Articles by Elise Harris
Pope begins meetings with Chilean abuse survivors
Apr 28, 2018 / 03:06 amLast night Pope Francis began individual meetings with three survivors of clerical sexual abuse from Chile following a major apology earlier this month. The encounters, which have no time limit, will go on throughout the weekend and on Monday.
Alfie Evans dies amid outpouring of prayer, support
Apr 27, 2018 / 23:07 pmAiling toddler Alfie Evans, whose plight has tugged at the world's heartstrings throughout the past week, died in the early hours of Saturday morning after being removed from life support.
Vatican's financial watchdog says progress slow, but steady
Apr 27, 2018 / 05:20 amThe Vatican's annual financial report this year showed that monitoring systems put into place nearly five years ago continue to be effective, however, there is still room to grow in terms of prosecution for questionable activities.
Dominican priest: Lack of belief within the Church enables the diabolical spirit
Apr 25, 2018 / 12:56 pmAccording to one exorcist working in Italy, the average time needed for a person to be freed from demonic influence in an exorcism is taking much longer than it did in even the recent past.
Pope Francis will visit Bari to host ecumenical day of prayer for peace
Apr 25, 2018 / 06:36 amPope Francis will travel to the Italian town of Bari July 7 for an ecumenical gathering with the heads of other Christian churches to pray for peace in the Middle East.
Dictatorship the underlying problem in Nicaragua riots, priest says
Apr 24, 2018 / 12:08 pmAs violent clashes continue between security forces and anti-government protestors in Nicaragua, an eye witness has said the country's underlying problem is the president's authoritarian bent.
Abuse survivor: Forgiveness, positive outlook key to healing
Apr 24, 2018 / 10:12 amAt the age of 16, Deborah Kloos was a distraught young woman who turned to the Church in hopes of finding solace, peace, and a reprieve from a “dysfunctional” and complicated family life.
Pope's abuse prevention commission prioritizes survivors, education
Apr 23, 2018 / 18:00 pmPope Francis' commission for the protection of minors met in Rome last week to listen to survivors of clerical sexual abuse, and to discuss abuse prevention education and policy, and ways the Church might work more closely with abuse survivors.
Italy grants Alfie Evans citizenship in hopes of transfer to Rome
Apr 23, 2018 / 09:38 amOn Monday a hospitalized British child at the center of a heated legal battle was granted Italian citizenship, part of an effort to delay shutting off his life-support, and to transfer him to a Roman hospital for additional treatment and medical evaluation.
Francis shares a sweet treat with Rome's poor for feast of St. George
Apr 23, 2018 / 03:13 amI-scream, you-scream, Pope Francis screamed... 'gelato!' on the feast of his patron saint, George, offering some 3,000 ice creams to homeless individuals served in Caritas soup kitchens and shelters around Rome.
Pope: Without the Eucharist, everything the Church does is vain
Apr 20, 2018 / 05:01 amDuring a brief day-trip to two small Italian cities, Pope Francis stressed the centrality of the Eucharist to the life and actions of the Church, saying without Christ's love and self-sacrifice, everything would be done in vanity, since everything Jesus did was for others.
Catholic communicators urge greater respect in public discourse
Apr 19, 2018 / 11:42 amThis week, Catholic communicators gathered in Rome to discuss the need for more respectful dialogue in the public sphere, saying that fake news and polemics must be overcome with truth, mercy and openness.
Irish archbishop: The Christian vision of family is attainable
Apr 18, 2018 / 10:53 amOne of the leading organizers of this year's World Meeting of Families has said the gathering aims to show the world that living the Christian ideal of marriage and family life is not impossible, but is something realistic that can be attained.
The Church needs prophets of truth and hope, Pope Francis says
Apr 17, 2018 / 09:11 amIn his homily Tuesday, Pope Francis said the Church needs men and women who are capable not only of bearing prophetic witness to the truth, like the early martyrs, but who are also examples of hope.
Exorcism course to study link between porn and demonic influence
Apr 16, 2018 / 14:52 pmAn annual exorcism course offered to priests in Rome aims to open the dialogue on what degree of demonic influence may exist in pornography use.
Pope urges Catholics to be moved by joy of the resurrection
Apr 15, 2018 / 09:28 amOn Sunday Pope Francis visited a Roman parish, telling Mass-goers to allow themselves to be moved by the immense joy of the resurrection, which overcomes sin and renews believers, allowing them to have a youthful heart.
Pope Francis: Every violation of the body is an 'outrage' to God
Apr 15, 2018 / 03:55 amOn Sunday Pope Francis issued a moving prayer for all those whose bodies have been hurt or exploited, including those who have suffered abuse and those who are sick, pointing to the high-profile cases of Alfie Evans and Vincent Lambert.
Pope Francis admits 'serious mistakes' in Chile sex abuse case
Apr 11, 2018 / 12:11 pmIn a letter addressed to Chile's bishops, Pope Francis admitted to making “serious mistakes” in handling the nation's massive sex abuse crisis and asked for forgiveness. The pope summoned Chile’s bishops to Rome to address the issue, and invited victims to meet with him as well.
Remember the missionaries of mercy? Here's what they've been up to
Apr 6, 2018 / 13:07 pmHundreds of Pope Francis' missionaries of mercy are gathering at the Vatican in coming days for formation and fellowship, for the first time since their mandate was extended at the end of the Jubilee of Mercy.
Pope Francis: We should leave every Mass better than we entered
Apr 4, 2018 / 02:31 amOn Wednesday Pope Francis said the Eucharist is key to living an authentic Christian witness, and that those who leave Mass unchanged, continuing to gossip or hold onto unholy habits, have missed the point.