News
Vatican honors murdered missionaries, kidnapped priests, Ebola victims
In addition to its annual report on church workers murdered during the year, the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples highlighted the sacrifice of pastoral workers who died of Ebola contracted while caring for others and reminded Catholics that the fates of five kidnapped priests remain unknown.
Embrace, be amazed by God’s great gift of children, pope says
Becoming a mother or father is a gift from God, but women and men have a duty to embrace that gift and be astonished by its beauty, Pope Francis said.
Indian cardinal criticizes forced ‘reconversions’ to Hinduism
The president of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of India criticized forced conversions of Christians to Hinduism.
Vatican jail cells house protesters at Christmas
The jail cells in the Vatican police barracks were busy over the Christmas holidays.
Man who tried to kill John Paul II takes flowers to his tomb
Exactly 31 years after St. John Paul II personally forgave him for shooting and trying to assassinate him, Mehmet Ali Agca returned to the Vatican with a bunch of white roses and laid them at the late pope's tomb.
Today’s teaching on the family
See the daily excerpt from the preparatory catechesis for the 2015 World Meeting of Families, “Love is Our Mission: The Family Fully Alive.”
Pope urges people to hear the cry of suffering children
With thousands of children looking at the Vatican's Nativity scene and receiving the pope's blessing with their parents Christmas morning, Pope Francis' strongest words were about less-fortunate children.
Latin patriarch reminds faithful of suffering of Christians, Gazans
God wants to "heal all wounds," said Latin Patriarchate Fouad Twal of Jerusalem, especially human arrogance, which he described as the source of conflict and war.
Demographic changes affecting church now an emerging reality for U.S.
As Catholics in the United States grapple with demographic changes to their church, all Americans are facing the changes occurring in the country, one that is becoming more non-white and suburban. The big question: How will Americans treat their neighbors?
Jesus’ message resonates with Palestinians who seek justice, Abbas says
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in his Christmas message emphasized the Christian and Muslim character of Jerusalem and chastised the Israeli government's attempt to make it an exclusively Jewish place.