"Who are we to close the doors" to the Holy Spirit? This was the question that Pope Francis repeated during his homily at Mass at Casa Santa Marta, a homily dedicated to the conversion of the first pagans to Christianity. The Holy Spirit, he reiterated, is what makes the Church to go "beyond the limits, go ever forward." The Spirit blows where it wills, but…

“Bother your pastors, disturb your pastors, all of us pastors, so that we will give you the milk of grace, of doctrine, and of guidance.” Departing from his prepared remarks, Pope Francis on Sunday called on the faithful to knock at the doors of their pastors “and on their hearts,” saying it would help Bishops and priests be good pastors. The Holy Father made his…

The Church in Ethiopia Eritrea, is a unique example of “witness to the unity of the People of God”, which though from different countries and different rites, “each with its own particular richness”, share the same mission of service of Christ and his Church. This was the focus of Pope Francis address to the bishops from Ethiopia and Eritrea, on their Ad Limina pilgrimage to…

Pope Francis visited the central Roman church of St. Stanislaw on Sunday morning. St. Stanislaw’s is the Polish national church in Rome, and serves the significant Polish population in the city. The Holy Father made the visit in order to celebrate a Mass of thanksgiving for the canonization of Pope St. John Paul II, who was a native of Poland and Cardinal Archbishop of Krakow…

“The Church in Africa, from Vatican Council II to the Third Millennium. Africa's Homage to Popes John XXIII and John Paul II” is the title of the Congress that will take place at the Pontifical Urbaniana University of Rome from 24 to 25 April and which will be attended by bishops, priests, theologians, scholars and eminent figures in African culture to appraise the implementation of…