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Justin McLellan

Justin McLellan is an Ecuadorian American journalist based in Rome with Catholic News Service, the news agency of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. He holds a bachelor's degree in philosophy and theology from the University of Notre Dame. Follow him on Twitter: @McLellan_Js

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Pope Francis speaks into a microphone while sitting in a large cream chair and holding a piece of paper

Pope: Christians are called to fight 'every form of slavery'

Inspired by the dignity of each human being as revealed by Jesus, Christians are called to fight "every form of slavery," whether physical, social or spiritual, Pope Francis said.

A bearded brown man holds a child in one arm and adjusts a candle with the other hand, while in a church

Vatican pushes nations to ensure religious freedom in Jerusalem

The Vatican urged the international community to press for a "special statute" to guarantee religious freedom in the city of Jerusalem in any agreements regarding a peace deal between Israel and Palestine.

Pope Francis speaks with former U.S. President Bill Clinton in a video call during a meeting of the Clinton Global Initiative in New York, Sept. 18, 2023. (CNS screengrab/Courtesy Clinton Global Initiative)

Pope to global leaders: Save children, the planet 'before it's too late'

Kicking off the 2023 Clinton Global Initiative meeting of leaders in New York City Sept. 18, Pope Francis told former U.S. President Bill Clinton and the global community to take action to ensure peace for future generations and stop climate change "before it's too late."

Pope Francis raises his hand to wave with the other hand on his clear lectern. A microphone is next to him.

Pope to confessors, faithful: Forgive always, like God

Forgiveness, received freely and constantly from God, is a "fundamental value" for Christians that must be practiced and passed on to others, Pope Francis said.

A gray-haired white man wearing a clerical collar smiles. The Vatican press conference backdrop is blurry in the background.

In letter to bishops, Vatican asks all faithful to pray for the synod

The Vatican is asking all baptized people, regardless of whether they will be in Rome, to participate in October's assembly of the Synod of Bishops with their prayers.

Three men wearing clerical collars sit at a table below a painting of a woman saint

Convincing people of pope's support tough, head of Ukrainian church says

Communicating Pope Francis' efforts to promote dialogue and advance peace efforts in Ukraine is a "great problem" for Catholic clergy and faithful in the country, said the head of the Ukrainian Catholic Church.

Pope Francis raises his hand to wave as he stands behind a clear lectern. There is a red tapestry over his window ledge.

Don't spread gossip or point fingers when wronged, pope says

Rather than engage in petty gossip, which leads to scandal, Christians are called by Jesus to be direct yet loving in offering help to an errant friend, Pope Francis said.

A white man with short dark hair wearing a green jacket speaks at a podium

Responding to Zelenskyy adviser, Vatican bank denies Russian investments

After an adviser to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy suggested that a financial relationship exists between the Vatican and Moscow, the Vatican bank said Sept. 9 that it "does not receive nor invest money from Russia."

Auxiliary Bishop Maksym Ryabukha of Donetsk, Ukraine, poses for a photo in the chapel of the Ukrainian Pontifical College of St. Josaphat in Rome Sept. 8, 2023. (CNS photo/Justin McLellan)

Ukrainian battlefront bishop says country is 'sensitive' to pope's words

Auxiliary Bishop Maksym Ryabukha of Donetsk was one of 45 bishops who traveled to Rome for the Ukrainian church's annual synod and to meet with Pope Francis and other Vatican officials. "People's esteem for the pope is very fragile"  the bishop said.

Pope Francis sits in a white backed chair against a white patterned wallpaper wall and speaks

Pope warns of risk of getting 'stiff neck' by looking away from suffering

Society has slipped into a culture of indifference so pervasive that "our necks are going to get stiff" from constantly turning away from the suffering of marginalized people, Pope Francis said.

A group of sisters wearing white laugh as they stand in front of Pope Francis

Pope extols Native American saint as model for responding to God's call

Like St. Kateri Tekakwitha, the first native North American woman to be canonized, all Christians must embrace their unique call to service of God and neighbor as well as the personal crosses that come with it, Pope Francis said.

The word “PACE,” peace, is seen in the crowd gathered as Pope Francis recites the rosary with young people who are ill at the Chapel of Apparitions at the Shrine of Our Lady of Fátima in Fátima, Portugal, Aug. 5, 2023. (CNS photo/Lola Gomez)

Pope's peace day message to focus on ethical concerns over AI

Signaling the Vatican's growing engagement in efforts to ensure the ethical development of new technologies, the Vatican has announced that "Artificial Intelligence and Peace" will be the theme for the next World Day of Peace, which is scheduled for Jan. 1, 2024.

Pope Francis stands between a Vietnamese man in a suit and an Asian man in a clerical collar as they study objects on a table

Vietnam approves resident papal representative marking improved relations

Vietnam will allow a papal representative to reside in the country and open an office there to support Vietnam's estimated 6.5 million Catholics in a sign of the country's improved relations with the Holy See.

A man wearing a violet zucchetto stands in the middle of a room covered in frescos as he addresses Pope Francis and other bishops and cardinals

Vatican officials meet German bishops to continue dialogue on Synodal Path

Representatives of the Roman Curia and the German bishops' conference discussed theological and disciplinary issues related to the German church's Synodal Path in a "positive and constructive climate" during a meeting at the Vatican July 26.

Pope Francis stands in his apartment window with an older white woman to his left and a white young man with brown hair to his right

Open yourself to God, pope tells marginalized youth ahead of WYD

Young people today must be open to love and let themselves be led and accompanied by God in the face of life's challenges, Pope Francis said.

Pope Francis, seated in a wheelchair, leans forward to clasp the hands of an older white woman sitting in a wheelchair

Pope to young people: To tackle life's ups and downs, look to the elderly

The Gospel calls Christians to bring the elderly to the center of their lives and away from the margins of families, politics and financial markets that banish them as "unprofitable waste" in society, Pope Francis said.

Pope Francis speaks to visitors gathered in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican before praying the Angelus July 2. (CNS/Vatican Media)

Be modern prophets by guiding others to the Holy Spirit, pope asks

Christians are called to be modern-day prophets who guide others to see the Holy Spirit at work in everyday life and not to be superstitious people who try to predict or control the future, Pope Francis said July 2.

Cardinal Matteo Zuppi, on a peace mission to Moscow on Pope Francis' behalf, speaks with Russian Orthodox Patriarch Kirill of Moscow, right, and Russian Orthodox Metropolitan Anthony of Volokolamsk, head of external church relations for the Moscow Patriarchate, left, during a meeting at the patriarch's residence at the Danilov monastery in Moscow June 29, 2023. (CNS photo/Courtesy of the Russian Orthodox Church, Department for External Church Relations)

Russian Orthodox leader tells Pope Francis' peace envoy that churches must serve peace

The Catholic and Russian Orthodox churches should join efforts to promote peace before threats of a "major global armed conflict," the head of the Russian Orthodox Church told Pope Francis' envoy on a peace mission to Moscow.

A black statue of St. Peter wears a red and gold robe and a red and gold dome-like tiara while towering over a large group of cardinals and bishops

Put preaching at center of the church, pope tells new archbishops

In the mold of Sts. Peter and Paul, Catholics are called to be members of a church that constantly follows Jesus and proclaims his word by putting preaching at the center of its ministry, Pope Francis said. 

A white man wearing a suit and blue tie stands next to another white man wearing a suit

Papal peace envoy to meet with Putin's foreign policy adviser in Moscow

Italian Cardinal Matteo Zuppi was scheduled to meet with a Kremlin foreign policy adviser during the peace mission he is making to Moscow on Pope Francis's behalf, the Kremlin said.

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