Pope Francis on Sunday called on all men and women of good will to unite in the fight against poverty by implementing serious political legislation in support of families and employment.

Speaking during the Angelus in St. Peter’s Square after the morning’s Canonization Mass, the Pope recalled the “International Day for the Eradication of  Poverty” which is marked today, Monday 17 October, and said: “Let us join our moral and economic forces to fight together against poverty that degrades, offends and kills so many of our brothers and sisters, by giving life to serious policies in support of families and employment”…

On the morning of Sunday, October 15, Pope Francis presides over Holy Mass for the canonization of seven new Saints.

Two of the new Saints are martyrs:  José Sánchez del Río, a 14-year-old boy who was killed in 1928 in Mexico during the “Cristero” struggle which opposed the government’s anti-Catholic and anticlerical policies. Under torture José refused to disown his faith; a handwritten note addressed to his mother and found on his dead body read: “I promise that in heaven I will prepare a place for all of you…

Venezuelan Jesuit Father Arturo Sosa has been elected as the new head of the Jesuits who are meeting in Rome this month for their 36th General Congregation.

The announcement was made on Friday morning following four days of prayer and discernment. Fr Sosa was chosen by the 212 electors who represent almost 17.000 Jesuits working in countries around the world…

Pope Francis received some 1 thousand pilgrims in the Vatican on Thursday – most of them German Lutherans – here in Rome as part of ecumenical preparations for the 500th anniversary of the beginning of the Lutheran reformation. In his remarks to the gathering, the Pope encouraged his listeners to seek unity through charity, saying “In being of service to the most needy we experience already that we are united: it is the mercy of God that unites us.”

Pope Francis also spoke in his address about how Catholics and Lutherans are part of the same body of Christ…

Pope Francis renewed his appeal for peace in Syria on Wednesday. Addressing pilgrims and tourists gathered in St. Peter’s Square for the weekly General Audience, Pope Francis said, “I want to emphasize and reiterate my solidarity with all victims of inhuman conflict in Syria.” Pope Francis went on to say, “It is with a sense of urgency that I renew my appeal, begging, with all my strength, those responsible, that steps be taken toward an immediate ceasefire, one imposed and respected at least for the time necessary to allow the evacuation of civilians, especially children, who are still trapped under cruel bombardment.”

Russian-led airstrikes resumed over the past 24 hours, concentrating on targets within the besieged city of Aleppo…

Pope Francis said Jesus asks us to perform good deeds with humility and reject a “cosmetics” (maquillage) religion that is merely concerned with its outward appearance and pretending to be what it’s not. The Pope was speaking at his morning Mass on Tuesday celebrated in the Santa Marta residence. 

The inspiration for the Pope’s homily was taken from the day’s readings of St Paul’s letter to the Galatians and the Gospel account of where Jesus rebukes a Pharisee for being totally concentrated on the outward appearance of cleanliness rather than on the inner substance of his faith. 

Pope Francis noted that Jesus’s answer to that same Pharisee who criticized him for not observing the prescribed washing before the meal was unequivocal…