News
‘Complex’ trip to Cuba, U.S. will be pope’s longest, spokesman says
Briefing reporters about the trip, Jesuit Father Federico Lombardi, Vatican spokesman, said the plans were "enriched" after Pope Francis agreed to go to the World Meeting of Families in Philadelphia and, particularly, after the United States and Cuba announced they were moving toward normalizing diplomatic relations.
Lucky few win tickets to New York papal Mass in raffles at parishes
At the intersection of arithmetic and justice, pastors in the Archdiocese of New York are conducting distinctive raffles to distribute the limited tickets allocated to each parish for the Sept. 25 papal Mass at Madison Square Garden.
Pope visits Cuba amid increasing support for end to U.S. embargo
U.S. President Barack Obama, Cuban President Raul Castro and the Vatican have called for a lifting of the embargo, which was first put in place in 1960 and repeatedly strengthened in the years since in response to growing strains between the countries.
Encyclical unites religious, nonreligious voices on climate change
Thousands of people inspired by Pope Francis' encyclical on the environment planned to rally on the Mall the morning that the pope addresses Congress hoping he will acknowledge their work on climate change.
Amid refugee crisis, church agencies on the ground and offering homes
The tens of thousands of would-be Syrian refugees who have flooded European countries this summer have prompted U.S. and international Catholic agencies to respond with both on-the-ground support and longer-term preparations to host them in the United States.
More must be done to help Middle East Christians, say speakers
Tactics they proposed, though, varied, in hope that some combination of them will make Christians feel secure in their homeland.
Missouri bishop to succeed Bishop Finn in Kansas City-St. Joseph
Pope Francis has named Bishop James V. Johnston of Springfield-Cape Girardeau, Missouri, as the new bishop of Kansas City-St. Joseph in the same state.
Prominent Chinese Catholics warn against overreaction to cross removals
"Whatever those in power do, their first question now is how they can best serve their own interests, rather than socialism or any common purpose," Archbishop Savio Hon Tai-Fai, secretary of the Vatican's Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples, told the ninth European Catholic China Colloquium in mid-September.
Church beatifies South African teacher killed for resisting witchcraft
Cardinal Angelo Amato, prefect of the Congregation for Saints' Causes, said during the beatification Mass that Blessed Daswa "gave historic witness to the Gospel, even to the shedding of blood" and that "from now on will be called 'blessed.'"
Cardinal, other religious leaders advocate for criminal justice reform
Cardinal Donald W. Wuerl of Washington joined with other Christian leaders Sept. 11 to advocate for a criminal justice system that "aids those who have paid their debt (to society) and are ready to rejoin us."