National Catholic Reporter

The Independent News Source

Rome

Sisters grasp the extended hand

by Thomas C. Fox

Commentary: The time Cardinal João Braz de Aviz spent with women religious is a sign of good intent and a step into greater communication.

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Global sisters' leader: Dialogue with Vatican is key

by Joshua J. McElwee

Q and A: Attempts by U.S. sisters to pursue dialogue with Vatican officials could strengthen relations with sisters globally.

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Vatican religious prefect: 'I was left out of LCWR finding'

by Joshua J. McElwee

The Vatican's decision to criticize the Leadership Conference of Women Religious was made without the knowledge of a key Vatican office, its leader said Sunday.

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LCWR head to global sisters: 'Serious misunderstandings' with Vatican

by Joshua J. McElwee

Sisters' meeting: “Serious misunderstandings” exist between Vatican officials and Catholic sisters, the LCWR president told some 800 of her global peers.

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Church cements mission at Synod of Bishops

by John L. Allen Jr.

After the synod on new evangelization in Rome last month, three points seem crystal clear about Catholicism in the early 21st century.

by John L. Allen Jr.

Analysis: Do the recent personnel moves mean certain policy shifts are under way at the Vatican?

A less political Vatican, a less self-referential church?

John L. Allen Jr. | Apr. 18, 2013

John Allen in Rome: Is Pope Francis hinting at a less overtly political edge to the Vatican?

Francis proves a magnet for humanity

John L. Allen Jr. | Apr. 17, 2013

John Allen in Rome: The turnout for Pope Francis' Wednesday audience was larger than usual today, illustrating how the pope is a star on the Roman scene.

Protestors seek full equality for women under Pope Francis

John Cooney | Apr. 6, 2013

Some are looking particularly at what openness Pope Francis will show to the participation of women in church leadership.

Vatican family czar says pro-life, peace-and-justice work a package deal

John L. Allen Jr. | Mar. 27, 2013

Q and A: Archbishop Vincenzo Paglia, president of the Pontifical Council for the Family, hopes to reintroduce Catholic teaching on the family in a positive key.

Francis reflects on fleeting fame in Palm Sunday Mass

John L. Allen Jr. | Mar. 24, 2013

John Allen in Rome: Francis led the Palm Sunday liturgy Sunday, marking the opening of the Holy Week observances of the Catholic church.

Francis vows to press Benedict's fight vs. 'dictatorship of relativism'

John L. Allen Jr. | Mar. 22, 2013

For those tempted to draw an overly sharp distinction between Pope Francis and his predecessor, the new pope offered a clear reminder Friday that he's cut from much the same cloth.

Embattled Syrians hope Argentine pope can broker peace

John L. Allen Jr. | Mar. 21, 2013

John Allen in Rome: Catholics can't wait to see what Francis does as pope, but the sense of expectation is intense in Syria.

Cautions on Pope Francis and recognition of gay unions

John L. Allen Jr. | Mar. 20, 2013

John Allen in Rome: When looking into Pope Francis' background, it's easy to get caught up in what he said about same-sex marriage. But be wary.

Old pope, new pope have a chat

John L. Allen Jr. | Mar. 19, 2013

Pope Francis today made a phone call to his predecessor, Benedict XVI, after his inaugural Mass to wish him well on his saint's name day -- the feast of St. Joseph.

The given name of Pope Benedict XVI, of course, is Joseph Ratzinger. (In addition, Ratzinger's parents were named Joseph and Mary.)

A brief Vatican statement on the phone call appears below.

Challenges to vision of a 'Poor Church for the Poor'

John L. Allen Jr. | Mar. 19, 2013

John Allen in Rome: Pope Francis has spoken extensively on being a church for the poor, but now that the papacy has really begun, how can he make that happen?

What’s in store for the new pope's first days?

by John L. Allen Jr.

If it hasn’t happened by the time you are reading this newspaper, sometime very soon the Catholic church will have a new pope. Naturally the world will be waiting to find out what kind of leader he’s likely to be, and his first few days therefore loom as critical moments to begin shaping his papacy.

Governance a top issue in 2013 conclave

by John L. Allen Jr.

Eight years ago, when the cardinals of the world gathered to elect a successor to Pope John Paul II, their watchword was “continuity.” Buoyed by the massive outpouring of grief and affection for the late pope that washed through the streets of Rome, they felt they had just witnessed the end of a massively successful pontificate, and they wanted to keep the momentum going.

The man...