World News
Pandemic highlights need to protect refugees, creation, pope says
Speaking at his Angelus address marking World Refugee Day, Pope Francis said all people should "be more responsible for looking after the common home."
Turkish bishops won’t contest plan to turn ancient cathedral into mosque
Turkey wants to convert Hagia Sophia, the 6th-century church now a museum, into a mosque. Turkey's highest court is expected to approve a conversion plan July 2.
Lockdown has increased risk of grooming, abuse of minors, says expert
Increased screen time and isolation due to restrictions of the COVID-19 pandemic have put vulnerable minors at greater risk, said a Jesuit safeguarding expert.
Agencies warn of Yemen’s health care collapse, famine risk
Yemen's health care system, ravaged by five years of civil war, is collapsing. Famine stalks 24 million people dependent on foreign aid as the country's economy reels from the pandemic.
Retired pope travels to Germany to visit his brother
Retired Pope Benedict XVI, who is 93 years old, traveled to Regensburg, Germany June 18 to visit his ailing older brother, Msgr. Georg Ratzinger, who is 96.
‘Feel the pain,’ Lebanese prelate tells government as poverty rises
Cardinal Bechara Rai called for Lebanon's leaders to hear the cries of suffering citizens as poverty overtakes the population, including the middle class.
Eucharist heals, gives strength to serve others, pope says
The Eucharist heals people of their wounds and sadness, and gives them the strength to share Christ's mercy with others, Pope Francis said on the feast of the Body and Blood of Christ.
Religious freedom commission: U.S. cannot ignore northeast Syria
The U.S. "cannot look the other way" in an area where Turkish troops and militants are shelling Christians, Kurds, Yazidis and Arabs in what has been called an ongoing war crime.
Trump ‘honored’ by former Vatican official’s conspiracist tome
Archbishop Vigano praised the president for opposing social lockdowns due to the pandemic as part of "deep state" conspiracies and a Masonic plot to establish a new world order.
Tanzanian Catholic diocese works to protect girls from abuse
A diocesan program cares for 70 street children, those escaping domestic violence, girls fleeing female circumcision and those escaping from child marriages as young as 8.