World News
Mary shows way to unity in church, bishop of Lourdes says in Jordan
"The Virgin Mary always leads us to Christ and makes our way to the kingdom of God,'" Bishop Nicolas Brouwet of Tarbes and Lourdes told people gathered at Our Lady of Lourdes Grotto in Naour Sept. 21.
French bishops: Fertility treatment for gay, single women harms society
In an eight-page statement published Sept. 20, the bishops predicted that liberalization of the law also would lead to the social acceptance of surrogacy, the rise of eugenics and the notion that children were commodities to please adults.
East African bishops to prioritize fundamentalism in October synod
Due to its impact on young Catholics in Africa, fundamentalism will be a topic that bishops from East Africa prioritize in their talks with other delegates during the synod's intervention sessions.
Stay close to the suffering, forgive one another, pope tells Latvians
Celebrating Mass Sept. 24 at the Basilica of the Assumption, Pope Francis insisted Marian devotion means imitating Mary by staying close to those who suffer, acknowledging situations of injustice, forgiving offenses and promoting reconciliation.
Pope in Lithuania: Don’t let anti-Semitism, hatred resurge
Outside the former KGB headquarters in Vilnius, Pope Francis ended a day of paying homage to victims of totalitarianism and of warning Lithuanians to be attentive to any signs of anti-Semitism or hatred.
God is patient, even with failures, pope tells young Lithuanians
Meeting young Lithuanians in Vilnius, Pope Francis said he wanted a relaxed conversation, like they were sitting in a pub drinking "a beer or a gira," a slightly alcoholic beverage made from fermented rye bread.
Vatican signs provisional agreement with China on naming bishops
For the first time in decades, all of the Catholic bishops in China are in full communion with the pope, the Vatican announced.
Find strength in tolerance, solidarity, pope tells Lithuanians
In Lithuania, a nation that experienced invasions, atrocities and persecution, Pope Francis began his visit with a plea to break down walls of suspicion and fear.
Police arrest Indian bishop, charge him with rape
The Sept. 21 arrest, reported by the British news agency Reuters, came a day after Pope Francis accepted the bishop's request to be relieved of his duties during the investigation.
Two more Chilean bishops step down in wake of abuse crisis
Pope Francis accepted the resignations of two more Chilean bishops, bringing to seven the number of bishops who have stepped down since June in response to the clerical sexual abuse scandal in their country.