World News
Magnitude 8.1 earthquake strikes off Pacific coast of Mexico, Guatemala
The Sept. 7 quake occurred shortly before midnight and prompted warnings from the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center of "tsunami waves reaching more than three meters (9.8 feet)" along the Mexican coast as well as lower-level waves in El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Costa Rica.
Pope urges bishops to contribute to peace as pastors, not politicians
"All of us know that peace calls for a distinct kind of moral courage," the pope told the bishops Sept. 7. "War follows the basest instincts of our heart, whereas peace forces us to rise above ourselves."
Colombia youths must teach elders to forgive, to move on, pope says
The pope turned what was originally described as the "blessing of the faithful" Sept. 7 into a rallying cry to an estimated 22,000 young Colombians gathered in Plaza Bolivar outside the cathedral and cardinal's residence.
Pursue peace through social inclusion, pope tells Colombian officials
Pope Francis urged Colombians to put aside prejudice and pursue peace through social inclusion, fighting inequality and paying attention to the plight of the country's most marginalized populations, such as campesinos, Afro-Colombians and indigenous peoples.
Defend life, equality, unity, pope tells Colombians
Consolidating peace in Colombia will mean overcoming "the darkness" of inequality and a lack of respect for human life, Pope Francis said.
Irma cuts deadly path in Caribbean as church officials prepare response
Hurricane Irma cut a deadly path through the Caribbean, leveling entire islands as it moved toward Florida Sept. 7, while Haiti prepared for a potential disaster.
Pope arrives to help promote healing in Colombia, scarred by war
At-risk youths, who had lived on the streets or struggled with addiction, sang and danced for Pope Francis, who thanked them and praised their efforts to overcome their pasts. "This is called heroism," he told them.
Villavicencio: Colombian city of ‘victims and victimizers’
Promoting reconciliation is a recurring theme in the pope's trip and a priority among Catholics in Colombia after five decades of armed conflicts and the signing of a peace accord between the government and the main guerrilla group.
Cardinal Caffarra, outspoken defender of marriage, family, dead at 79
Cardinal Caffarra was one of four cardinals who formally asked Pope Francis to clarify his teaching on Communion for the divorced and civilly remarried.
New East Timor leaders says he’s ready to work with church, society
After six weeks of negotiation, an alliance lead by the former revolutionary party Fretilin will lead the economically troubled Catholic nation of East Timor for the next five years.