World News
Cooperation, dialogue needed for interreligious harmony, pope says
Before attending his weekly general audience, Pope Francis met with a delegation from the Dharmic religions -- Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism and Sikhism -- who were in Rome attending an interreligious conference.
Indonesian religious leaders, former first lady form anti-terrorism group
As another deadly attack by Islamic radicals rocked Indonesia May 16, dozens of religious leaders, backed by former first lady Sinta Nuriyah Wahid, launched a new anti-terrorism group.
Pope expresses concern about ‘spiral of violence’ in Holy Land
Warning that violence will never bring peace, Pope Francis urged all sides to do all they can to foster dialogue in the Middle East.
Resignation letter prepared by Blessed Paul VI published
Blessed Paul's letter was long rumored to exist, and in 2017 Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, the vice dean of the College of Cardinals, confirmed that the pope had written such a letter.
Vatican updates pope’s schedule for visit to Geneva
The new schedule added a brief meeting with bishops and papal diplomats in Switzerland as well as provided times for some events that had not been specified in the original schedule released May 7.
Bishops decry U.K. refusal to remove cap on Catholics in ‘free schools’
Bishop Mark Davies of Shrewsbury said the policy, announced by the secretary of state for education, indicated that secularist ideology was trumping the rights of Christian parents to educate their children in their faith.
Some Irish believe lives were saved by country’s prohibition on abortion
In less than two weeks, people in Ireland will be asked if they wish to repeal Article 40.3.3 of the Constitution which enshrined a ban on abortion in 1983 and gives equal right to life to the mother and the unborn child.
Vatican issues new rules for communities of contemplative nuns
The Vatican released an instruction with new norms for contemplative orders of nuns, encouraging cooperation among their monasteries and outlining procedures for communities left with only a few members.
Jerusalem archbishop calls for prayers for peace as violence increases
As the world witnesses "another outburst of hatred and violence, which is once again bleeding all over the Holy Land," the head of Jerusalem's Latin Patriarchate called for prayers for peace.
Pope hears of ‘spiritual illnesses’ in parishes of his diocese
Changing the way parishes operate -- doing the same things over and over, touching the lives of fewer and fewer people -- will not be easy, Pope Francis told Rome Diocese leaders studying parish life.