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IMAGE: CNS/Paul HaringBy Carol GlatzVATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Christmas is a time to open yourheart to the little and wondrous things found in baby Jesus -- born poor anddefenseless so he could be near and bring hope to everyone, Pope Francis said."The most beautiful joy of Christmas is that innerjoy of peace: the Lord wiped away my sins, the Lord has forgiven me, the Lordhad mercy on me, he came to save me. That is the joy of Christmas," the pope said Dec. 14 athis weekly general audience.With a Nativity scene decorating the stage in the Vaticanaudience hall, the pope's weekly meeting with visitors and pilgrims was festivewith a group of "zampognari,"Italian bagpipe players, who played traditional songs and carols.People also sang and wished the pope a happy birthday, inanticipation of him turning 80 on Dec. 17. Before the audience, two women presentedhim with a small chocolate cake with two candles lit on top, which heeventually blew out with some prompting."I thank all of you for th...
IMAGE: CNS photo/KNABy Lise AlvesSAO PAULO (CNS) -- CardinalPaulo Evaristo Arns, known as the "cardinal of the people" and one ofthe most active voices against Brazil's military dictatorship, died in SaoPaulo Dec. 14. The 95-year-old retired archbishop of Sao Paulo hadbeen hospitalized since Nov. 28 with pneumonia.At a celebration for his 95thbirthday, leaders of Brazil's landless movement as well as former governmentleaders, sportscasters, intellectuals, journalists and artists held a party atSao Paulo's Catholic University and spoke about Cardinal Arns' dedicationtoward the poor and his fight against human rights violations and politicalpersecution during the 1964-85 military regime."All of us who have donesomething that could be registered in the board of democratic resistance owethis to Dom Paulo, to his courage and prophet-like fearlessness, and histeachings rooted in the Franciscan values of the apostles," former JusticeMinister Jose Gregori said during the event. "You were t...
By Junno Arocho EstevesVATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Pope Francis and members of theinternational Council of Cardinals advisinghim on church governance deliberated on defining the role of Secretariat ofState and its relationship to other Vatican offices. Meeting with Pope Francis Dec. 12-14, theCouncil of Cardinals worked on laying out clear objectives in the reform ofseveral offices and congregations. "Two fundamental themes emerged as the guidelinesof the reform of the dicasteries: the missionary impulse and synodality,"said Greg Burke, director of the Vatican press office.AlthoughSt. John Paul II's constitution "PastorBonus," a 1988 reform of the curia,states that the secretariat was to "foster relations" with other curial offices and "coordinate their work," Burke told journalists it was somewhat general. The new document on the current reformwill be "much more clear and laid out regarding the Secretariat of Stateand its role in coordinating the Curia," he said. Cardinal Kevin J. Farr...
"La La Land" may have hit all the right notes for the Golden Globes, but the Screen Actors Guild sung a different tune Wednesday, when Kenneth Lonergan's New England-set family drama "Manchester by the Sea" picked up the most nominations. Its leading four nods included best ensemble cast, best actor for Casey Affleck and best supporting performances for Michelle Williams and Lucas Hedges....
MINEOLA, N.Y. (AP) -- Katrina Williams wanted a safer alternative to smoking, and e-cigarettes seemed to be the answer until the day one exploded in her pocket as she drove home from a beauty salon....
NORRISTOWN, Pa. (AP) -- More than a dozen women who accuse Bill Cosby of sexual assault should be allowed to testify at his upcoming trial because their stories are so similar they show the "handiwork of the same perpetrator," a prosecutor argued Wednesday....
CAIRO (AP) -- Ten-year-old Maggie Momen clings to life in a Cairo hospital four days after a suicide bomber blew himself up at a Sunday Mass packed with women and children....
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- Arctic cold brought frigid temperatures to the Upper Midwest again on Wednesday and the cold was expected to spread east later in the week....
WASHINGTON (AP) -- The Latest on President-elect Donald Trump (all times EST):...
(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis on Tuesday sent a message of condolences to Msgr. Fernando Ocáriz Braña, auxiliary vicar of Opus Dei, for the death at the age of 84 of Msgr. Javier Echevarría Rodríguez, bishop prelate of Opus Dei.Bishop Javier Echevarría Rodríguez of Opus Dei died in Rome on Monday, the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, at the age of 84. He was head of the Opus Dei organization and Grand Chancellor of the Pontifical University of the Holy Cross in Rome.Please find below the official English translation of the Pope’s message:“Upon receiving the sad news of the unexpected death of Msgr. Javier Echevarría Rodríguez, bishop prelate of Opus Dei, I wish to convey to you and all members of this Prelature my most heartfelt condolences, at the same time uniting with you in your gratitude to God for his paternal and generous witness of priestly and episcopal life. The example of St. Josemaría Escriv...
