Milwaukee Archdiocese to release documents of priest abuse

MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- The Milwaukee Archdiocese is set to release over 6,000 pages of secret documents on Monday, July 1st, detailing substantiated allegations of abuse by priests.Victims have been working for almost two years to have the documents unsealed."As a survivor, we've lived with the truth of these documents for a long time.

Pope Francis receives two classic Harley-Davidson bikes

MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- Pope Francis got a special gift from Harley-Davidson!Pope Francis was reportedly given two classic Harley-Davidson motorcycles as part of the company's 110th anniversary celebration.Festivities in Rome got underway Thursday, June 13th and run through Sunday.On Sunday, Pope Francis will bless hundreds of bikes in a special ceremony at Saint Peter's Square.

Pope Francis: `Gay lobby' exists inside Vatican

(CNN) -- Pope Francis said a "gay lobby" exists inside the Vatican, according to a Catholic website, a surprising admission from a pope who has already delivered his share of stunners, and a resurrection of church conflicts that bedeviled his predecessor's papacy."In the Curia," Francis said, referring to Catholicism's central bureaucracy, "there are holy people.

Pope Francis tasks cardinals with studying reform of Catholic Church

ROME (CNN) -- Pope Francis has appointed a group of eight cardinals from around the world to look into ways of reforming the Catholic Church, the Vatican said Saturday.The group, which includes U.S. Cardinal Sean O'Malley from Boston, will examine ways to revise the Vatican constitution, Pastor Bonus, which sets the rules for running the Roman Curia, or church hierarchy.The cardinals -- who come from North America, Latin America, Africa, Asia and Europe -- will first meet in October, the Vatican said.The move follows on from suggestions made during the General Congregations, a series of meetings that brought together all the cardinals last month before they elected Francis as pope, the Vatican said.The other seven cardinals are: Giuseppe Bertello, president of the Vatican City State governorate; Francisco Javier Errazuriz Ossa from Chile; Oswald Gracias from India; Reinhard Marx from Germany; Laurent Monsengwo Pasinya from the Democratic Republic of the Congo; George Pell from Australia; and Oscar Andres Rodriguez Maradiaga from Honduras.An Italian bishop, Monsignor Marcello Semeraro, will act as secretary for the group.Pope Francis has already been in touch with the chosen cardinals, the Vatican said.The Catholic Church has faced calls for reform in the wake of scandals involving the sexual abuse of children by priests and allegations of corruption.The Rev.

Milw. Archdiocese to release clergy abuse documents in July

MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- The Archdiocese of Milwaukee announced on Wednesday, April 3rd on its website and via Archbishop Jerome Listecki's blog -- it WILL release thousands of pages of documents detailing clergy sexual abuse in the Milwaukee Archdiocese as part of its Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings.

Pope Francis washes youths' feet at detention center

(CNN) -- Pope Francis washed the feet of a dozen prisoners, including young women, at a youth detention center in Rome as part of a Holy Thursday Mass ahead of Easter.The pontiff poured water over the young offenders' feet, wiped them with a white towel and kissed them.The act of foot-washing at the Mass of the Lord's Supper is part of the Christian tradition that mirrors Jesus' washing of his disciples' feet.Francis' decision to celebrate the Mass with young offenders at the Casal del Marmo center represents a break with tradition but is in step with his record in embracing simplicity and humility.The service has in past years been held at the grand Basilica of St.

Pope Francis to shun luxury papal apartment, for now

ROME (CNN) -- Pope Francis has decided not to move into the papal apartment used by Benedict XVI and others before him, preferring instead to stay in a simple suite at a Vatican hotel, a Vatican spokesman said.The papal apartment on the top floor of the Apostolic Palace is ready for the new pontiff to move into, the Rev.

New pope, old pope meet for lunch

CASTEL GANDOLFO (CNN) -- Pope Francis is having lunch Saturday with his predecessor, Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, in what the Vatican said was the first such encounter in the history of the Catholic Church.Francis, who was inaugurated as the new head of the world's 1.2 billion Catholics on Tuesday, has made some changes since taking the helm -- most notably by adopting a simpler, personal style and calling for the Church to focus on serving the poor and needy.The new pontiff was flown to Castel Gandolfo by helicopter for the lunch date.He was greeted at the helipad by Benedict XVI, and the pair exchanged an embrace, Vatican spokesman the Rev.

Archbishop Listecki holds evening Mass to celebrate Pope's installation

MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- The Archdiocese of Milwaukee joined Catholics around the world on Tuesday, March 19th in celebrating Pope Francis' installation.Milwaukee Archbishop Jerome Listecki celebrated a Mass of Thanksgiving in honor of the papal inauguration of Pope Francis at the Cathedral of St.

Homily of the Holy Father at Inauguration of his Papal Ministry

(CNN) -- Homily of the Holy Father at the Inauguration of his Papal Ministry19 March 2013Dear Brothers and Sisters,I thank the Lord that I can celebrate this Holy Mass for the inauguration of my Petrine ministry on the solemnity of Saint Joseph, the spouse of the Virgin Mary and the patron of the universal Church.

Pope Francis meets with leader of his native Argentina

(CNN) -- Pope Francis met at the Vatican on Monday with the leader of his native Argentina, President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner -- a figure with whom Francis clashed publicly in the past over social issues.The Argentine president is among a number of world leaders scheduled to be at the Vatican for Francis' inauguration on Tuesday.When he was archbishop of Buenos Aires, Francis clashed with the Argentine government over his opposition to same-sex marriage and free distribution of contraceptives.

A day of prayer, song, pomp to welcome new pope

ROME (CNN) -- The Vatican geared up for the inauguration of the pope on Tuesday, a ceremony ushering in a new era for the Roman Catholic Church.Anticipation mounted among the faithful across the globe awaiting a joyous and solemn chapter of Christian history.