“Pope Francis was the ‘people’s pope,’” Bishop Kevin Kenney reflected recently as people around the world mourned the loss of the pope, who died April 21 at age 88. “Pope Francis had a great love for Jesus, and he exemplified that love by how he interacted with people.”
In full vestments and flanked by pines, Bishop Andrew H. Cozzens held high the Eucharist in a golden monstrance, making the sign of the cross over the stream that flowed gently from the placid lake behind him. Next to him, a signpost read, "Here 1,475 FT above the ocean, the mighty Mississippi begins to flow on its winding way 2,552 miles to the Gulf of Mexico."
Bishop Emeritus Richard Pates, a native of the Twin Cities who served as an auxiliary bishop of St. Paul and Minneapolis from 2001 to 2008, has been appointed apostolic administrator of the Archdiocese of Dubuque as Archbishop Michael Jackels resigns because of health reasons.
Many Catholics will identify with some aspect of Pope Francis’ 2015 encyclical “Laudato Si’, on Care for our Common Home,” and the more they learn about environmental issues, the better chance they’ll get involved in sustainability efforts, said panelists at a March 29 forum on the subject at Annunciation in Minneapolis, organized by the Catholic Community Foundation of Minnesota.
With humor and grace, Bishop Andrew Cozzens introduced himself Oct. 18 to the Diocese of Crookston as a lover of Christ, adventure and walking the journey of faith with others.
In response to the fatal shootings Nov. 2 of two police officers, Bishop Richard Pates of Des Moines said the diocese stands in solidarity with members of the local police force.
“Everyone is coming to church seeking a word of comfort and consolation, which they don’t find anywhere else. You hear gun and mortar shots everywhere. We don’t know where they are coming from or where they are aimed; we only know that they bring death and destruction.”
— Bishop Giuseppe Nazzaro, Latin-rite apostolic vicar of Aleppo, Syria, speaking about Christmas Eve and Christmas Day Masses in the war-torn city
