World News

Mexican bishops announce ‘families without hunger’ plan during pandemic

The bishops called for the federal government to reconsider its COVID-19 response to build a refinery, railways and an airport and instead to put the funds toward families facing hardships.

Peru urged to guard needs of indigenous during pandemic

While the government provided vouchers of $200 to 1 million people in the first month of the quarantine, millions were left without aid in a country where many work in low-paying, day-wage labor.

Vietnamese pray to Our Lady of La Vang via livestream Mass

More than 100,000 Vietnamese Catholics took part in a special online Mass and prayed to the Blessed Mother for their nation and the world to soon overcome the COVID-19 pandemic.

Seminaries must hire, involve more women, cardinal says

"We must radically change" how priests interact with women, said the head of the Vatican department on bishops, which is why "during formation it is important that there is contact, discussion, exchanges" with women.

Pope prays for teachers, students adapting to online learning

In his daily Mass April 24, Pope Francis prayed "for teachers who have to work so hard in order to do lessons on the internet" and for students "who have to take their exams in a way they are not used to."

Creation is sacred gift deserving respect, care, pope says on Earth Day

Humanity has failed to take care of the earth and its inhabitants, sinning against God and his gift of creation, Pope Francis said April 22, reflecting on the human and Christian responsibility to care for the earth.

Amid pandemic, politicians must put country over party, pope says

In his morning Mass, Pope Francis prayed "in this moment of pandemic" that all countries' political parties "may seek together the good of the country and not the good of their own party."

Pope postpones World Meeting of Families, World Youth Day

The two events that feature large public gatherings will be pushed back to 2022 and 2023, respectively. "We do not believe travel will be that extensive" anytime soon, said the lead organizer at the Vatican.

Vatican donates ventilators to hospitals in Syria, sets up emergency fund

The Congregation for Eastern Churches, thanks to a New York-based Catholic organization, will 10 ventilators to Syria and three to Jerusalem to respond to the coronavirus pandemic.

Pope pens editorial on joy in the time of coronavirus

In his article "A plan to resurrect" in a Spanish magazine, Pope Francis wrote of the present and future world after the pandemic, and the need to respond with faith, hope and charity to the Lord's question, "Where is your brother?"