Cindy Wooden

Pope Francis added a reference to the office's responsibility for promoting a deeper reflection on the role of women in the church and society to the statutes of the Dicastery for Laity, the Family and Life.

The devil "seduces us; he knows how to appeal to our vanity and curiosity and we buy it all," the pope said May 8.

In his writings on faith and politics, retired Pope Benedict XVI insisted that humans are free to the extent to which they acknowledge being dependent on the love of God, Pope Francis wrote.

Love is not all hearts and flowers or what is presented in a sappy romantic film, Pope Francis said. "Love is something else. Love is taking responsibility for others."

The changes in canon law Pope Francis made related to marriage annulment cases require some changes in the way church law is taught, said the Congregation for Catholic Education.

Fra' Giacomo Dalla Torre was elected the 80th grand master of the Knights of Malta May 2 and promised to continue the reform of the order begun last year when he was elected its interim head.

Pope Francis visited Rome's popular Shrine of Our Lady of Divine Love to pray the rosary for peace, especially in Syria.

Six German bishops will meet with officials from the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity and the Pontifical Council for Legislative Texts to discuss German plans to allow greater access to the Eucharist for Protestants married to Catholics.

Love is a miraculous force that helps the parents of sick children focus on the beauty of their children's lives and keeps the flame of hope for a cure alive, Pope Francis said.

Pope Francis and his international Council of Cardinals have reviewed a complete draft of the apostolic constitution that would govern the Roman Curia, the Vatican spokesman said.

Ordaining 16 men to the priesthood, Pope Francis urged them to be merciful with the people who approach them, especially in the confessional.

Pope Francis has asked the president of the German bishops' conference to come to Rome to discuss pastoral guidelines for possibly allowing some non-Catholics married to Catholics to receive the Eucharist, the conference spokesman said.

After circling a massive, crumbling public housing complex on the outskirts of Rome, Pope Francis had an emotional encounter with the neighborhood's children.

The Gospel requires Christians to "denounce personal and social sins committed against God and neighbor in the name of the god money and of power for its own sake," Pope Francis wrote.

Easter makes it clear that in the life of Jesus, but also in the lives of modern men and women, "death, solitude and fear" do not have the last word, Pope Francis said before giving his Easter blessing.

Truly celebrating Easter means allowing Jesus to triumph over personal fears and give life to hope, creativity and care for others, Pope Francis said.

Before washing the feet of 12 prisoners, Pope Francis told them and hundreds of inmates to remember that Jesus constantly stands before them with love, ready to cleanse their sins and forgive them.

Celebrating Palm Sunday Mass with thousands of young people, Pope Francis urged them to continue singing and shouting "hosanna" in the world and following Jesus' example of outreach to the poor and suffering.

After disagreement over funding a $25-million-grant request from the Vatican was leaked to the press, the leadership of the Papal Foundation has called for a period of reflection and re-evaluation.

Since January, Pope Francis' references to Jesus' pierced hands, feet and side in impromptu speeches and homilies have been so frequent that it seems to be a major focus of his own prayer life.