Articles by Elise Harris
We need hope – not 'optimism,' Pope Francis tells quake victims
Jan 5, 2017 / 11:22 amDuring an audience with people from the areas devastated by earthquakes in Central Italy, Pope Francis emphasized the need to move forward with hope, closeness and solidarity, rather than a false sense of optimism.
A new 'vocational culture' is needed in the Church, Pope Francis says
Jan 5, 2017 / 06:39 amA fresh and courageous perspective is needed when it comes to helping youth discern and discover their vocation, Pope Francis said Thursday, emphasizing the importance of personal holiness and the commitment to serving others.
Pope shakes up monthly prayers, adds new 'urgent' intention
Jan 4, 2017 / 04:14 amAfter launching the first video series on his monthly prayer intentions last year, Pope Francis has decided to make some changes for 2017 by going back to an older system focusing on just one intention rather than two.
Pope kicks off new year renewing 'zero tolerance' policy on abuse
Jan 2, 2017 / 07:49 amIn a letter sent to bishops around the world for the feast of the Holy Innocents, Pope Francis lamented the many children who suffer from war, slavery and various forms of abuse, including within the Church.
At close of 2016, Pope says selfishness should be a thing of the past
Dec 31, 2016 / 10:15 amDuring a prayer service for the close of 2016, Pope Francis said the arrival of a new year should serve as an opportunity to toss out attitudes of selfishness and exclusion, focusing instead on how to imitate God’s closeness to each person through his incarnation.
We've all got it wrong about women in the Catholic Church
Dec 26, 2016 / 14:02 pmWhen it comes to talking about women and their role in the Church, discussion tends to focus almost exclusively on getting ordained or being placed in high ranking, decision making positions.
Pope Francis: Want to see God this Christmas? Be humble
Dec 24, 2016 / 15:01 pmOn Christmas Eve, Pope Francis noted how the coming of Jesus as an infant is paradoxical to the images of grandeur that had accompanied the prophesies on the coming of the Messiah, saying this should challenges us to go beyond the ephemeral and focus on what really counts.
Knights of Malta rebuff Vatican probe into dismissal of leader
Dec 24, 2016 / 10:41 amTwo days after the announcement that Pope Francis has established a group to look into the circumstances regarding the recent dismissal of the Order of Malta's former Grand Chancellor, the Knights responded – saying the decision was an internal matter.
Pope Francis' reform plan can be boiled down to this one thing
Dec 24, 2016 / 10:04 amIf there's anything Pope Francis' recent 12-point plan for the reform of the Roman Curia shows, it's that while his vision of a simple, less clerical body is clear, it's contingent on one thing: conversion.
Pope donates 6 million euro to Ukraine relief efforts for Christmas
Dec 23, 2016 / 05:52 amAfter taking up a collection earlier this year to aid families affected by the ongoing crisis in Eastern Ukraine, Pope Francis has decided to distribute an initial sum of 6 million euros to different charity projects as a Christmas gift.
Pope Francis lays out 12 guiding principles for reform of the Roman Curia
Dec 22, 2016 / 05:44 amIn a lengthy, in-depth speech to members of the Roman Curia Thursday, Pope Francis dug into what he said are the key guidelines of his ongoing reform, which in his view ought to focus primarily on conversion, unity and streamlining the old process in order to meet modern needs.
In the fight against prostitution, who's talking about the clients?
Dec 22, 2016 / 03:52 amFor religious sisters working to end forced prostitution through human trafficking, there is one thing consistently left out of the conversation: the clients – who they are and how they are dealt with.
Meet the first woman in history to run the Vatican museums
Dec 21, 2016 / 09:09 amOn Tuesday it was announced that Barbara Jatta, a wife and mother of three children, will be the new director of the Vatican Museums – a position that until now has belonged only to men.
Vatican speaks out on unapproved bishop ordinations in China
Dec 21, 2016 / 08:34 amAfter the recent unauthorized ordination of bishops in China, which falls just ahead of a major meeting for Chinese Catholic representatives, the Vatican has issued a statement reaffirming their position on the matter.
At Christmas, Jesus offers a new kind of hope, Pope Francis says
Dec 21, 2016 / 03:13 amWhile hope can often be viewed as the desire for things out of our reach, Pope Francis has said that the birth of Jesus offers us a new kind hope – one which, thanks to the Incarnation, is attainable and leads to a different goal.
Pope Francis pleads for end to 'homicidal madness' of terrorism
Dec 20, 2016 / 06:44 amWhat are being called two major acts of terrorism in just the past 24 hours have prompted Pope Francis to again beg for an even stronger commitment to putting such bloody attacks, which have marred many parts of the world over the past 18 months, to an end.
Bishops mourn victims of deadly truck detour on Berlin Christmas market
Dec 20, 2016 / 01:50 amAfter 12 people were killed when a truck rammed into crowds at a Berlin Christmas market, the German bishops have voiced their sorrow, and have invited people to join them in praying for the victims and their families.
Crippling disease brought this priest to the confessional – and then sainthood
Dec 19, 2016 / 18:01 pmAlthough St. Leopold is less recognizable than his Capuchin brother St. Pio of Pietrelcina, St. Leopold’s life is a moving testament to perseverance and faith despite lifelong physical ailments.
Amid Christmas rush, don't forget to make time for silence, Pope says
Dec 18, 2016 / 05:24 amOn Sunday Pope Francis said that with Christmas just around the corner, it’s important to stop and make time for silent reflection on the true meaning of the holiday, specifically on figures in the Nativity.
Pope marks 80th birthday with charitable giving to Rome's poor
Dec 17, 2016 / 07:02 amPope Francis kicked off his 80th birthday by having breakfast with a group of homeless from around St. Peter’s and inviting them to Mass – but his giving didn’t stop there.