World News
Mercy opens the door to understanding the mystery of God, pope says
Mercy is a true form of knowledge that allows men and women to understand the mystery of God's love for humanity, Pope Francis said.
Faith leads to freedom, not compromise, pope says at morning Mass
Christian faith is belief in the concrete work of God and leads to concrete witness and action by believers, Pope Francis said.
Buddhists, Christians must help promote nonviolence, cardinal says
"Jesus Christ and the Buddha were promotors of nonviolence as well as peacemakers," Cardinal Jean-Louis Tauran said in a message marking the Buddhist celebration of Vesakh.
Pope pays tribute to modern martyrs, calls for witnesses of God’s love
The Christian church today needs believers who witness each day to the power of God's love, but it also needs the heroic witness of those who stand up to hatred even when it means giving up their lives, Pope Francis said.
‘Sister Listeners’ help Rwandans move beyond genocide
The 1994 Rwandan genocide, when up to a million people were killed during 100 days of fighting and in the chaos before and afterward, lurks under the surface of every interaction, even though 23 years have passed since the killers laid down their machetes.
Pope in Egypt: Strengthening weary Christians, reaching out to all
Pope Francis' visit to Egypt, a land increasingly marked by terrorist-led bloodshed, stands as part of his mission to inspire and encourage today's actors in theaters of violence to change the script and set a new stage.
Persecuted Christians often choose strategy of survival, says study
The findings also show Christians might choose a strategy of association -- seeking to secure their religious freedom by developing ties with other Christian communities, non-Christian religions, and secular figures -- and, on occasion, they use strategies of confrontation.
Portuguese businessman sends free Fatima statues throughout world
"I started out just over four years ago with the idea of offering 12 hand-made statues of Our Lady of Fatima -- one for each apostle -- to parishes in South Africa, where I lived for many years," Jose Camara said.
Congolese priest: Demand for cellphone metals thwarts efforts to end war
Any person who possesses a cellphone or other electronic device with components derived from such "conflict minerals" is benefiting from bloodshed, said Father Richard Muembo.
Gratitude, discernment, hope needed for renewal, pope tells Marists
In an April 10 letter commemorating the 200th anniversary of the Marist Brothers' founding, the pope encouraged the brothers to continue their work with young people, helping them to become "good citizens and, above all, good Christians."