Pope Francis is bringing openness and humility to the Vatican | The Australian

It was 8.22pm on March 13, 2013 and in the square, the phones and tablets flashed in the dark like ­twinkling stars. The Francis era of the Roman Catholic Church began with a buona sera (“good evening”), spoken shyly but firmly into the microphone. In fluent Italian, Pope Francis joked that “my brother cardinals have gone to the ends of the Earth” in order to “give Rome a bishop”, asked for prayers for “our Bishop Emeritus Benedict XVI” and led the world in reciting an Our Father, a Hail Mary, and a Glory Be. 

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Abide, a New Prayer App That Wants to Connect You With God - Aleteia

It's probably safe to say that far more Catholics nowadays carry a smart phone around with them than a prayer book. And although there are many ways to access prayer websites on your phone, it's also safe to say that for many people, new technology has provided so much distraction that prayer time suffers.



There's a new app being launched today that promises to teach people to pray better, facilitate group prayer among people connecting with one another through digital devices, and spur people to spend more and better time in prayer, yes, without their cell phones around.



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Vatican astronomer, Jesuit Brother Guy Consolmagno wins Carl Sagan Medal

Michigan-bred Vatican astronomer and Jesuit Brother Guy Consolmagno will become the first clergyman awarded one of planetary science's most prestigious awards, when on Thursday in Arizona he receives the Carl Sagan Medal.

And then Consolmagno, for two decades the curator of the Vatican's meteorite collection, plans to head to metro Detroit where he grew up. He has a bittersweet assignment here: to retrieve and return to the Vatican three meteorites he loaned the Cranbrook Institute of Science in 2002.




Pope Francis Hails John Paul II Role in Fall of Berlin Wall

VATICAN CITY:  Pope Francis has hailed St. Pope John Paul II's role in the fall of the Berlin Wall and urged people to build bridges by opening hearts.

Francis marked the 25th anniversary Sunday of the destruction of the wall symbolizing the Cold War by appealing to all those of good will to foster a "culture of coming together" to bring down all barriers still dividing the world.

Greeting people in St. Peter's Square, he paid tribute to those who worked for the Berlin Wall's end, including those paying with their lives. John Paul II's championing of the Solidarity union in his native Poland is credited with helping bring the demise of Soviet bloc communism.



Pope Francis Hails John Paul II Role in Fall of Berlin Wall