Articles by Elise Harris
'You are witnesses of Christ,' Cardinal Parolin tells new Swiss Guards
May 6, 2016 / 13:57 pmEvery year on the Anniversary of the 1527 Sack of Rome, the new recruits for the Pontifical Swiss Guard swear an oath to protect and defend the Pope, with their lives if necessary. This year 23 young men joined their peers and predecessors in making that oath.
Receiving Charlemagne Prize, Pope says 'I have a dream' for Europe
May 6, 2016 / 05:18 amAs he received the prestigious Charlemagne Prize Friday, Pope Francis laid out his vision for a renewed European continent in what could easily be his own version of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s famous “I Have a Dream” speech.
Pope Francis' continuous appeal for a better Europe to be rewarded
May 5, 2016 / 12:05 pmPope Francis is set to receive on Friday the prestigious Charlemagne Prize for his efforts in the unification of Europe, drawing major leaders on the continent such as the King of Spain to the celebration.
No one is alone in their suffering, Pope Francis affirms at prayer vigil
May 5, 2016 / 10:30 amDuring a prayer vigil on Thursday for all those in need of consolation, Pope Francis stressed that though we cry out in moments of difficulty, we are never alone.
Iraqi Christians grateful, yet uneasy following foiled Islamic State attack
May 4, 2016 / 13:25 pmAfter Islamic State militants broke through Kurdish army forces Tuesday, killing one American and three Kurdish fighters, local Christians voiced gratitude that the attack failed, but remain shaken and on edge should there be another assault.
Jesus' closeness to sinners isn’t a scandal – it's an example, Pope says
May 4, 2016 / 03:37 amOn Wednesday Pope Francis said the parable of the Good Shepherd is a key example of God’s mercy, because it represents the depth of the Lord's concern in ensuring that no one is lost.
Pope Francis' May prayer intention: honor the dignity of women
May 3, 2016 / 10:48 amIn his May prayer video Pope Francis issued a global petition that women in all countries would be respected and valued, asking rhetorically if the mere recognition of their role is enough, or if more can be done.
Why Iraq wasn't what I thought
May 1, 2016 / 15:02 pmLoai Behnam Toubia pulls up his shirt, uncovering a thick, dark scar – probably 10 inches long – that tears vertically down his large, round belly.
Blood-red Trevi fountain a wake-up call on Christian persecution
Apr 30, 2016 / 13:30 pmIlluminated by the red light that spilled across Rome’s Trevi fountain, voices from persecuted Christian communities across the world shared the stories of friends and loved ones killed for the faith, and urged the world to take greater action in putting the violence to an end.
Let yourselves be reconciled with God, Pope Francis says
Apr 30, 2016 / 03:35 amReconciliation is an essential aspect of God’s mercy, Pope Francis said Saturday, explaining that when we distance ourselves from the Lord through sin, it takes much more than our own effort to get back to him.
At Vatican, Joe Biden calls for worldwide effort to fight cancer
Apr 29, 2016 / 08:35 amU.S. Vice President Joe Biden went to the Vatican for a summit on regenerative medicine, where he offered praise to Pope Francis and advocated for a global push to cure cancer.
Pope advocates for 'globalization of empathy' in curing rare diseases
Apr 29, 2016 / 06:34 amOn Friday Pope Francis told participants in a Vatican stem cell summit that a renewed sense of empathy ought to fuel their work and research, ensuring that no person goes without access to proper care.
Be open to the surprises of the Holy Spirit, Pope Francis advises
Apr 28, 2016 / 09:23 amIn his homily Thursday Pope Francis stressed the need to be open to the novelty of the Holy Spirit, by discerning new movements and directions without being immediately closed off from them.
Pope opens the door for beatification of Albanian martyrs
Apr 27, 2016 / 10:41 amPope Francis on Tuesday gave the green light for the beatification of 38 Albanian martyrs, all of whom were killed by the country’s atheistic, communist regime between 1945 and 1974.
Knowledge is empty unless it leads to love, Pope Francis says
Apr 27, 2016 / 04:17 amOn Wednesday Pope Francis said that just because someone is an expert in God’s law and a strict adherent to the rules doesn’t necessarily mean they know how to love and serve others.
Vatican: suspended audit not intended to block curial reform
Apr 26, 2016 / 06:47 amThe Vatican clarified Tuesday that the recent suspension of an external audit of Vatican finances by Pricewaterhouse Cooper is due to problems surrounding specific clauses in their contract, and is not meant to hinder the ongoing reform of the Curia.
Bishop Edward Rice 'humbled' to be new head of Missouri diocese
Apr 26, 2016 / 04:50 amOn Tuesday the Vatican announced that Bishop Edward M. Rice of St. Louis has been tapped by Pope Francis to take charge of the Springfield-Cape Girardeau diocese.
Cricket for the Queen's birthday! Vatican to play Royal Household
Apr 22, 2016 / 09:30 amLast year Queen Elizabeth II became the longest reigning monarch in British history, and on Thursday she passed yet another milestone – becoming the first monarch to ever reach the age of 90.
Know the difference between sin and sinner, Pope Francis says
Apr 20, 2016 / 04:44 amOn Wednesday Pope Francis stressed the importance of knowing how to distinguish between sin and sinner, adding that God’s mercy is not afraid to reach out and touch our sins in order to forgive them.
Please forgive our indifference: Pope Francis' heartfelt plea to refugees
Apr 19, 2016 / 05:09 amPope Francis has offered his praise to the Jesuits in Italy for their longstanding work with refugees, but asked the foreigners for their pardon on behalf of all who have been closed-minded and indifferent to their plight.