World News
Korean cardinal affirms church’s abortion teaching after court decision
Cardinal Andrew Yeom Soo-jung of Seoul reiterated the Catholic Church's stance on abortion after South Korea's Constitutional Court ruled that the country's abortion ban is unconstitutional.
China invites Vatican to have pavilion at Beijing garden expo
While high-level talks and agreements between the two countries, which do not have formal diplomatic relations, are "delicate" and ongoing, taking part in the April 29-Oct. 7 expo and other cultural exchanges have the important task of creating "an atmosphere" that facilitates dialogue.
Blaze erupts at Paris’ iconic Notre Dame Cathedral
As the sun set over Paris April 15, a fire consumed the upper portion of the 850-year-old cathedral and the main steeple collapsed into the church. No cause was cited, but reports said the fire started in the attic.
Court reinstates Good Friday holiday in federally ruled area of India
The Mumbai high court reinstated Good Friday as a holiday after it had been removed from the list of government-approved holidays in an area in western India ruled by the federal government led by the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party.
Official marks retired pope’s birthday, commenting on his latest letter
Marking retired Pope Benedict XVI's 92nd birthday, the editorial director of the Vatican Dicastery for Communication insisted what the retired pope wrote about facing the clerical sexual abuse crisis is essentially what Pope Francis has said, too.
Helping others is the true goal, pope tells soccer league
Like those who play soccer, people must learn to work together, help one another and race toward a clear goal, Pope Francis said.
Pope makes surprise visit to community for people with Alzheimer’s
Drawing attention to the special needs of people with Alzheimer's disease, Pope Francis made an afternoon visit to a community of group homes designed to keep residents active and living as normal a life as possible.
Pope urges students to fight their addiction to phones
Pope Francis told high school students to break their phone addiction and spend more time on real communication with others and in moments of quiet, personal reflection.
Organ donation fosters culture of life, pope says
Christians who donate their organs offer "a gift to the suffering Lord who said that everything we have done for a brother or sister in need we have done for him," the pope said April 13 during a meeting with members of the Italian Association of Organ Donors.
Election 2013: Book looks behind the scenes of conclave
In his new book, "The Election of Pope Francis: An Inside Account of the Conclave That Changed History," Gerard O'Connell gives a varied and detailed account of what dozens of cardinals and the media were saying in the days leading up to the vote.