World News
‘We are in human misery,’ Franciscan in northern Syria tells pope
A priest has begged for prayers as tens of thousands of people live in plastic tents amid snow and a bombing campaign. The UN has called the conflict "the biggest humanitarian horror story of the 21st century."
U.S. Eastern Catholic bishops thank pope for lifting ban on married priests
The bishops thanked Pope Francis for his 2014 decision to permit the ordination of married priests for the Eastern Catholic churches outside their traditional homelands, where married priests are common.
Full look at Vatican wartime role will take patience, archivists say
The March 2 opening of materials from the pontificate of Pope Pius XII, totaling more than 1.3 million documents, will mark the start of a long, slow process of study and analysis for scholars.
Deaf survivors call on Pope, Vatican to release documents on abusers
After meeting with U.N. officials, three former students at a school for the deaf in Argentina spoke in Rome Feb. 20 to demand information on priests who molested them and others.
Philippine bishops release additional guidelines to fight coronavirus
Faithful are being asked to avoid holding hands in prayer and kissing the cross in veneration as part of an effort to stem the outbreak, which has infected some 75,000 worldwide.
Eastern Catholic churches are one in faith, says U.S. Syro-Malabar bishop
During an "ad limina" visit to Rome, Bishop Jacob Angadiath reflected on Feb. 17 how "the beauty of the church" is revealed "in its different cultural customs and religious vestments."
U.S. Eastern Catholic bishops celebrate liturgy at tomb of St. Peter
During their "ad limina" visit to Rome, Ukrainian, Ruthenian, Maronite, Melkite, Syriac, Syro-Malabar, Armenian and Romanian Catholic bishops reflected on the prince of the apostles as their model for faith and leadership.
Pope, bishops discuss possible themes for 2022 synod
During a Feb. 6-7 meeting, three possible topics for the bishops' gathering were presented, with speculation that migration and synodality itself might be on the agenda.
Pope says new Vatican finance laws, norms are working
At a Feb. 15 meeting with Vatican officials, Pope Francis said major enhancements of Vatican City laws against money laundering, tax evasion and child sexual abuse are bearing fruit. He also stressed the need for personal conversion among staff.
Vatican official denies use of charity money for London property deal
At a Feb. 17 event, Italian Cardinal Giovanni Angelo Becciu insisted that funds from the Peter's Pence collection for the poor had not been invested in a Chelsea development project.