World News
Belarus bishop cites government curbs on foreign priests, nuns
A Catholic bishop in Belarus has accused officials of arbitrarily denying residence and work permits to visiting Catholic priests and nuns, when the country still lacks enough people to serve in ministry.
Royal College of Physicians adopts neutral policy on assisted suicide
The professional body for doctors in the U.K. dropped its traditional opposition to assisted suicide, despite a poll that found a majority of its members remain opposed to the practice.
Pope to sign letter to young people at popular Marian sanctuary
The gesture at the sanctuary, like the document itself, is a renewed call to focus on "accompanying the younger generations," Archbishop Dal Cin told Vatican News.
Polish cardinal, St. John Paul’s aide, defends pontiff’s record on abuse
A close aide to St. John Paul II has vigorously defended the late pope's handling of sexual abuse by Catholic clergy and denied accusations that he ignored the problem during his 27-year pontificate.
Panel: Policies to empower women must protect femininity, human dignity
Women should not be required to divest themselves of femininity to achieve empowerment and gender equality, according to panelists at a March 19 event at the United Nations.
Academy for Life encourages parents to vaccinate children
Catholic parents should vaccinate their children for the good of their children and the community, and they can do so with a "clear conscience" that "the use of such vaccines does not signify some sort of cooperation in voluntary abortion."
God’s will is clear: to seek out, save humanity from evil, pope says
Christians have faith in a God who wants to and is able to transform the world, conquering evil with good, Pope Francis said.
As cyclone slams Africa, churches, aid agencies coordinate response
Hundreds were feared dead in Mozambique four days after a cyclone slammed into the country, submerging entire villages and leaving bodies floating in the floodwaters, the nation's president said.
Pope in Morocco: Highlighting Catholic-Muslim ‘dialogue of solidarity’
His meeting March 30 with migrants at the Rabat archdiocesan Caritas center also will highlight the very practical form Catholic-Muslim relations take in the country of more than 35 million people, almost all of whom are Muslim.
Spain sees jump in ordinations to priesthood from 2017 to 2018
In 2018, a total of 135 men were ordained priests compared to 109 in 2017, according to statistics released March 12 by the Spanish bishops' conference.