World News
U.N. wants faith groups’ help on plastic pollution
A senior U.N. official during the Faith for Earth Dialogue in Kenya urged religious groups to help reach a global agreement to curb plastic pollution, amid experts warning that single-use or disposable plastics were choking the planet.
Traditionalist priests can continue with pre-Vatican II liturgies
Pope Francis will allow members of the Fraternity of St. Peter to continue to celebrate the Mass, sacraments and Liturgy of the Hours in Latin and using the texts and forms predating the Second Vatican Council.
Celibacy not ‘divine law’ for priests, but promotes holiness, speakers say
Celibacy for priests in the Latin rite helps them "love like (Jesus) and with him, to serve with him and like him in the way that Jesus historically loved, which was in a celibate way," said a speaker at a Rome conference.
Vatican astronomers make two new discoveries in space
The finding a new member of the solar system beyond Neptune and the discovery of evidence for a long-lost galaxy "eaten up" by the Milky Way were among the work of two Jesuit priests announced this month.
Pope decries warmongering, prays for Eastern Catholics in danger
Humanity seems bent on making war, which should "make us all ashamed," Pope Francis said to leaders of the Eastern Catholic churches dealing with the threat or aftermath of war.
Global ratio of Catholics per priest growing more imbalanced
New Vatican statistics show there is one priest for every 3,314 Catholics in the world -- one priest for 1,746 Catholics in Europe; 2,086 Catholics per priest in the Americas and 5,089 Catholics per priest in Africa.
U.K. study shows link between suicides, assisted dying
A report found that the legalization of euthanasia and assisted suicide often "is followed by considerable increases ... in intentional self-initiated death," despite the laws' claims to the contrary.
Prayer, friendship keys to healthy priests, pope says
Closeness to God and to people, Pope Francis said, allow the priest "to break all temptations of closure (and) self-justification," and make the celibate life possible.
Church in Brazil shelters those who lost homes in mudslides
With rainfall surpassing 10 inches in six hours in Petropolis, 104 people were killed, dozens missing and many more made homeless. Priests and parishioners are taking them in.
Tensions over vaccine mandates creep into church
From Australia to Europe, and from Singapore to North America, Catholics are reflecting degrees of resistance or support for COVID vaccine mandates and other pandemic measures, even as they begin to ease.