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Catholics, Lutherans look to commemoration of Reformation anniversary

Joint Catholic-Lutheran commemorations of the 500th anniversary of the beginning of the Reformation must recognize the harm caused by the split in Western Christianity, the polemics that exacerbated...

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Pope Francis calls careerism a ‘leprosy’ on the priesthood

Using especially strong language on one of his favorite themes, Pope Francis decried a plague of careerism among priests and urged them to renounce their personal ambitions for service to the church --...

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Pope Benedict completes 'ad limina' visits with world's bishops

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It took more than seven years, but Pope Benedict XVI has hosted the formal visits of bishops from every country in the world and will begin the cycle all over again by meeting the heads of Italy's 227 dioceses in 2013.

The Code of Canon Law calls for the heads of every diocese in the world to make their formal visit ad limina apostolorum ("to the threshold of the apostles") every five years, but there are now almost 2,900 dioceses in the world and the 85-year-old pope also has other obligations as well.

Vatican official thanks mothers of priests, asks for their prayers

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The mothers of priests and seminarians deserve the thanks of the whole church for raising their sons in the faith and supporting them in their vocations, said Cardinal Mauro Piacenza, prefect of the Congregation for Clergy.

Writing on the feast of Mary, Mother of God, on Tuesday, the cardinal said having a priest-son requires a new form of motherhood, one that involves a "discreet, but very effective and invaluably precious accompaniment in prayer."

Piacenza's letter was posted, in Italian, on the website of the clergy congregation.

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The story from the Sistine Chapel on Pope Francis' election

How did Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio get to 77 votes so quickly? Here's some insider knowledge the cardinals have provided.

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Cardinals elect Pope Francis, Argentinean Jesuit Jorge Mario Bergoglio

The Roman Catholic church has its first Latin American pope: Jorge Mario Bergoglio of Buenos Aires, Argentina, now to be known as Pope Francis.

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Adding St. Joseph's name to Mass texts, popes share their devotion

Pope Francis and retired Pope Benedict XVI have a special devotion to St. Joseph and have assured that devotion regularly will be shared at Mass by Catholics around the world.

The...

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In This Issue

June 7-20, 2013

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