World News
Australia’s Royal Commission issues final report on child sexual abuse
Among its 400 recommendations, 20 were aimed specifically at the Catholic Church, whose leaders spent three weeks in February testifying at a "Catholic wrapup."
‘Enough with the deaths’: Mexican clergy call out crisis
Clergy in southern Chiapas state reiterated warnings of an escalating humanitarian crisis as a land dispute has driven some 5,000 indigenous people from their communities and into the mountains to survive in cold and squalid conditions.
Hindus beat 8 priests, burn vehicle outside Indian police station
Extremists attacked the priests who had been trying to help 30 seminarians and two priests arrested Dec. 14 for allegedly trying to convert non-Christians. It began with seminarians singing Christmas carols to villagers.
Lebanon’s religious oppose Trump’s Jerusalem move; Jordanians march
Lebanon's Christian and Muslim leaders denounced the "unjust" decision of U.S. President Donald Trump to recognize Jerusalem as Israel's capital and demanded that it be reversed.
The weary world rejoices: Nativity scenes bring joy to hardened hearts
The Nativity scene in St. Peter's Square is not getting rave reviews: The backdrop does not look like a stable and the characters in need -- hungry, naked, dead, imprisoned -- don't exactly evoke a silent night when all was cozy, calm and bright.
Bishops condemn selling of Nigerians into slavery in Libya
A trio of Nigerian bishops condemned the enslavement of Nigerians who traveled to Libya for work, calling the practice a horrific abuse of human dignity.
Pope: Helping refugees means converting hearts hardened against them
"Our missionary work must also reach those hearts that are closed to the reception of others," he told 31 Jesuits from different parts of Asia and Australia, who are based in Myanmar.
Delicate art of diplomacy needed to build peaceful future, pope says
Diplomats share a responsibility to educate future generations about the importance of dialogue and reconciliation in maintaining peace, Pope Francis said.
Year in review: Nuclear threat raises tensions in U.S., Asia, worldwide
The ratcheting up of North Korea's missile testing, and fears that it also is advancing in its quest to launch a nuclear weapon, has gotten the attention of virtually everyone within range of any North Korean-fired missile and leaders worldwide, including Pope Francis.
Pope wants church to be voice of the poor in Amazon
A Brazilian archbishop said Pope Francis' decision to convene a Synod of Bishops in 2019 dedicated to the Amazon shows he is seeking a voice for the voiceless living in the region that has experienced significant deforestation.