News

Pope appoints new bishops for Jackson, Miss., and San Angelo, Texas

WASHINGTON (CNS) -- Pope Francis has named a Pennsylvania pastor from the Diocese of Scranton to be bishop of Jackson, Miss., and the vicar general of the Diocese of Austin, Texas, to be bishop of San Angelo, Texas.

Pope: Human trafficking is crime against humanity, must be stopped

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- The trafficking of human beings is a crime against humanity and must be stopped, Pope Francis told diplomats.

Experts praise new Vatican laws, but ask for inspection of Vatican bank

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- European experts on preventing financial crimes praised a series of new Vatican laws and procedures but urged the Vatican to move immediately to conduct onsite inspections of the Vatican bank and the Administration of the Patrimony of the Holy See.

Cubans speculate about replacement for 77-year-old Havana cardinal

HAVANA (CNS) -- When the Cuban bishops' conference announced its new officers in November, Cardinal Jaime Ortega Alamino was not in a leadership position.

It’s about time: Kairos retreat open to public school students, home schoolers

Kate Greenhalgh loved the experience of retreats as a Catholic high school student. So she began an effort to offer them for all students. It has the archbishop's blessing, and the first regional Kairos retreat is in February 2014.

Pope Francis is third pope to win Time’s Person of the Year honor

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Pope Francis is not seeking fame or accolades, but being named Time magazine's Person of the Year will make him happy if it helps attract people to the hope of the Gospel, said the Vatican spokesman.

Freshman leaders emerge at Bishop Shanahan

Thirteen members of the freshman class of Bishop Shanahan High School, Downingtown, were elected by their peers and installed as Student Council homeroom representatives and representatives-at-large Dec. 6 at the school.

Mandela ‘touched my heart, my soul, my life,’ says ex-fellow prisoner

JOHANNESBURG (CNS) -- Former South African President Nelson Mandela looked down on the tens of thousands of people gathered at his memorial service in Johannesburg and smiled as he watched them celebrate his legacy, said Andrew Mokete Mlangeni, a Catholic who was imprisoned for decades with the late anti-apartheid icon.

Under Mandela, South Africa became beacon to world, says U.S. bishop

BALTIMORE (CNS) -- Witnessing thousands of South Africans of all races vote in the first free elections after the fall of apartheid was a "great, life-changing experience" for Bishop John H. Ricard.

Supreme Knight honored for his efforts to advance Marian devotion

WASHINGTON (CNS) -- Supreme Knight Carl A. Anderson Dec. 9 received the Patronal Medal, an honor jointly bestowed Washington's Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception and The Catholic University of America.