World News
Be voice for the poor, imprisoned, pope tells Catholic television
During a Dec. 13 audience with journalists and collaborators of Telepace, an Italian Catholic television and radio station, the pope encouraged them to "transmit and receive" the "spiritual signs of the Father's merciful love."
Itinerant papal preacher: Capuchin will lead U.S. bishops’ retreat
UPDATED - For more than 38 years, Capuchin Father Raniero Cantalamessa has preached to the pope and top officials of the Roman Curia. In early January, he will lead the weeklong retreat of the U.S. bishops.
Pope: Protecting human dignity must be government priority
Meeting with new, non-resident ambassadors to the Vatican Dec. 13, the pope noted the 70th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and said governments must ensure the document continue to "guide the efforts of global diplomacy."
Pope heads to Balkans in May to visit Bulgaria, Macedonia
Pope Francis will make a three-day visit to Bulgaria and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, the Vatican announced.
Strasbourg bishop speaks of ‘lucid madness’ after terror attack
UPDATED - At noon Dec. 12, the bells of every Catholic church in Strasbourg rang for 10 minutes to honor the victims of a terror attack at a Christmas market the previous day.
With a mother’s heart, Mary raises up the abandoned, pope says at Mass
Just as she did hundreds of years ago from a small hill in Tepeyac, Mexico, Mary accompanies the downtrodden and the lowly like a mother caring for her children.
Vatican publishes schedule for papal visit to Abu Dhabi
When Pope Francis travels to the United Arab Emirates Feb. 3-5, he will meet with the international Muslim Council of Elders, participate in an interreligious meeting and celebrate Mass for the local Catholic population, the vast majority of whom are foreign workers.
Cardinal Pell found guilty of sex abuse, expected to appeal
Australian Cardinal George Pell reportedly has been found guilty on five charges related to serious sexual misconduct involving two boys at St. Patrick's Cathedral in Melbourne in the 1990s.
Three cardinals end service on pope’s Council of Cardinals
In September, the council members had asked the pope for a reflection on "the work, structure and composition of the council itself, also taking into account the advanced age of some of its members."
Shooting in Brazilian cathedral leaves five dead, four injured
UPDATED - The shooting occurred Dec. 11 just as parishioners from Our Lady of the Conception Cathedral in Campinas, near Sao Paulo, were leaving a midday Mass.