News
Pope visits towns in central Italy devastated by earthquake
Amid the devastation wrought by an earthquake in central Italy, Pope Francis quietly prayed and offered words of consolation to survivors and those assisting in relief efforts. "I want to be close to the people," he said.
Seven Catholic institutions will divest from fossil fuel companies
The organizations join a growing movement that is seeing hundreds of groups worldwide divest from companies involved in the extraction of coal, oil and natural gas and toward firms developing renewable energy.
Bishop Michael Burbidge named head of Arlington Diocese
UPDATED -- Pope Francis appointed the former auxiliary bishop of Philadelphia, now the bishop of Raleigh, North Carolina, to lead the Virginia diocese. The pope also named a new archbishop for Anchorage, Alaska.
Catholics warn against new rules on religion in China
Since the underground Catholic Church is illegal in China, proposed new regulations will mostly affect the church's open community, which will be heavily fined for "unauthorized pilgrimages," among other offenses.
Use of death penalty re-examined in the states, at Supreme Court
The United States, with its mixed record on the death penalty, is about to take a closer look at the issue this fall with two cases before the Supreme Court and three referendums on state ballots in the November election.
SOA Watch to hold border demonstration against ‘militarization’ of region
"We are in solidarity with people who have been incarcerated for no other reason than seeking a better life for themselves and their families," he said.
Tolerance is good for society, the soul, pope says at Azerbaijani mosque
In addition to leaders of the country's majority Shiite Muslim community, representatives of the Jewish community, the Russian Orthodox Church and the Lutheran Church attended the gathering.
Gay, transgender people deserve pastoral care, pope says
"People must be accompanied like Jesus would accompany them," he said. "When a person who has this situation arrives before Jesus, Jesus certainly will not say, 'Go away because you are homosexual.' No."
Unity and division: Ecumenical realities on display at papal Mass
Vatican officials and people involved in Catholic-Orthodox relations had hoped that Georgian Orthodox Ilia II would send an official delegation to the Mass despite rules preventing the church's clergy from attending a non-Orthodox liturgy.
Pope encourages Azerbaijan’s Catholics to be people of faith, service
Officials said about 300 people -- more than half the number of Catholics in the entire country -- were in the church for the Mass.