Suffering

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Pope Francis embraces Vinicio Riva after the general audience on Nov. 6, 2013.

Man with disfigured face whose embrace with Pope Francis touched the world dies

Jan 12, 2024

By Almudena Martínez-Bordiú

The pontiff embraced Vinicio Riva while greeting pilgrims in St. Peter’s Square after a general audience in 2013, the year... Read more

Our Lady of Sorrows at the Church of the Holy Cross in Salamanca.

Feast of Our Lady of Sorrows reminds us of the redemptive and salvific role of suffering

Sep 15, 2023

By Tyler Arnold

“If [suffering is] going to happen to the Mother of God, it’s going to happen to us all,” Professor Joshua... Read more

Pope Francis meets with members of the Pontifical Biblical Institute on April 20, 2023, at the Vatican.

Pope Francis: Illness and suffering can help us discover what really matters in life

Apr 20, 2023

By Courtney Mares

While the world today can view sickness and suffering as meaningless, Pope Francis wants everyone to remember that Christ has... Read more

Pope Francis greets pilgrims from the pope mobile in St. Peter’s Square on April 5, 2023.

Pope Francis’ advice for Holy Week: Look to the cross, our hope is there

Apr 5, 2023

By Courtney Mares

Pope Francis has offered advice for how to have a fruitful Holy Week, urging people to focus on the essentials... Read more

Pope Francis delivers his Angelus reflection from the Apostolic Palace in Vatican City on March 26, 2023.

‘Rise again’: Jesus gives life when hope seems lost, Pope Francis says

Mar 26, 2023

By Clara Raimundo

In his March 26 Angelus reflection, Pope Francis spoke about Jesus’ compassion for Lazarus — and all those who suffer. Read more

Pope Benedict XVI

10 quotes from Pope Benedict XVI on the beauty of love and suffering

Jan 3, 2023

By Katie Yoder

When Pope Benedict XVI published his first encyclical, he chose an everlasting topic: love. Read more

Pope Francis’ general audience in St. Peter’s Square, May 18, 2022.

Pope Francis: ‘God is not afraid of our prayer of protest’

May 18, 2022

By CNA Staff

The pope dedicated his general audience address to the Book of Job. Read more

Pope Francis greets 80,000 teens on pilgrimage in St. Peter’s Square on April 18, 2022.

Pope Francis tells 80,000 teens to ask Our Lady for courage to do God’s will

Apr 19, 2022

By Courtney Mares

The youth pilgrimage was organized in an effort to reach out to young people whose lives were upended during the... Read more

A close-up of the copy of Michelangelo's Vatican Pietà, usually kept at the Vatican Museums.

How Michelangelo’s 3 Pietàs speak to a suffering world

Mar 7, 2022

By Hannah Brockhaus

The Pietà evokes the suffering of mothers ‘who hold their children not knowing if their children will survive.’ Read more

Pope Francis meets members of the Italian League for the Fight against Cancer at the Vatican’s Clementine Hall, March 4, 2022.

Pope Francis talks to cancer league about power of redemptive suffering

Mar 4, 2022

By Courtney Mares

The pope met with members of the Italian League for the Fight against Cancer. Read more

A woman prays the rosary.

Few Americans blame God for suffering in the world, new survey finds

Nov 24, 2021

By Kate Olivera

A new study by the Pew Research Center found that few Americans blame God for suffering in the world. Instead,... Read more

Pope Francis offers the Chrism Mass in St. Peter's Basilica on April 1, 2021.

Pope Francis tells priests at Chrism Mass: ‘The cross is non-negotiable’

Apr 1, 2021

By Courtney Mares

Pope Francis told priests at Thursday’s Chrism Mass at the Vatican that “the cross is non-negotiable” when preaching the Gospel. Read more

Pope Francis greets pilgrims during his Angelus address Feb. 21, 2021. Credit: Vatican Media/CNA.

Pope Francis: The Lord does not permit darkness to have the last word

Feb 28, 2021

By Courtney Mares

Pope Francis said Sunday that it is important to remember when facing a difficult trial that the “Lord is Risen... Read more

Pope Francis, pictured April 17, 2013. Credit: Mazur/catholicnews.org.uk.

Pope Francis calls for a commitment to 'take care of each other' in 2021

Jan 3, 2021

By Courtney Mares

Pope Francis warned Sunday against the temptation to ignore the suffering of others during the coronavirus pandemic and said that... Read more

How should a Christian respond to suffering? Archbishop Sample reflects

Nov 4, 2020

Archbishop Alexander Sample of Portland discussed the meaning of suffering - and how Catholics should respond to it - in... Read more

Pope Francis at the general audience in St. Peter's Square on March 16, 2016.

Pope Francis thanks sick and elderly priests for proclaiming Gospel of life

Sep 17, 2020

By Courtney Mares

Pope Francis thanked sick and elderly priests for their quiet witness to the Gospel Thursday in a message that conveyed... Read more

Pope Francis celebrates Mass in the chapel of the Casa Santa Marta May 8, 2020.

Pope Francis: 'Allow yourself to be consoled by Jesus'

May 8, 2020

We must learn to let ourselves be consoled by Jesus when we are suffering, Pope Francis said at his morning... Read more

Pope Francis blesses a woman at a general audience in Paul VI Hall Dec. 5, 2018.

Pope Francis: God acts in the midst of our trials and failures

Jan 8, 2020

By Courtney Mares

Love for God is always fruitful, Pope Francis said Wednesday, stressing that Christ can bring good out of any circumstance... Read more

Pope Francis venerates the cross on Good Friday April 19, 2019.

Pope Francis' message to those suffering 'at the foot of the cross'

Nov 15, 2019

By Courtney Mares

Pope Francis told those who are sick and suffering Friday that the world needs their prayers.  Read more

Pope Francis: In times of suffering, know that you are never alone

Aug 13, 2019

By Courtney Mares

Pope Francis wrote a heartfelt letter Tuesday to an Italian community still suffering one year after a bridge collapse. His... Read more