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Celebrating Mass in catacombs, pope recalls all persecuted Christians

ROME — In what he said was his first visit to the catacombs, Pope Francis celebrated Mass for the feast of All Souls with special words of remembrance for Catholics who still today must worship in secret.
Death comes to those who forget it, pope says

VATICAN CITY — Death is not a topic that should be avoided but a reminder that cures men and women from any illusion of being all-powerful, Pope Francis said.
Jewish, Christian, Muslim leaders sign declaration against euthanasia

VATICAN CITY — Representatives from the Catholic and Orthodox churches and the Muslim and Jewish faiths signed a joint declaration at the Vatican reaffirming each religion's clear opposition to euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide.
WATCH: Church faces conflicts with help of Holy Spirit, pope says at audience

VATICAN CITY — The church resolves conflicts and discerns God's will by patiently listening, discussing and deciding under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, Pope Francis said.
Pope: Make disciples for Christ, not for one's group

VATICAN CITY — Every Christian is called to be a missionary, sharing the good news of salvation in Christ and making disciples for him, not for oneself or one's clique of like-minded believers, Pope Francis said.
Synod groups propose Amazonian rite, new ministries for women

VATICAN CITY — Creating an Amazonian-rite liturgy and new ministries for laypeople, including the ordination of women deacons, are some of the recurring proposals made by small groups at the Synod of Bishops for the Amazon.
Vatican security chief resigns following leak of internal document

VATICAN CITY — Pope Francis accepted the resignation of Domenico Giani, head of the Vatican police, nearly two weeks after an internal security notice was leaked to the Italian press.
WATCH: Kindly lights in gloomy world: Pope declares five new saints

VATICAN CITY — Saints are people who recognized their need for God's help, who took risks to discover God's will and to help others and who nurtured a habit of thanksgiving, Pope Francis said.
Bishop highlights need for lay ministries in Amazon

VATICAN CITY — Lay men and women involved in ministry have been fundamental in spreading the Gospel and furthering the Catholic Church's mission in the Amazon, a Brazilian bishop said.
Banners unfurled as faithful share stories of saints

VATICAN CITY — The Vatican hung banners of the Catholic Church's newly canonized saints four days before the Mass that would officially recognize that they are in heaven with God.
Cardinal Sarah: To oppose the pope is to be outside the church

VATICAN CITY — Guinean Cardinal Robert Sarah, prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Sacraments, said the people who portray him as an opponent of Pope Francis are being used by the devil to help divide the church.
WATCH: At synod Mass, pope urges courage

VATICAN CITY — The Catholic Church's mission in the world is to spread the fire of God's love and must not be limited to the "'ordinary maintenance' of those who already know the Gospel," Pope Francis said.
Pope to cardinals: Loving, loyal service requires feeling God's love

VATICAN CITY — In a ceremony to create 13 new cardinals, Pope Francis reminded new and old members of the College of Cardinals how much their ministry and service depends on their realizing how much God loves them and has been compassionate with them.
Pope: Christians have 'moral duty' to help migrants, refugees

VATICAN CITY — Christians have a moral obligation to show God's care for all those who are marginalized, especially migrants and refugees, Pope Francis said.
Pope: Commitment to fighting climate change still weak

VATICAN CITY — The international community must ramp up its efforts if it expects to mitigate the negative effects of climate change, Pope Francis said.
Pope wanted apostles' relics united to encourage Christian unity

VATICAN CITY — Pope Francis said giving fragments of St. Peter's bones to the head of the church founded by Peter's brother, St. Andrew, was meant to be a reminder and encouragement of the journey toward Christian unity.
Ideological fixation, not 'loyal criticism,' feeds possibility of schism, pope says

ABOARD THE PAPAL FLIGHT FROM MADAGASCAR — Pope Francis told reporters he hoped and prayed the Catholic Church would not experience a new schism, but human freedom means people always have had and will have the "schism option."
Help the poor, protect the environment, pope says in Madagascar

ANTANANARIVO, Madagascar — In Madagascar, where the destruction of the environment and the suffering of the poor are inextricably bound, Pope Francis urged government officials to promote development projects that protect nature.
WATCH: Pope leaves Mozambique urging reconciliation, care for one another

MAPUTO, Mozambique — When Jesus told his disciples to love one another and pray for their enemies, he meant it -- even disciples in a nation like Mozambique, where political tensions have led to violence, war and death, Pope Francis said.
Pope to create 13 new cardinals in October

VATICAN CITY — Pope Francis announced he will create 13 new cardinals Oct. 5, choosing prelates from 13 different nations as a sign of "the missionary vocation of the church that continues to proclaim the merciful love of God to all men and women of the earth."
Repent, convert, pray, give up fossil fuels, pope says

VATICAN CITY — "Now is the time to abandon our dependence on fossil fuels and move, quickly and decisively, toward forms of clean energy," Pope Francis said as he marked the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation.
Pope encourages interreligious dialogue initiative

VATICAN CITY — At a time when conflict and division dominate the world's headlines, people need to know there are a growing number of important initiatives to promote interreligious dialogue and understanding, Pope Francis said.
'ABCs' of Christian charity require helping those in need, official says

VATICAN CITY — A patriotic love for one's country and culture does not mean closing off oneself to others, particularly those in need, said the Vatican foreign minister.
Popular movements key to social change, pope says

VATICAN CITY — Popular movements can spark the change needed to ensure a future that is no longer in the hands of elites and powerful people, but includes the poor who have the inalienable right to a life of dignity, Pope Francis said.
Vatican official: Church must be prudent judging Medjugorje apparitions

KNOCK, Ireland — Medjugorje, Bosnia-Herzegovina, is a place of prayer, conversion and pilgrimage for millions of people, but the church must be prudent and not rush to any judgment on the alleged Marian apparitions there, said Archbishop Rino Fisichella, president of the Pontifical Council for Promoting New Evangelization.
Pope approves new statutes for Vatican bank

VATICAN CITY — Pope Francis approved new statutes for the Institute for the Works of Religion, often referred to as the Vatican bank, that include structural changes and a mandatory external audit.
In new interview, pope explains aim of synod, warns against nationalism

VATICAN CITY — The upcoming Synod of Bishops on the Amazon is an "urgent" gathering, not of scientists and politicians, but for the church whose main focus in discussions will be evangelization, Pope Francis said in a new interview.
Vatican confirms Medjugorje approval by joining youth festival

WARSAW, Poland — Senior Vatican representatives joined the first officially approved church festival at Medjugorje, three months after Catholic pilgrimages to the site in Bosnia-Herzegovina were authorized by the pope.
Pope encourages priests dejected by abuse crisis

VATICAN CITY — Pope Francis acknowledged the shame and frustration felt by priests who are discouraged by the actions of fellow clergy members who betrayed the trust of their flock through sexual abuse and abuse of conscience and power.
Hush hour: Silence seen as journey toward God

Near the elevators people take to reach the papal study or meeting halls, the pope hung a copy of the icon of Our Lady of Silence -- an image of Mary with her index finger poised gently in front of her closed lips.
Beatification for British missionary?

MANCHESTER, England — The Vatican has allowed the bishops of Zimbabwe to open the sainthood cause of a British missionary murdered after he refused to abandon his ministry to people with Hansen's disease during the country's civil war.
Pope calls for quick action to prevent further migrant deaths