World News
From brainy tomes to advocacy: Academy joins anti-trafficking fight
For an international group of researchers and scholars, serving at the pleasure of popes had meant producing lots of papers on important topics. But with Pope Francis, they are moving from publication to advocacy.
Pope to visit Cuba first before heading to United States in September
Jesuit Father Federico Lombardi, Vatican spokesman, told reporters April 22 that the pope has "received and accepted the invitation from the civil authorities and bishops of Cuba" and has decided to visit the island before going to the United States.
Honduran activists hope pope’s climate encyclical gives them boost
Berta Caceres remembers the day when she and other Lenca indigenous leaders were allowed to return to the Gualcarque River in Honduras, after a court had banned her from the area because she was leading a protest against a hydroelectric dam.
Catholic advocate for climate change prepares for pilgrimage to COP21
Beginning in October, Naderev "Yeb" Sano will help lead the People's Pilgrimage from the Vatican. The pilgrimage will be made up of concurrent walks from spiritually significant locations in European cities; all will end in Paris where the U.N. Climate Conference, or COP21, will take place.
Pope: Everyone loses when culture doesn’t care about marriage, family
God's plan for fruitful, everlasting unions between a man and woman has been lost in a world filled with skepticism, distrust and hostility, Pope Francis said.
Atrocities show need to strengthen dialogue with Muslims, Vatican says
The Vatican said interreligious dialogue with the Muslim community must be strengthened given "the barbarism underway" by terrorists claiming to be Muslims.
Buddhists, Christians must join to fight modern slavery, cardinal says
"Dear friends, we share the conviction that modern slavery and human trafficking are grave crimes, open wounds on the body of contemporary society," said the message to Buddhists around the world.
Pope marks Earth Day with call to protect, cultivate, share resources
May the way people treat the earth "not be guided by greed, manipulation and exploitation, but rather may it preserve the divine harmony between creatures and creation," he said.
Irish bishops consider options if same-sex referendum passes
Catholic bishops have not made any decision on whether priests should decline to perform civil aspects of weddings if a May 22 referendum on same-sex marriage is passed.
Dutch archdiocese, lay Catholics at odds over parish consolidations
When Catholics compare their cardinal's actions to those of Islamic State militants, it is hard to dialogue with them, said a spokesman for a Dutch archdiocese.