Vatican City, Mar 12, 2016 / 11:50 am (CNA/EWTN News).- On Saturday the Vatican released a provisional schedule of Pope Francis' visit to Poland for World Youth Day. He will be in the central European nation July 27-31. The Pope will arrive at Krakow-Balice airport July 27. He will meet with president Andrzej Duda and the nation's bishops. Later in the day, he will meet with Cardinal Stanislaw Dziwisz of Krakow and greet the crowds from a window used often by St. John Paul II. On July 28 the Pope is scheduled to visit Czestochowa, the home of the monastery of Jasna Gora, which holds an icon of a Black Madonna, the patroness of Poland. While there he will say Mass for the 1,050th anniversary of the baptism of Poland. Francis will visit Auschwitz July 29, and later celebrate the Way of the Cross in Krakow. Auschwitz is the site of a Nazi death camp which sits roughly 40 miles from Krakow. At least 1.1 million people died in the camp during its years of operation, 1940-1945. On July 30 Pope Francis will visit the Divine Mercy Shrine in Krakow, passing through its Holy Door and visiting the nearby chapel where St. Faustina Kowalska is buried. St. Faustina, a 20th century nun, had visions of Christ upon which the Chaplet of Divine Mercy is based. While there the Pope will say Mass with priests, religious, and seminarians, hear confessions, and lunch with some youth. That evening he will participate in the World Youth Day prayer vigil. The Pope is to say Mass for World Youth Day on July 31, and later meet with the organizers, volunteers, and benefactors of the event. He will depart for Rome that evening. St. John Paul II instituted World Youth Day in 1985 to bring together young people to pray and worship and to celebrate their Catholic faith. The events are held every 2-3 years and have drawn crowds of up to 5 million people. Some 2.5 million are expected to attend the event in Krakow, which will last July 26-31. Read more

Vatican City, Mar 12, 2016 / 11:50 am (CNA/EWTN News).- On Saturday the Vatican released a provisional schedule of Pope Francis' visit to Poland for World Youth Day. He will be in the central European nation July 27-31. The Pope will arrive at Krakow-Balice airport July 27. He will meet with president Andrzej Duda and the nation's bishops. Later in the day, he will meet with Cardinal Stanislaw Dziwisz of Krakow and greet the crowds from a window used often by St. John Paul II. On July 28 the Pope is scheduled to visit Czestochowa, the home of the monastery of Jasna Gora, which holds an icon of a Black Madonna, the patroness of Poland. While there he will say Mass for the 1,050th anniversary of the baptism of Poland. Francis will visit Auschwitz July 29, and later celebrate the Way of the Cross in Krakow. Auschwitz is the site of a Nazi death camp which sits roughly 40 miles from Krakow. At least 1.1 million people died in the camp during its years of operation, 1940-1945. On July 30 Pope Francis will visit the Divine Mercy Shrine in Krakow, passing through its Holy Door and visiting the nearby chapel where St. Faustina Kowalska is buried. St. Faustina, a 20th century nun, had visions of Christ upon which the Chaplet of Divine Mercy is based. While there the Pope will say Mass with priests, religious, and seminarians, hear confessions, and lunch with some youth. That evening he will participate in the World Youth Day prayer vigil. The Pope is to say Mass for World Youth Day on July 31, and later meet with the organizers, volunteers, and benefactors of the event. He will depart for Rome that evening. St. John Paul II instituted World Youth Day in 1985 to bring together young people to pray and worship and to celebrate their Catholic faith. The events are held every 2-3 years and have drawn crowds of up to 5 million people. Some 2.5 million are expected to attend the event in Krakow, which will last July 26-31. Read more

Vatican City, Mar 12, 2016 / 10:28 am (CNA/EWTN News).- In his newest prayer video Pope Francis focuses his monthly intention on families in difficulty, praying that they receive the help they need and that children can grow up in a healthy environment... Read more

Vatican City, Mar 12, 2016 / 08:08 am (CNA/EWTN News).- With an eye toward divorced-and-remarried Catholics, Pope Francis has recently changed protocol for heads of state who are visiting the Pope at the Vatican. Catholic heads of state who are in an ... Read more

Vatican City, Mar 12, 2016 / 08:08 am (CNA/EWTN News).- With an eye toward divorced-and-remarried Catholics, Pope Francis has recently changed protocol for heads of state who are visiting the Pope at the Vatican. Catholic heads of state who are in an ... Read more

Vatican City, Mar 12, 2016 / 06:00 am (CNA/EWTN News).- On Saturday Pope Francis said that love is more than just saying nice words and doing things – it means forgetting oneself and serving others, just as Jesus did when he washed the feet of th... Read more

Vatican City, Mar 12, 2016 / 04:02 am (CNA/EWTN News).- On Saturday Pope Francis told participants in course on the streamlined annulment process that the main goal of the new norms is pastoral, and seeks to reach out to families suffering from a broken marriage. “These measures have an eminently pastoral goal: to show the Church’s concern for those faithful who are waiting for a quick verification on their marital status,” the Pope said March 12. He noted that many faithful suffer due to the end of their marriages, and couples are frequently “oppressed by doubt” as to whether or not their marriage was valid or in valid. It is out of both charity and mercy, as well as lived experience, that the Church decided to create the new, streamlined annulment process, which aims to grow closer to persons with a failed marriage, and to meet “their legitimate desire for justice,” he said. Francis stressed the new procedures were created with a pastoral intention, and that for divorced couples living in a second union, the “most important” concern of the Church is that they don’t feel ostracized, but continue to participate in the ecclesial community. Pope Francis spoke to participants in a formation course for the Tribunal of the Roman Rota, the Holy’s See’s main court, dedicated the new marriage annulment process. Held in Rome, the course ran from March 7-12, and was closed by an audience with the Pope. In his speech, Francis noted that many divorced couples seeking an annulment found the process overly complicated, and many encountered difficultly in accessing the appropriate ecclesial judicial structures. Because of this, he said, he decided to streamline the process, putting into place a new set of norms aimed at simplifying the procedures so couples aren’t left waiting for an answer, often harassed by doubt. The changes were published Aug. 15, 2015, in two motu proprio - or letters issued by the Pope “on his own initiative.” The documents were entitled “Mitis Iudex Dominus Iesus” (The Lord Jesus, a meek judge), which deals with modifications in the Latin Rite's Code of Canon Law, and “Mitis et misericors Iesus” (Jesus, meek and merciful), which outlines changes for Eastern Churches who, although in full communion with Rome, have historically had a different process. In a nutshell, the new rules, which went into effect Dec. 8, 2015, drop the automatic appeal previously required after a decision on nullity had been reached, and place a stronger emphasis on local bishops, allowing them to make their own judgements on obvious cases of marriage nullity. In his speech to the course participants, Pope Francis said it’s important that the new rules are “received and deepened in,” particularly by those managing the ecclesial tribunals, in order to create “a service that is more just and charitable for families.” Those who have experienced a failed marriage and are awaiting a ruling on the sacrament’s validity must be helped to move forward in the process “as smoothly as possible,” he said. He encouraged the course participants “to treasure what you have learned,” always keeping in mind the “salus animarum (salvation of souls), which is the supreme law of the Church,” as they continue their work. In addition to caring for the wounds of couples in a failed marriage, Francis also emphasized the need to recognize families who continue to persevere in the sacrament, despite difficult conditions. “These witnesses of marital fidelity must be encouraged and pointed to as examples to imitate,” he said, noting that many men and women bear heavy burdens so as not to destroy the family. “To be faithful in sickness and in health, in difficulties and in the good times: this is fidelity,” he said, and thanked the participants for their commitment to working for justice. He urged them not to view their mission as a mere profession, “or worse, as a power, but as a service of souls, especially those which are most wounded.” Read more