Pope announces new cardinals, including U.S. Archbishop Gregory
Washington Archbishop Wilton D. Gregory -- who four hours earlier had learned Pope Francis had named him a cardinal -- celebrates his first Mass as a cardinal-designate Oct. 25, 2020, at Holy Angels Church in Avenue, Md. (CNS photo/Andrew Biraj, Catholic Standard)

Pope announces new cardinals, including U.S. Archbishop Gregory

Archbishop Gregory will be the first African American cardinal from the U.S. Other new cardinals are from Italy, Rwanda, the Philippines, Chile, and Brunei

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Connecticut basilica’s rector has spent lifetime praying to Father McGivney
Father James Sullivan, rector of the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception in Waterbury, Conn., stands at the McGivney family grave site in the Old St. Joseph Cemetery in Waterbury July 6, 2020. Father Michael J. McGivney -- who was buried there for 92 years until his body was moved to St. Mary's Church in New Haven, Conn. -- will be beatified Oct. 31 during a Mass at the Cathedral of St. Joseph in Hartford, Conn. (CNS photo/Aaron Joseph, courtesy Archdiocese of Hartford)

Connecticut basilica’s rector has spent lifetime praying to Father McGivney

To be rector of the basilica at the time of Father McGivney's beatification, priest said, is "a joy and a privilege."

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USCCB offers ‘Election Novena’ as way to prepare for Nov. 3, pray for nation
This is a graphic for the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops' "Election Novena." The bishops are encouraging people of faith to participate in a novena to prepare for Election Day and pray for the nation for nine days, beginning Oct. 26 and ending Nov. 3. A closing prayer for elected leaders will be offered on Day 10, Nov. 4, the day after the election. (CNS photo/courtesy USCCB)

USCCB offers ‘Election Novena’ as way to prepare for Nov. 3, pray for nation

Participants are asked to pray for specific intentions every day, starting with a prayer that ‘our political engagement be guided by our Catholic faith.’

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Pope has history of defending marriage, but being open to some civil unions
Pope Francis greets the crowd during his general audience in the Paul VI hall at the Vatican Oct. 21, 2020. (CNS photo/Paul Haring)

Pope has history of defending marriage, but being open to some civil unions

Pope Francis said in the documentary film, “Francesco,” that homosexual people “are children of God and have a right to a family.”

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Beatification of Father McGivney to take place Oct. 31 in Hartford, Conn.
The beatification ceremony for Father Michael McGivney, founder of the Knights of Columbus, will be celebrated Oct. 31, 2020, in the Archdiocese of Hartford, Conn. Father McGivney is pictured in an undated portrait. On May 27 the Vatican announced Pope Francis had approved a miracle attributed to the priest's intercession, clearing the way for his beatification. (CNS file photo) See MCGIVNEY-BEATIFICATION-HARTFORD July 28, 2020.

Beatification of Father McGivney to take place Oct. 31 in Hartford, Conn.

The miracle that led to Father McGivney’s beatification was the 2015 cure of a boy in Dickson, Tennessee

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In confirmation hearings, Barrett stresses commitment to ‘rule of law’
Judge Amy Coney Barrett of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 7th Circuit, President Donald Trump's nominee for the U.S. Supreme Court, speaks during the second day of her confirmation hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Capitol Hill in Washington Oct. 13, 2020. (CNS photo/Drew Angerer, Pool via Ruerters)

In confirmation hearings, Barrett stresses commitment to ‘rule of law’

When asked if she would be able to set aside her religious beliefs to fairly decide legal cases, Barrett said she could.

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The pope’s new encyclical presents a formidable challenge
Free copies of L'Osservatore Romano, the Vatican newspaper, with the front page about Pope Francis' new encyclical, "Fratelli Tutti, on Fraternity and Social Friendship," are distributed by volunteers at the end of the Angelus in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican Oct. 4, 2020. The social encyclical extends a formidable challenge to us all, the challenge to create "a different culture." (CNS photo/ IPA/Sipa USA, Reuters)

The pope’s new encyclical presents a formidable challenge

The social encyclical extends a formidable challenge to us all, the challenge to create "a different culture.

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Post-pandemic world must not return to selfish ‘normality,’ pope says
Pope Francis poses for a selfie with newly married couple during his general audience in the San Damaso courtyard at the Vatican Sept. 30, 2020. (CNS photo/Paul Haring)

Post-pandemic world must not return to selfish ‘normality,’ pope says

The COVID-19 pandemic, Pope Francis said, exposed the world's "physical, social and spiritual vulnerabilities."

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Religious freedom: Top U.S., Vatican officials explain why its defense is crucial
U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo delivers remarks at a symposium on religious freedom in Rome Sept. 30, 2020. The symposium was sponsored by the U.S. Embassy to the Holy See. (CNS photo/Guglielmo Mangiapane, Reuters pool)

Religious freedom: Top U.S., Vatican officials explain why its defense is crucial

The respect for freedom of religion in the public sphere is a clear indicator of the health of any society," said Cardinal Parolin.

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Virtual rosary Oct. 7 aims to unite Catholics in ‘moment of prayer’ for nation
A Dominican sister prays the rosary Sept. 18, 2018, in a campus chapel at The Catholic University of America in Washington. The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops will host a virtual rosary event Oct. 7, which is the feast of Our Lady of the Rosary. The event will premiere on the USCCB's YouTube channel and its Facebook page at 3 p.m. Eastern time (12 p.m. Pacific time). (CNS photo/Chaz Muth)

Virtual rosary Oct. 7 aims to unite Catholics in ‘moment of prayer’ for nation

The USCCB will host a virtual rosary event on the feast of Our Lady of the Rosary.

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