World News
Pope urges end to corruption, which he says keeps people poor
In a nation plagued repeatedly by corruption scandals, Pope Francis urged "everyone, at all levels of society, to reject every form of corruption, which diverts resources from the poor."
Buddhist center breaks tradition, shows pope revered relic
When Pope Francis made a surprise visit to a prominent Buddhist temple in Colombo Jan. 14, the head of the Maha Bodhi Society of Sri Lanka reciprocated by showing the pope historical relics of Buddhas' disciples, normally exposed only for the annual Buddhist feast in May.
Bishops say putting human face on Holy Land events can help build peace
Bishops from Europe and North America who visited the Holy Land expressed support for Palestinians and Israelis, but said their commitment to the poor called them to "lift up the suffering people in Gaza."
Crowds in Manila just get glimpses of pope on his first popemobile ride
Pope Francis shot past the crowd very quickly during his first popemobile drive-by in Manila Jan. 15, but nobody seemed to mind that he was gone in a matter of seconds.
Exuberant crowds greet pope in unofficial welcome to Philippines
Although it was not called a welcoming ceremony, Pope Francis was greeted by government and church officials and an exuberant crowd Jan. 15 at Manila's Villamor Air Base.
Pope says he’ll canonize Junipero Serra in U.S.
Pope Francis' announcement at a press conference is bound to raise expectations that he will also visit the southwestern U.S., in addition to his confirmed visit to Philadelphia in September of this year.
Freedom of press limited by respect for religion, pope says
Pope Francis condemned the recent killings by Islamist terrorists at a Paris newspaper, but said mockery of faith can be expected to provoke violence. He also commented on his forthcoming letter on the environment.
All in a cardinal’s day: papal trip prep and presence with the poor
"Today I was thinking about the tenacity of the poor," said Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle of Manila as he and his guests rode past a polluted creek lined with the cardboard, plastic and tin shacks of people he describes as "informal settlers."
Waiting for the pope, Philippine family reflects on dreams, blessings
Domingueto and Olimpia Ranola are proud of their daughter, Maricel, the only one of their nine children to go to college and one of the few young people from San Isidoro Labrador Parish chosen to attend Pope Francis' Jan. 18 meeting with youths in Manila.
German Catholics criticize anti-Islam marches, but urge understanding
German church leaders have criticized an anti-Islamic movement that staged mass demonstrations in Dresden and other cities, but they also urged a better understanding of public fears.