World News
Pope urges G-20 focus on helping the poor, says ‘lives are at stake’
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- As world leaders prepared to meet in Australia to continue looking at ways to improve the global economy, Pope Francis asked them "not to forget that many lives are at stake" behind their discussions and decisions.
German church commemorates 25th anniversary of fall of Berlin Wall
The president of the German bishops' conference praised Catholics who helped bring down the Berlin Wall, but also urged the church to look ahead to its future mission.
New Vatican financial rules increase transparency, centralization
The Vatican's new rules for budgeting and financial reporting, which will go into effect Jan. 1, call for heightened transparency and consistency in the church's central administration and underscore the oversight powers of two economic bodies Pope Francis established in February.
Pope hails role of St. John Paul in Berlin Wall’s fall
Commemorating the 25th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall, Pope Francis said the sudden end to the division of Europe was prepared by the prayers and sacrifice of many people, including St. John Paul II.
Pope names Liverpool native to be Vatican’s new foreign minister
Pope Francis named the 60-year-old nuncio to Australia, Archbishop Paul R. Gallagher, to be the Vatican's new foreign minister.
Pope removes Cardinal Burke from Vatican post
Pope Francis removed U.S. Cardinal Raymond L. Burke, 66, as head of the Vatican's highest court and named him to a largely ceremonial post for a chivalric religious order.
Church protests beating deaths of Christian couple accused of blasphemy
Catholic leaders in Pakistan protested the Nov. 4 beatings and burning of a young Christian couple accused of desecrating the Quran.
Christian Iraqi family waits to find safe passage to the West
The last thing Abu Sabah ever pictured in his life was being homeless and living in a tent in a park somewhere. But that is exactly what he and his family are experiencing in this Christian enclave outside of Irbil, the capital of the Kurdistan area of northern Iraq.
When puppets meet refugees, healing begins for children
Syrian children who have seen their houses bombed and family members killed are using string, glue, socks, beads and other odds and ends to help put their lives back together.
To heart of Europe: Pope expected to talk dignity, jobs, family life
Pope Francis, who has called the Catholic Church to go out to the peripheries and who described himself as coming from "the end of the earth," will visit the heart of European secular and economic power: the European Parliament and the Council of Europe.