World News
Pope to America: Don’t take this the wrong way, but…
The U.S. ambassador to the Holy See believes Pope Francis is not traveling to the United States in September to scold anyone, but to challenge Americans to live up to their ideals.
Prisoners, volunteers, teens invited to celebrate Jubilee with pope
More than a dozen individual celebrations will be scheduled for the Jubilee of Mercy in 2016, giving pilgrims the chance to celebrate their own holy year with Pope Francis in Rome.
Aid groups: Myanmar violates international law by blocking aid
Aid groups in Myanmar condemned the military's blocking of relief supplies to more than 1,000 newly displaced Kachin civilians as a violation of international humanitarian law.
Ukrainian bishop warns of mass starvation, flight of millions
A Ukrainian bishop said a Russian-backed separatist rebellion has plunged his country into crisis, and "millions of refugees" could soon head for Europe to escape starvation.
Papal parenting guide: Francis gives a how-to for families
Pope Francis knows the family is made up of real people living in the real world, and ahead of the world Synod of Bishops on the family this fall, he has been offering guidance in what actually needs to be done.
World Youth Day registration begins; pope is first person to sign up
Accompanied by two Polish teenagers who wore World Youth Day 2016 T-shirts, the pope had to make a couple of attempts pressing the screen of a tablet before his online registration went through.
Church leaders want Israel to step up protection of Christian sites
Although Israeli officials have publicly criticized the June arson attack that seriously damaged the Benedictine Church of the Multiplication in Tabgha, anti-Christian violence is not new, said a representative of the religious order.
The pope’s ‘staycation’: Correspondence, trip preparation fill his days
With the exception of a July 21 meeting with a group of mayors from around the world and the Sunday recitation of the Angelus, Pope Francis' schedule was cleared of meetings, audiences and public appearances July 13-Aug. 4.
Ukraine churches reject constitutional move on same-sex rights
"These provisions threaten to plunge the Ukrainian state into the abyss of immorality and sin, to destroy the family as the basic social institution and popularize relationships between persons of the same sex which are unnatural for human beings," the All-Ukrainian Council of Churches and Religious Organizations said in a July 23 letter.
Polish bishops condemn IVF law, warn Catholics to not use process
"As with abortion, Catholics cannot use in vitro -- among other reasons because the cost of the birth of a single human person is the destruction of other unborn children," the bishops' conference said.