Family

The Latest

Pope Francis has dinner with Jesuits on the feast of St. Ignatius of Loyola July 31, 2014. Photo courtesy of the Jesuit General Curia.

Eat with your family, not with your smartphone, Pope says

Nov 11, 2015

By Elise Harris

For Pope Francis the dinner table is a key place to strengthen family bonds and foster a sense of “togetherness,”... Read more

Pope Francis with a family on June 14, 2015 in St. Peter's Square.

Forgiveness in family has power to rebuild society, Pope says

Nov 4, 2015

By Ann Schneible

Delivering his Wednesday general audience address a little more than a week after the close of the Synod on the... Read more

Researcher: Study after study finding kids do best with married parents

Oct 29, 2015

Three new pieces of scholarship released in recent weeks suggest that children do best with married parents and are more... Read more

Missionaries of Charity house, Kolkata India.

New policy forces Missionaries of Charity to end adoption services in India

Oct 14, 2015

Orphanages in India run by the Missionaries of Charity have decided to close their doors in light of new adoption... Read more

Pope Francis embraces a baby during the general audience in St. Peter's square on Aug. 26, 2015.

What saves us from loneliness? Family! Pope Francis says

Oct 7, 2015

By Elise Harris

Family rescues us from indifference and loneliness and teaches us the essentials of life, Pope Francis said – adding that... Read more

Pope Francis prays the Angelus with pilgrims in St. Peter's Square Oct. 4, 2015.

Pope Francis asks for prayers ahead of synod discussion

Oct 4, 2015

By Elise Harris

In his Sunday Angelus address Pope Francis stressed the role of spouses in generating children, and asked for prayers ahead... Read more

Pope Francis celebrates the opening Mass for the Ordinary Synod of Bishops on the Family Oct. 4, 2015.

God's dream for creation? The union of a man and woman, Pope says

Oct 4, 2015

By Elise Harris

Pope Francis formally opened the synod of bishops Sunday, telling participants that the union between a man and woman is... Read more

Pope Francis in Philadelphia on Sept. 26, 2015.

Pope Francis off-the-cuff: Family is the most beautiful thing God made

Sep 26, 2015

A visibly moved Pope Francis ditched his prepared remarks in speaking to thousands of families gathered in Philadelphia Saturday night... Read more

Cardinal Sean O'Malley of Boston gives a keynote address in Philadelphia at the World Meeting of Families, Sept. 25, 2015.

Cardinal O'Malley to families: Want to evangelize? You'd better have these two qualities

Sep 25, 2015

By Michelle La Rosa

As thousands of Catholics descended upon Philadelphia to hear talks about family and faith, Boston Cardinal Sean O'Malley had a... Read more

Pope Francis greets a family at Our Lady of the Assumption Cathedral, Santiago de Cuba, Sept. 22, 2015.

Pope blesses unborn children around the world while meeting with Cuban families

Sep 22, 2015

Pope Francis met with families on Tuesday at Our Lady of the Assumption Cathedral in Santiago de Cuba, thanking those... Read more

Copyright SunKids via www.shutterstock.com

How marriage prep is failing Catholics, and what we can do about it

Sep 18, 2015

By Mary Farrow

The Church needs to seriously consider changing the way it approaches marriage preparation say John and Claire Grabowski, a couple... Read more

Pope Francis arrives to St. Peter's Square for the General Audience, Sept. 2, 2015.

Alliance between families and God can change the world, Pope Francis says

Sep 2, 2015

By Ann Schneible

Encouraging families to hear God's word and to put it into practice, Pope Francis said Wednesday that the family, by... Read more

Cardinal Robert Sarah (L) during a press conference at the Vatican Press Office on Feb. 10, 2015.

'Africa will save the family' – one cardinal's prediction on the Church's future

Sep 1, 2015

The African cardinal who heads the Vatican’s Congregation for Divine Worship has high hopes for the Church on his continent... Read more

Archbishop Paglia, president of the Pontifical Council for the Family, which sponsored seminars where scholars suggested admitting the divorced-and-remarried to Communion.

Seminar speakers advocate change on Communion for the divorced-and-remarried

Aug 28, 2015

By Andrea Gagliarducci

Earlier this year the Pontifical Council for the Family organized three seminars which gathered scholars to discuss marriage and family... Read more

Pope Francis celebrates Mass in St. Peter's Basilica for the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe on Dec. 12, 2014.

Pope Francis: Sundays are a gift from God – don't ruin it

Aug 12, 2015

By Elise Harris

Moments of rest and celebration were the focal point of Francis’ Wednesday general audience, during which he spoke out against... Read more

Pope Francis greets pilgrims in St. Peter's Square during the Wednesday general audience on April 16, 2014.

Is the Pope a socialist?

Jul 22, 2015

Pope Francis’ recent trip to Latin America has rekindled questions about whether he endorses socialism, or even communism.  Read more

Pope Francis greets pilgrims during his general audience June 24, 2015.

Pope to families: If you hide your problems, they'll only get worse

Jun 24, 2015

By Elise Harris

Family wounds that aren’t dealt with in a healthy and timely manner can have devastating effects on both spouses and... Read more

Married couples to Catholic Church: Give us clear, positive teaching on marriage

Jun 14, 2015

By Mary Farrow

Alice Heinzen was with her dad and siblings on a ski trip when she froze on top of what looked... Read more

Pope Francis embraces a man in a wheelchair at the Wednesday general audience in St. Peter's Square on June 10, 2015.

When you care for a sick family member, you are a 'hidden hero,' Pope says

Jun 10, 2015

By Ann Schneible

During his weekly general audience, Pope Francis lauded families for the “hidden heroism” of caring for a sick loved one.  Read more