World News
Science and religion join in search for truth
UPDATED -The scientific conference at the Vatican this week titled "Black Holes, Gravitational Waves and Space-Time Singularities," can show that "the church supports good science," said an astronomer.
Priests should ease, not add to faithful’s burdens, pope says
A priest who does not willingly embrace Christ's cross and who does not try to lighten the burdens of his people is not worthy of the name, Pope Francis told 10 men he was about to ordain.
Pope accepts resignation of Melkite patriarch
Two months after bishops of the Melkite Catholic Church declared they had reconciled with each other and found a way to move forward together, the Vatican announced Pope Francis had accepted the resignation of Melkite Patriarch Gregoire III Laham.
Devil, not invaders, biggest enemy at hand, pope tells Swiss Guard
The pope held a private audience with the Swiss Guard, including 40 new recruits and their family members, the morning of May 6, the day of the guard's annual swearing-in ceremony.
Vatican launches Belgium euthanasia investigation
The Vatican is investigating the decision of a group of psychiatric care centers run by a Catholic religious order in Belgium to permit doctors to perform euthanasia of "nonterminal" mentally ill patients on its premises.
‘Ad limina’ meeting was a ‘sharing among shepherds,’ Cuban bishop says
Archbishop Dionisio Garcia Ibanez of Santiago said the pope listened intently as well as offered advice on the challenges facing the nearly 6 million Catholics in Cuba.
Church leaders say EU countries ignore pledges on religious freedom
Msgr. Da Cunha, secretary-general of the Council of European Bishops' Conferences, said the ideology of secularization "views religion as a private affair of the individual; it has difficulty understanding the public dimension of religious communities."
Pope advances sainthood causes of U.S. priest, Vietnamese cardinal
Pope Francis advanced the sainthood causes of Wisconsin-born Capuchin Father Solanus Casey, five religious, four laypeople and two cardinals, including Vietnamese Cardinal Francois Nguyen Van Thuan.
Pope, Myanmar leader meet, launch diplomatic relations
The Vatican announced May 4 that the pope would appoint a nuncio to the southeast Asian nation and that Myanmar would name an ambassador to the Vatican.
Encounter in Egypt: Trip highlights one of pope’s key teachings
Encounter. It's a word Pope Francis uses often and something he insists is the concrete first step toward faith and toward building a better world.