World News
Speaking of families, pope is eager to join them in Philadelphia
In a letter to a Vatican official, Pope Francis thanked the Archdiocese of Philadelphia for generously committing itself to organize and host next year's World Meeting of Families, calling the event a "service to the universal church and to families on every continent."
Announcing new series of talks about family, pope reviews synod
The October extraordinary Synod of Bishops on the family was not the scene of "a clash between factions, but of a debate among bishops," a work that will continue with the 2015 general synod "for the good of families, the church and society," Pope Francis said.
Do not be complicit, indifferent to tragedy of exploitation, pope says
When shopping and when interacting with people on city streets, everyone can help fight the evil of modern-day slavery, Pope Francis said in his annual message for the World Day of Peace Jan. 1.
Cyberslums where online abusers prowl need pastoral care, say speakers
A new kind of ghetto needs the church's presence and people's solidarity: the "digital slum" where cyberbullying and online pornography and abuse run rampant, said speakers at a Vatican news conference.
Vatican sends all bishops new questionnaire ahead of 2015 family synod
The questionnaire instructs bishops' conferences to avoid "a formulation of pastoral care based simply on an application of doctrine" in favor of the call to "pastoral activity ... capable of recognizing the Lord's gratuitous work, even outside customary models."
Pope Francis wants solidarity in creating world without nuclear weapons
Pope Francis called on world leaders, activists and people of faith to pull together to rid the world of the threat of nuclear weapons.
In Philippines, lessons from Haiyan helped lessen Hagupit’s impact
Initial assessments by Catholic emergency responders showed significant damage to coastal areas of an island province in the east-central Philippines, where a powerful typhoon first made landfall Dec. 5, but church officials said in some parts, chapels that were used as shelters held their own.
Pope calls for more ‘integration’ of divorced Catholics, gays
Pope Francis said the Catholic Church must consider letting divorced and civilly remarried Catholics serve as eucharistic ministers and godparents, and make it easier for Catholic families to accept their homosexual members.
Spend time in silence and service before Christmas, pope suggests
Before laying a basket of roses at the foot of a statue of the Immaculate Conception Dec. 8 near Rome's Spanish Steps, Pope Francis recited a prayer he composed for the occasion.
Christian, Muslim leaders vow to ‘walk hand in hand’ to promote peace
Catholic, Anglican, Sunni and Shiite leaders vowed to do all they can to combat "ugly and hideous" distortions of religion, and to involve more women -- often the first victims of violence -- in official interreligious dialogues.