Pope Francis in America
Pope Francis is spending 10 days visiting Cuba and the United States, including a stop at the U.S. Congress, his first visit there since becoming pontiff in 2013.
Catholic Church collects $1.6 billion in U.S. contracts, grants since 2012
By Kelly Riddell - The Washington Times
Not to be lost in the pomp and circumstance of Pope Francis' first visit to Washington is the reality that the Catholic Church he oversees has become one of the largest recipients of federal largesse in America. Published September 24, 2015
Recent Stories
Vatican: Pope Francis met with Yayo Grassi, a gay student, and his partner
The Vatican is confirming that the only "audience" the pope had while he was in Washington was with a former student and his family: Yayo Grassi, an openly gay Argentine who visited Francis with his longtime partner and some friends.
Vatican: Pope Francis' encounter with Kim Davis not a form of support
The Vatican on Friday distanced Pope Francis from Kim Davis, the focal point in the gay marriage debate in the U.S., saying she was one of dozens of people the pope greeted in the U.S. and that their encounter "should not be considered a form of support of her position."
W. Scott Lamb: 5 religion stories worth your time on Wednesday
Kim Davis met with Pope Francis; Justin Bieber explains how God is like his girlfriend; Democrats and abortion; Donald Trump gets prayed over
W. Scott Lamb: 5 religion stories worth your time on Tuesday
Pope and Planned Parenthood; Moral Majority; Ronnie Floyd; the middle class
Chris Cannella, knife-wielding man in SUV, made it onto JFK tarmac hours after Pope Francis left
A man driving a black SUV and armed with a knife breached airport security, making it all the way to the tarmac at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York, just hours after Pope Francis had left from the airport for Philadelphia on Saturday, prosecutors said.
STEVE DEACE: St. Peter thinks Pope Francis needs to make the main thing the main thing
Built within the papacy is supposed to be a constant reminder of the ancient pact that office has made with Jesus Christ.
Pope Francis' message reaches far beyond the Catholic faithful
The outpouring of acclaim for Pope Francis and his message of tolerance and compassion, which he delivered in a historic address to Congress and events in three U.S. cities over the past six days, came from Americans of every religious persuasion -- not just Roman Catholics -- and even from those who are not at all religious.
Pope Francis celebrates huge outdoor Mass in Philadelphia
Pope Francis celebrated a huge outdoor Mass Sunday to wrap up his six-day visit to the U.S., just hours after taking the dramatic step of meeting with survivors of clergy sexual abuse and promising to hold accountable those responsible for the church scandal.
Pope Francis arrives in Philadelphia, final stop on U.S. visit
Addressing Hispanics directly at the site where the United States was founded, Pope Francis urged recent immigrants to embrace their heritage and to keep pushing for rights and freedom in America.
Glenn Beck: 'Pope could have ended abortion in America' and he didn't
Conservative radio host Glenn Beck lamented Friday a missed opportunity by Pope Francis, saying the pontiff "could have ended abortion in America" if he really wanted to during his visit to the U.S. this week.
NEWT GINGRICH: Impressions of Pope Francis' visit to Washington, D.C.
This week, Callista and I had the remarkable opportunity to see Pope Francis three times during his two-day visit to Washington, D.C.
Bob Brady, Democratic congressman, drinks from Pope Francis's discarded water glass
As Congress members rushed to touch Pope Francis after Thursday's historic address on the House floor, Rep. Bob Brady reportedly made a beeline for the podium to swipe the Holy Father's discarded water glass.
Bernie Sanders uses Pope Francis in fundraising pitch
Sen. Bernard Sanders used Pope Francis in a fundraising appeal Thursday for his campaign for the Democratic presidential nomination, telling supporters that he and the pontiff were both pursuing the same social justice agenda.
Pope Francis beseeches world leaders at U.N. to protect the environment
Pope Francis declared Friday that there is a "right of the environment" and that mankind has no authority to abuse it, telling more than 100 world leaders and diplomats at the United Nations that urgent action is needed to halt the destruction of God's creation.
Madonna gives Pope Francis her blessing in Philadelphia
A woman with plenty of experience tangling with the Vatican has given Pope Francis her endorsement during his first U.S. visit.
The Latest: Governor's aide says pope blesses Sandra Lee
Latest developments in Pope Francis' visit to the United States. All times local:
Pope Francis hopes to mend shattered bonds of family life on U.S. visit
The American family landscape that Pope Francis is viewing during his first visit to the United States differs vastly from that of 1965, when Paul VI became the first pontiff to step onto U.S. soil: More couples are divorced or living together and fewer are married today than they were in the '60s.
Obama's view on death penalty 'influenced' by Pope Francis
Pope Francis may have pushed President Obama closer to coming out against the death penalty, White House officials said Thursday.
Pope Francis' call for immigration leniency unlikely to change debate
Pope Francis is more than head of the Catholic Church -- he's also the head of state of the Vatican, which as a government has possibly the most restrictive immigration and citizenship policies of any nation in the world.
Children complete scene for Pope Francis
The faces of children dotted the crowd peering up at Pope Francis on a balcony of the Capitol, a presence he gave a special blessing as he greeted the masses.
Pope Francis reflects before statue of Saint Junipero Serra
Moments after his speech to Congress, Pope Francis paused for reflection before a bronze statue of the first saint canonized on U.S. soil.
Immigration activists look for boost from Pope Francis
As tens of thousands of people gathered on the West Front of the Capitol to glimpse Pope Francis, a group of activists chanted and sang in support of citizenship for illegal immigrants.
Pope Francis proposes 'golden rule' of politics, demands end to death penalty
Pope Francis called on Americans to fully embrace the Golden Rule in politics as the head of the world's 1.2 billion Catholics delivered a sermon on Capitol Hill on Thursday, challenging Congress and voters alike to serve the needy and to see the world in nuance rather than the "simplistic reductionism which sees only good or evil."
Pope Francis pays surprise visit to nuns suing Obama over birth control rules
Pope Francis made an unscheduled visit to a convent of the Little Sisters of the Poor, an order that is suing the Obama administration over its birth control rules on employers.
Pope Francis' security faces Capitol test after parade incident
The massive security apparatus protecting Pope Francis on his trip to the United States will be tested further Thursday, a day after a 5-year-old California girl made her way through a security barrier and onto his parade route.
W. Scott Lamb: 5 religion stories worth your time on Thursday
Detroit Lions' Carey says black lives matter even in the womb; Bernie Sanders argues against for-profit prisons; genocide
Junipero Serra, saint canonized by Pope Francis, leaves divided Western legacy
A year before Junipero Serra was beatified by Pope John Paul II in 1988, the California missions the Franciscan priest had founded in the 18th century exhumed his body and collected his left ulna.
Pope Francis, at D.C. canonization Mass, implores Catholics to live 'joy of the Gospel'
Pope Francis urged Catholics not to let their hearts grow "numb" but to take joy from a life of sharing the Gospel, making his exhortation at a Wednesday canonization Mass that was the first declaration of a saint on U.S. soil and his personal first in this country.
Pope Francis lectures Obama on religious liberty
Pope Francis called for American leadership Wednesday in combating climate change, embracing immigrants and caring for the poor, using his unparalleled pulpit to sound solidarity with President Obama on a host of issues -- but the pontiff also poked the White House on religious liberty, and insisted pro-life and family causes were at the center of his visit.
Obama-Pope Francis event a cultural, political who's who
There were more than 15,000 ticketed guests at Wednesday morning's gathering for Pope Francis on the South Lawn of the White House.
Hordes hit the road early to cheer Pope Francis arrival at Basilica
Rising early was an important part of the plan Wednesday.
Pope Francis canonizes Saint Serra, 18th-century missionary
A Franciscan friar who walked thousands of miles to spread Christianity in California some 300 years ago became the first saint to be declared in the United States Wednesday.
White House scrapped 21-gun salute because Pope Francis is 'man of peace'
The Obama administration and the Vatican decided that a 21-gun salute in honor of Pope Francis' arrival at the White House Wednesday would not be appropriate because the pontiff is a "man of peace."
Pope Francis lectures on climate change at White House: Action can't wait
President Obama and Pope Francis on Wednesday morning spoke in unison on the need to confront climate change and save the planet, with both men saying humanity has a moral obligation to act now and not saddle future generations with a growing problem.
Pope Francis welcomed, lauded by Obama at White House
With a level of pomp and circumstance rare even in Washington, President Obama welcomed Pope Francis to the White House Wednesday and praised the pontiff for leading on a host of social and moral issues.
Pope Francis visits U.S. amid legal challenges to religious freedom
Pope Francis is arriving in the U.S. at a time when the faithful are facing broad challenges in court over the limits of religious liberty.
Interpreting Pope Francis' views on family
When he was elected in March 2013, Pope Francis was a breath of fresh air for the Catholic Church, says Carl Anderson, supreme knight of the Knights of Columbus and a member of the Vatican's Pontifical Council for the Family.
Pope Francis lands in U.S. to begin six-day, three-city visit
As onlookers erupted with cheers, Pope Francis on Tuesday afternoon set foot in the U.S. for the first time as pontiff and was greeted by President Obama, Vice President Joseph R. Biden, other administration officials and a raucous crowd of supporters.
Donald Trump: I'd talk to Pope Francis about religion, global warming
Billionaire businessman and 2016 Republican presidential front-runner Donald Trump said if he got some time with Pope Francis, who is in the United States this week, he'd like to talk to him about a lot things, including religion and global warming.
Pope Francis ends Cuba trip with address to families, heads to U.S.
Pope Francis ends his visit to Cuba on Tuesday with a Mass at the country's most revered shrine and a pep talk with families before flying north to Washington for the start of his U.S. tour.
DEBORAH SIMMONS: Pope Francis, official Washington and the rest of us
We've been told to mind our P's and Q's while Pope Francis is here -- no fist bumps or handshakes, please and thank you -- and to wear our patience on our sleeves, because it's anticipated there will be massive vehicular tie-ups and foot traffic from Tuesday, when he arrives at Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland, until he departs Philadelphia for Rome on Sunday.
Pope Francis' views on climate change, immigration, income inequality, sexuality may be divisive
The messenger will be guaranteed a warm welcome, but his message may prove more divisive as America's Catholics prepare to greet Pope Francis for a history-making six-day visit starting Tuesday.
Move over Donald Trump - Pope Francis' approval ratings are much higher
Pope Francis can look forward to a warm welcome in the United States this week, from both Catholic and non-Catholic Americans.
Traveling Bible exhibit in Philadelphia during pope's visit
A traveling Bible exhibit is opening at the Philadelphia Convention Center in conjunction with Pope Francis' visit later this week for the World Meeting of Families Conference.
Pope Francis meets with Fidel Castro, misses out on dissident greeting
Pope Francis flies to eastern Cuba on Monday for the next leg of his pilgrimage after having met with both Raul and Fidel Castro but missing out on an encounter with Cuban dissidents.
D.C. Metro offering SmarTrip protective cover featuring Pope Francis
Metro says it is offering a limited-edition protective cover featuring the pope to anyone purchasing a SmarTrip card.
Pope Francis' address to Congress poses quandary for lawmakers over lone guest ticket
Presented with the difficult decision of whom to offer his only guest ticket for Pope Francis' historic address to a joint session of Congress, Rep. Luis V. Gutierrez said he was moved by "the spirit."
Pope Francis praises U.S.-Cuba detente as model for world
Pope Francis hailed detente between the United States and Cuba as a model of reconciliation for the world, urging Presidents Barack Obama and Raul Castro to persevere in building normal ties as the pontiff launched a 10-day tour of the former Cold War foes Saturday.
Pope plans to duck dissidents in Cuba, spawning criticism
Pope Francis plans to meet with Cuba's president and its priests, its young and its sick, its churchgoers and its seminarians as he travels around the island starting Saturday. But not with its dissidents.
Victim advocates seek Vatican inquiry of Cardinals Rigali, Burke
Priests, nuns and canon lawyers who advocate for clergy sex abuse victims urged Pope Francis, on the eve of his U.S. visit, to investigate the child protection records of Cardinal Justin Rigali, the former archbishop of Philadelphia, and Cardinal Raymond Burke, who led dioceses in Wisconsin and Missouri.
W. SCOTT LAMB: 5 religion pieces worth your time on Wednesday
Donald Trump and Evangelicals. Are Mormons Christian? Evolution in Alabama schools. The President's invites to the Pope.
Recent Commentary Columns
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DEBORAH SIMMONS: Family matters: A global snapshot inspired by Pope Francis
Pope Francis is laying a lot on us during his visit to the United States, and he's not yet done. His remarks in New York at the United Nations shouldn't be cast aside, and we should pay attention to what he espouses as a way forward in Philadelphia at the World Meeting of Families.
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AMY CLARK: What I wish the pope would say to Congress
A pontifical-portrait toaster, Papal brewskies, pontifex-inspired milkshakes, a life-sized, cardboard cutout of Francis himself, and even, yes, holy cheese! Sounds like the pope has come to town.
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DREW JOHNSON: Congress should boycott Pope Francis
Don't look now, but another person who hates free market capitalism, calls for radical government action to address global warming, wants to silence free expression, believes lawmakers should micromanage the family lives and sexual behavior of individuals, and has people convinced he's infallible is in Washington.
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CHARLES HURT: Pope Francis threatens legacy of Pope John Paul II, Ronald Reagan
Speaking under the hateful gaze of Che Guevara in Havana's Plaza of the Revolution - a shrine to ruthless communism - Pope Francis scolded us to "serve people, not ideas."
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NEWT GINGRICH: Pope Francis and religious liberty
The most important message Pope Francis will bring to Washington this week is about religious liberty.
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W. SCOTT LAMB: 5 religion pieces worth your time on Tuesday
Women in combat. Abortion in Japan. Long-term minister--and loving it. Wesleyan revival. Pope Francis
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WESLEY PRUDEN: Fidel Castro, Obama angle for a piece of Pope Francis
Everybody wants a piece of the pope. Fidel Castro and his little brother in crime applaud Pope Francis' assault on the very idea of capitalism, and Barack Obama wants to use the pontiff as a recruit in his war on what he perceives to be the "social injustice" of thwarting the Obama agenda and threatening the Obama legacy.
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STEPHEN MOORE: What Pope Francis should tell America
A left-wing pontiff has the opportunity to inspire the renewal of the nation
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EDITORIAL: A visit by Pope Francis
This is a big week for foreign visitors. Pope Francis, the leader of the Roman Catholic Church, arrives and no sooner leaves Washington than the leader of China comes to town for a state visit. Pomp and circumstance were never so abundant. It's a good week to stay out of the tangle of blocked streets the visits will make of downtown traffic.
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THEODORE MCCARRICK, PATRICK LEAHY: Pope Francis supports criminal justice reform
When Pope Francis comes to Washington this month, he will give a voice to the many disadvantaged, poor and incarcerated individuals who often struggle to be heard.
