World News
South African Council of Churches calls for dissolution of parliament
The government "has lost its moral legitimacy" and new polls are needed, the South African Council of Churches said in a June 10 statement.
God’s consolation is a gift and mission of service, pope says
True consolation is a gift that cannot be received or given by warmongers, the unmerciful and the closed-hearted, Pope Francis said.
Philippine bishop: Martial law makes farce of Independence Day
Martial law in the southern Philippines and security forces' clashes with a local terrorist group in Mindanao made a mockery of Independence Day celebrations June 12, said a Philippine bishop.
Vatican: Failure to protect child migrants an insult to human dignity
Too often, national and international policies leave migrant children at the mercy of traffickers and sexual predators and are signs of a widespread failure to protect the innocent, a Vatican official said.
Cardinal Re chosen subdean of College of Cardinals
He replaces 94-year-old French Cardinal Roger Etchegaray, who moved in January to a home for retired priests in Bayonne, France, and asked to be relieved of his role as the second-in-charge in the body of cardinals.
Pope, Italian president talk migrants, environment, jobs
Making a formal visit June 10 to the Quirinal Palace, Italy's presidential residence, Pope Francis said he looks at Italy with hope because "the dignity of the person, family and work" are values that inspired generations of Italians.
Pope tells Nigerian priests accept bishop or be suspended
Nigerian church leaders had met Pope Francis June 8 to discuss the situation of Bishop Peter Ebere Okpaleke, who was appointed bishop of Ahiara by then-Pope Benedict XVI in 2012, but who has been unable to take control of the diocese because of protests, apparently by the majority of priests.
Archbishop to become Lithuania’s first beatified Soviet-era martyr
The beatification ceremony for Archbishop Teofilius Matulionis, who died in 1962, was planned for June 25 in Vilnius, the Lithuanian capital. About 30,000 people including bishops and priests from abroad were expected to attend.
Martyrdom ‘not remote possibility’ for Mindanao Catholics, priest says
Sporadic clashes continued June 9 as Philippine security forces hunted terrorist gunmen who earlier tried to occupy the southern Philippine city.
Church conference calls for treaty to assure peace on Korean peninsula
A peace treaty is needed to replace the 64-year truce between North Korea and South Korea, ending a situation where the two countries remain technically at war.