The Catholic Leader Keeping Faith with You

VATICAN CITY (CNS): The head of the Vatican's justice and peace council opened a controversial seminar on genetically modified food last week acknowledging sharp differences of opinion and serious vested interests in promoting or excluding their use...

VATICAN CITY (CNS): With the simple gesture of reverence for a Russian icon, Pope John Paul II and Russian President Vladimir Putin underscored their commitment to improving relations between the Roman Catholic and Russian Orthodox Churches...

KALAUPAPA, Hawaii (Zenit): Mother Marianne Cope, a Franciscan nun whose mission in Hawaii was linked to that of Blessed Damien of Molokai, is on the road to being canonised a saint...

VATICAN CITY (CNS): Pope John Paul II said it was important for the Church to acknowledge mistakes and shortcomings in its 2000-year history, and he encouraged others around the world to do the same...

VATICAN CITY (CNS): In ceremonies that combined solemn tradition and the cheers of the faithful, Pope John Paul II created 30 new cardinals and asked them to preach the Gospel "to all people, without exception" on every continent...

R0ME (CNS): A judge in central Italy set off a debate involving Catholics, Muslims and politicians after he ordered the removal of crucifixes from classrooms in an elementary school...

Two families who went on a pilgrimage to Lourdes in search of a miracle, with the generous help of Catholic Leader readers, have returned uplifted. PETER BUGDEN reports:.

VATICAN CITY (CNS): As the world offered congratulations and encouragement, Pope John Paul II celebrated a 25th anniversary Mass and prayed for the "wisdom, holiness and strength" to keep leading the Church...

VATICAN CITY (CNS): Pope John Paul II offered his thanks to Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta, founder of the Missionaries of Charity, for being close to him in her lifetime and for courageously showing the world what it means to love and serve Jesus completely...