World News
Lebanon’s Catholic leaders urge protesters to remain peaceful, civilized
Sparked by Lebanon's economic crisis and rampant political corruption, the nationwide revolt -- which includes Christians, Shiite and Sunni Muslims and Druze -- aims for a sweeping overhaul of the country's political system.
Religious fundamentalism is a ‘plague,’ pope says
Pope Francis said interreligious dialogue is an important way to counter fundamentalist groups -- "all religions have some fundamentalist first cousin" -- as well as the unjust charge that religions sow division.
Energy-efficient lights to adorn Vatican Christmas tree
The "next generation" lights are meant to have a reduced impact on the environment and use less energy.
More must be done to include women in church bodies, pope says
Although people may have different ways of praying or of serving their parish or the poor, the Catholic Church needs laity, priests, religious, parishes and lay movements to collaborate in order to be truly "catholic," Pope Francis said.
Efforts to protect life include promoting disarmament, pope says
A commitment to defending and protecting human life requires a commitment to ending wars and to promoting nuclear disarmament, Pope Francis said.
Pope blesses hands of doctors, nurses at pediatric hospital
Commemorating the 150th anniversary of the Vatican-owned Bambino Gesu children's hospital Nov. 16, the pope encouraged medical professionals to "never to lose the ability to see the suffering face of a child even behind a simple sample to be analyzed.
Having a friend who is poor will help you get to heaven, pope says
The poor are the church's treasure because they give every Christian a chance to "speak the same language as Jesus, that of love," Pope Francis said, celebrating Mass for the World Day of the Poor.
Nicaraguan authorities block priest, families from attending Mass
A Nicaraguan priest has denounced intimidation by the police, who surrounded his parish in the city of Masaya, cut power and water to the building and prevented family members of political prisoners from attending a Mass in their honor.
Catechism will be updated to include ecological sins, pope says
Following through on a proposal made at the Synod of Bishops for the Amazon, Pope Francis said there are plans to include a definition of ecological sins in the church's official teaching.
Kenya bishops, pro-life groups reject Nairobi population summit document
Kenya's Catholic bishops joined with international pro-life groups in rejecting the final document from an international summit on health rights for women and girls because it supported practices contrary to African cultures and religious beliefs.