News
The weary world rejoices: Nativity scenes bring joy to hardened hearts
The Nativity scene in St. Peter's Square is not getting rave reviews: The backdrop does not look like a stable and the characters in need -- hungry, naked, dead, imprisoned -- don't exactly evoke a silent night when all was cozy, calm and bright.
Natural disasters prompt church to raise millions for aid, recovery
In Puerto Rico, Texas, Florida, California and Mexico City, deep pain remained from a string of hurricanes, wildfires and earthquakes causing widespread destruction. Catholic agencies responded with aid to help people from all walks of life.
‘Let tree stand,’ but don’t forget to prepare for Christ, cardinal says
Christmas should be regarded as a celebration of the redemption of God's people, Cardinal Peter Turkson told a Catholic audience Dec. 9 in Louisville.
Bishops condemn selling of Nigerians into slavery in Libya
A trio of Nigerian bishops condemned the enslavement of Nigerians who traveled to Libya for work, calling the practice a horrific abuse of human dignity.
Pope: Helping refugees means converting hearts hardened against them
"Our missionary work must also reach those hearts that are closed to the reception of others," he told 31 Jesuits from different parts of Asia and Australia, who are based in Myanmar.
Delicate art of diplomacy needed to build peaceful future, pope says
Diplomats share a responsibility to educate future generations about the importance of dialogue and reconciliation in maintaining peace, Pope Francis said.
Year in review: Nuclear threat raises tensions in U.S., Asia, worldwide
The ratcheting up of North Korea's missile testing, and fears that it also is advancing in its quest to launch a nuclear weapon, has gotten the attention of virtually everyone within range of any North Korean-fired missile and leaders worldwide, including Pope Francis.
After terrorism attempt, Trump calls for end to immigration programs
While many Catholics took to social media asking for the intercession of Our Lady of Guadalupe in the life of migrants who have come to the U.S. seeking a better life, President Donald Trump called, on Dec. 12, her feast day, for an end to two immigration programs.
Friars in historic California mission briefly evacuate after fire fears
A group of 27 friars from Mission San Luis Rey in Oceanside, California, voluntarily evacuated late Dec. 7 as winds kicked up during a wildfire in their area that burned through 4,000 acres, destroying 157 structures and damaging 64 others.
Bishop Luong dies; he was ‘a blessing’ to Vietnamese Catholics in U.S.
Bishop Dominic M. Luong, the first U.S. Catholic bishop of Vietnamese descent and the founding father of the Vietnamese Catholic community in the Archdiocese of New Orleans, died Dec. 6 in Orange, California. He was 76.