Pope Francis Archives - Northwest Public Broadcasting

Pope Francis Expresses Sorrow But No Apology For Deaths At British Columbia Indigenous School

By NPR News June 6, 2021

Pope Francis speaks from the window of his studio overlooking St. Peter's Square on June 6, 2021. Francis expressed sorrow for the treatment of Indigenous people in Canada, but did not offer an apology. CREDIT: Domenico Stinellis/AP

Pope Francis expressed sorrow Sunday for the gruesome discovery of a mass grave in Canada containing the remains of hundreds of Indigenous children. The remains were found at a boarding school for Indigenous Canadians, operated by Catholic clergy.Read More

The Pope Is Toughening Church Laws On Sex Abuse, Fraud And The Ordination Of Women

By NPR News June 1, 2021

Pope Francis prepares to leave after celebrating a special Mass for the Myanmar faithful last month at the Vatican. On Tuesday, Francis issued new canon law focused on sexual abuse, fraud and the attempted ordination of women. Remo Casilli/Pool via AP

Pope Francis on Tuesday issued a major revision of Catholic Church laws regulating clerical sex abuse, fraud and the attempt to ordain women. It is known as an apostolic constitution with the title, Pascite Gregem Dei, or "Tend the Flock."Read More

Pope Francis Issues Orders Aimed At Cracking Down On Vatican Corruption

By NPR News May 2, 2021

Pope Francis delivers his homily during an ordination mass on April 25, at St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican. This week, the pope decreed that all bishops and cardinals can be tried if they are suspected of criminal behavior. Alberto Pizzoli/Getty Images

Pope Francis is taking additional steps to crack down on corruption at the Vatican by decreeing that all bishops and cardinals be tried if they are suspected of criminal behavior. This marks the second time in two days that the pope has worked to hold top church officials accountable for their actions.Read More

‘I Come As A Pilgrim’: Pope Francis Begins Historic Visit To Iraq

By NPR News March 5, 2021

Pope Francis arrives at Baghdad International Airport on Friday for the first-ever papal visit to Iraq. CREDIT: Vincenzo Pinto/AFP via Getty Images

Pope Francis has touched down in Iraq for the first-ever papal visit to the predominantly Muslim country, beginning a four-day visit in Baghdad, where yellow and white Vatican flags and likenesses of the pontiff flutter above hastily weeded traffic circles.Read More

In Pope Francis, Biden Has A Potential Ally — Who Shares The Same Catholic Detractors

By NPR News March 2, 2021

Pope Francis shakes hands with Joe Biden, then vice president, at the Vatican, in 2016. Andrew Medichini/AP

The second Roman Catholic president in American history is a devout man who makes no secret of the importance of faith in his life. President Joe Biden is a regular churchgoer, often quotes St. Augustine and carries a rosary that belonged to his late son Beau. In one of the first images released of him in the Oval Office, a photo was visible behind his desk showing him Read More

Pope Prays For U.S. Capitol Victims, Urges Americans To Protect Democratic Values

By NPR News January 11, 2021

Pope Francis is seen giving a homily on Christmas Eve. Francis on Sunday condemned the violence at the U.S. Capitol and prayed for reconciliation. Vincenzo Pinto/Pool/AFP via Getty Images

Pope Francis offered prayers Sunday for those who lost their lives during the siege at the U.S. Capitol — and encouraged Americans to come together in a spirit of reconciliation.Read More

With Ceremony At The Vatican, Wilton Gregory Becomes 1st Black American Cardinal

By NPR News November 28, 2020

Archbishop Wilton Gregory of Washington, D.C., becomes a cardinal during a ceremony Saturday known as a consistory in St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican. Pope Francis cautioned new cardinals never to lose their connection to the people. CREDIT: Fabio Frustaci/Pool/AFP via Getty Images

Wilton Gregory, the archbishop of Washington, D.C., is among 13 church leaders elevated to cardinal at a ceremony at the Vatican on Saturday.Read More

Vatican Report Says Pope John Paul II Knew About Allegations Against Former Cardinal

By NPR News November 10, 2020

Former Cardinal Theodore McCarrick - who was defrocked in 2019

The report on the former archbishop of Washington, Theodore McCarrick, who was defrocked last year, states that Popes John Paul II and Benedict XVI were aware of the accusations of sexual misconduct.Read More

Pope Francis Makes Archbishop Wilton Gregory America’s First Black Cardinal

By NPR News October 25, 2020

In this 2019 file photo, Washington D.C. Archbishop Wilton Gregory poses for a portrait following mass at St. Augustine Church in Washington. Pope Francis has named Gregory among 13 new cardinals. CREDIT: Andrew Harnik/AP

Wilton Gregory, the archbishop of Washington, D.C., is among 13 church leaders who will be elevated to cardinal at a ceremony at the Vatican next month.Read More

In New Book, Retired Pope Benedict Breaks Silence To Speak Out On Priestly Celibacy

By NPR News January 13, 2020

Pope Francis (left) talks with Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI in the former Convent Mater Ecclesiae at the Vatican in 2016, three years after Benedict stunned the Catholic Church by resigning to become pope emeritus. CREDIT: L'Osservatore Romano/AP

The surprise move is seen as a rebuke to Pope Francis, who is weighing whether to allow older, married men to be ordained in some South American countries, where a shortage of priests is acute.Read More

In Visit To Hiroshima, Pope Francis Says Possession Of Nuclear Weapons Is ‘Immoral’

By NPR News November 24, 2019

Pope Francis observes a minute of silence in memory of the victims of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima during his visit to the city's Peace Memorial Park on Sunday. CREDIT: Carl Court/Getty Images

The nuclear arms race wastes resources that could instead improve people's lives and protect the environment, the pontiff said. His tour marks the first papal visit to Japan in nearly 40 years.Read More

Pope Opens Amazon Synod Amid Controversy Over Proposal To Allow Married Priests

By NPR News October 8, 2019

Pope Francis walks in procession on the occasion of the Amazon synod at the Vatican on Monday. The pope opened a three-week meeting as he fended off attacks from conservatives who are opposed to his ecological agenda. CREDIT: Andrew Medichini/AP

Even before the synod began, traditionalists were angered by the suggestion that, to offset a shortage of priests in the Amazon, married men might be ordained to serve in remote communities.Read More

Pope Francis Issues New Edict Requiring Vatican Officials Report Sex Abuse Allegations

By NPR News March 29, 2019

Pope Francis, pictured earlier this week, unveiled a new mandatory-reporting edict on Friday. It requires any Vatican official who learns of an allegation of abuse within the city-state or by Vatican officials to report it to Vatican prosecutors. Andrew Medichini/AP

Applicable only to Vatican personnel and diplomats around the world, it is the first unified policy for the protection of children and vulnerable adults. But critics say it doesn't go far enough.Read More

As Pope Holds Sex Abuse Summit, U.S. Catholics Not Hopeful For ‘Bold Moves’

By NPR News February 20, 2019

Pope Francis has called Catholic leaders from around the world to the Vatican this week for a meeting about clergy sexual abuse. CREDIT: GREGORIO BORGIA/AP

Not surprisingly, when Pope Francis summoned more than 100 bishops to a meeting in Rome to address the "Protection of Minors in the Church," the announcement raised expectations that it could mark a turning point in the Church's lagging response to the ongoing clergy abuse crisis. The three-day meeting begins Thursday.Read More

Vatican Defrocks Former Cardinal Theodore McCarrick, Finds Him Guilty Of Sex Abuse

By NPR News February 16, 2019

Pope Francis embraces then-Cardinal Theodore McCarrick during a 2015 visit to the U.S. McCarrick resigned the cardinalate last year before being defrocked Feb. 16, 2019. CREDIT: Jonathan Newton/AP

Theodore McCarrick rose to power as a cardinal and archbishop of Washington, D.C. He became the most senior Catholic Church official in modern times to lose clerical status.Read More

For First Time, Pope Francis Acknowledges Sexual Abuse Of Nuns By Priests

By NPR News February 5, 2019

Pope Francis arrives to celebrate Mass at Zayed Sport City on Tuesday in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. CREDIT: Francois Nel/Getty Images

In the wake of the #MeToo movement, the Roman Catholic Church is being forced to confront evidence that clergy have sexually abused nuns.Read More

2018 Brought A Big Rise In U.S. Catholic Dioceses Naming Accused Clergy

By NWPB News January 4, 2019

Nearly 50 dioceses and religious orders have publicly identified child-molesting priests in the wake of the Pennsylvania report issued in mid-August, and 55 more have announced plans to do the same over the next few months, the AP found. Together they account for more than half of the nation’s 187 dioceses.Read More