World News

Pope meets Ukrainian president, share commitment for peace

Although the conflict between Ukraine and Russian-backed separatists continues, Pope Francis and Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko still share hope that a political solution still can be found, the Vatican said.

God is mercy: Holy Year affirms belief Christians, Muslims, Jews share

In calling for the Year of Mercy, Pope Francis hoped it would "eliminate every form of closed-mindedness and disrespect, and drive out every form of violence and discrimination." Dialogue can explore how mercy is a major theme in the world's monotheistic religions.

Vatican monitoring situation in Central Africa, but pope plans to visit

The Nov. 13 terrorist attacks in Paris, he said, obviously led to heightened security measures at the Vatican -- "I would not deny that" -- but they have had no bearing on the decision to visit the Central African Republic.

If miracle approved, Blessed Teresa could be canonized Sept. 4

The canonization would be celebrated by Pope Francis in St. Peter's Square at the end of a three-day pilgrimage of people who, like Blessed Teresa was, are engaged in corporal works of mercy.

30,000 American Catholics expected to attend World Youth Day in Poland

Bishop Frank J. Caggiano of Bridgeport, Connecticut, in a Nov. 17 presentation during the U.S. bishops' fall general assembly in Baltimore, that the U.S. delegation of young people is expected to be the largest outside of North America.

Vatican nativity scene, tree to be unveiled early for Year of Mercy

In preparation for the extraordinary event, which begins Dec. 8 with the opening of the Holy Door in St. Peter's Basilica, Vatican workmen broke through the masonry that had walled off the door.

U.S. cardinal says forces in Mideast intent on eradicating Christians

Christians in the Holy Land face "daily horrors," while "our public is very blase about the whole thing," Cardinal O'Brien said.

Philippine church leaders: Don’t let poor get forgotten at APEC summit

As world leaders started arriving in Manila Nov. 17 for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) leaders' summit, church leaders voiced concern that the poor might be forgotten once again in the high-level meeting.

Accepting invite from Rome’s Jewish community, pope to visit synagogue

Invited by Rome's Chief Rabbi Riccardo Di Segni, Pope Francis will be the third pope to visit the synagogue; St. John Paul II made his landmark visit in 1986 and Pope Benedict XVI visited in 2010.

Chinese priest dies under mysterious circumstances

On Nov. 11, police informed the family of Father Pedro Yu Heping, also known as Wei Heping, that the priest's body had been found in the Fen River, a tributary of the Yellow River that flows through Shanxi province, reported ucanews.com.