World News

Marriage proclaims ‘love is possible,’ pope says

"It is true there are difficulties, there are problems with the children or with the couple themselves -- arguments, fights." But the witness of couples who continue in love, who overcome the difficulties, he said, proclaims the beauty of God's plan for humanity.

Iraqi Christians see need for government free of sectarianism

Although fiery Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr has gained the majority of parliament's seats, his uncompromising nationalism, stand against corruption and against foreign meddling seem to have struck a chord among ordinary Iraqis

Pope to police: A nation can’t survive without families teaching values

The world lacks tenderness today, but families can help bring it back, Pope Francis said.

German priest criticized, ridiculed for headscarf protest

Father Wolfgang Sedlmeier said he wished to protest discrimination against Muslims and Jews.

Abortion doesn’t protect women’s human rights, Vatican official says

"In fact, abortion denies the unborn child his or her most basic right -- to life itself," said Archbishop Ivan Jurkovic, Vatican observer to U.N. agencies in Geneva.

More annulment processes done for free, Vatican statistics show

Many dioceses in the United States and Canada already had been subsidizing all or part of the costs involved in the process when, in 2015, Pope Francis issued documents reforming part of the annulment processes.

Cardinal: Communion cannot be shared with friends like beer or cake

Cardinal Francis Arinze said any moves to give greater access to Communion to divorced and remarried Catholics and to non-Catholic spouses of Catholics represented "serious" challenges to the teaching of the church on the Eucharist.

Italian nun murdered in Somalia to be beatified in Italy

Sister Leonella Sgorbati and her bodyguard were gunned down as they left the children's hospital where she worked in Mogadishu.

Nicaraguan bishops end role as mediators in national dialogue

Nicaragua's bishops have suspended their participation as mediators, citing a "lack of consensus among the parties" on resolving the political crisis engulfing the Central American country.

Remains of St. John XXIII begin pilgrimage in his home diocese

The pilgrimage with his remains was meant to mark the 60th anniversary of his election and the 55th anniversary of his death.