruction and misery,” said Francis. “The number of victims is increasing, as are…

Bishop Philip Egan of the Catholic Diocese of Portsmouth says, “Our thoughts and prayers are with all those affected by this terrible situation in the Ukraine.” He encourages us all to follow the words of Pope Francis that our Lenten observances of prayer, self-denial and almsgiving be offered to help…

(RNS) — If you got to spend 14 minutes with Pope Francis, what would you say?  Recently, this hypothetical scenario became our reality. In October 2021, Pope Francis initiated a three-year campaign to listen to perspectives and wisdom from ordinary Catholics. The goal of this “synodal process,” as it’s called,…

Author of the article: VATICAN CITY — Pope Francis will visit South Sudan in July, the Vatican said on Thursday, making a trip he has repeatedly had to delay because of security concerns in a country still emerging from a post-independence civil war. July will mark the 11th anniversary of…

VATICAN CITY (RNS) — Pope Francis praised practical and spiritual efforts to promote peace on Wednesday (March 2), encouraging people to dedicate prayers and fasting to ending the conflict in Ukraine as the church season of Lent begins, and thanked countries that are welcoming migrants from the war-torn country. “Let’s…

MOSCOW: Russian prosecutors on Tuesday called for jailed Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny to serve 13 years in prison on new fraud charges. Navalny, President Vladimir Putin’s most vocal domestic critic, was jailed last year after surviving a poison attack with Novichok nerve agent he blames on the Kremlin. He now…

VATICAN CITY (RNS) — Pope Francis called Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Saturday to express his sadness and desire for peace as the conflict in Ukraine rages through the country’s borders and city streets. In a tweet Saturday (Feb. 26), the Ukrainian embassy to the Holy See said during the…