Francis has made one of his strongest attacks yet on the global economic system, saying it could no longer be based on a god called money and urged the unemployed to fight for work.
Pope Francis said the Catholic Church should not allow its bans on gay marriage, abortion and contraception to dominate its teachings, but must be a more welcoming Church where priests are understanding-pastors and not cold, dogmatic bureaucrats.
Pope Francis has said that next month he will meet with a group of eight cardinals to discuss the issue of divorced and remarried Catholics. The pope also referred to the scandals that have beset the Church, confirming that it is necessary to face the most serious problems with clarity, but without pessimism.
Pope Francis and his orthodox reform approach sets a new tone for a Vatican beset by scandals by naming a veteran diplomat as secretary of state, a role often called the “deputy pope”.
Respect for human life from conception until natural death is something children must be taught, not mainly with words, but by the example of their parents, Pope Francis said. Parents are called to pass on to their children the awareness that life must always be defended, Pope Francis wrote in a message to people joining in the Brazilian Catholic Church's celebration of Family Week, which began August 11.
As part of the Vatican's ongoing efforts to ensure that all its financial activity complies with international standards, particularly those aimed at preventing money laundering and the financing of terrorism, Pope Francis has expanded the role and the reach of the Vatican's Financial Intelligence Authority.
Influential Latin American newspapers have been extremely critical of Brazilian diplomacy in its unsuccessful attempts to ‘subdue Paraguay’, while at the same praising the landlocked country’s dignity in demanding from Mercosur respect and compliance with the rule of the law.
Pope Francis said the troubled Vatican bank must become honest and transparent and that he will listen to the advice of a commission he has set up on whether it can be reformed or needs to be shut down altogether.
Pope Francis met with President Cristina Fernandez and other South American leaders following the closing ceremony of the XXVIII World Youth Day in Rio do Janeiro and presented the Argentine head of state with a gift of socks and shoes for her recently born first grandson Nestor Ivan Kirchner.
Pope Francis chided the Catholic hierarchy Sunday, telling regional bishops not to behave like authoritarian princes and urging them to move closer to the people.