Over his decade-long papacy, Pope Francis has reinvigorated Catholic-Muslim relations through authentic friendships and a focus on shared concerns such as basic human rights, immigration and environmental care, two interfaith experts have insisted. “I think in many ways he has brought new life and a breath of fresh air to Muslim-Catholic dialogue,” said Imam Saffet…
Over the past 10 years, Pope Francis has moved Jewish-Catholic relations forward in profound ways, interfaith experts have said – with much of the credit going to the Pope’s long-standing friendships with Jewish leaders such as Rabbi Abraham Skorka. “When Pope Francis reflects on any Jewish matter, along with his knowledge, undoubtedly the affections forged…
Carol Glatz Pope Francis has held up two recurring images the past decade: the good shepherd who looks for the lost sheep, and who lays down his life to defend and save them; and the good Samaritan, who did not ignore, pity or judge the wounded traveller, but helped him without asking for anything in…
The Apostle to the Irish has influence far beyond these shores, writes Fr Emílio Bortolini Neto St Patrick and Ireland are deeply connected. You can’t think of one without being reminded of the other. Although he wasn’t Irish, after he came to Ireland, the country would never be the same. Patrick, an arrogant young man…
Carol Glatz Right from the start, upon his election, Pope Francis presented a whole new style of being pontiff. The way he spoke to the vast crowd after his election March 13, 2013, was familial and down-to-earth, beginning with, “Brothers and sisters, good evening,” and ending with “We’ll see each other soon!” and “Have a…
Cindy Wooden From the beginning of his pontificate 10 years ago, Pope Francis set out to reform the structure and attitudes of the Roman Curia and knew he also had to reform the Vatican’s financial system and stewardship of resources. One month after his election, he announced he was forming an international Council of Cardinals…
Mary DeTurris Poust Back when my husband and I taught a two-year confirmation prep program at our parish, many of the students in our class were attending because they had to be there. They did the work, asked good questions, trudging through the weekly evening sessions, but faith formation was just one more requirement on…
Justin McLellan When Pope Francis greeted the thousands of faithful gathered in a rain-soaked St Peter’s Square March 13, 2013, he quipped that his brother cardinals looked almost to “the ends of the earth” to find a new bishop of Rome. The end of the world, in this case, was Buenos Aires, Argentina, where Pope…
Here is a timeline of some significant events in Pope Francis’ pontificate: 2013, March 13: Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio of Buenos Aires, Argentina, is elected pope on the second day of the conclave becoming the first Pope from the Southern Hemisphere and the first non-European elected in almost 1,300 years. The Jesuit was also the…
In documents issued during his first 10 years in office, Pope Francis covered topics as diverse as strengthening one’s Faith, evangelisation, caring for creation, accompanying families and young people, and respecting indigenous peoples. He wrote a major document on reforming the Roman Curia, three encyclicals and five apostolic exhortations. Here is a list of his…