World News
Pope, religious leaders pledge to work together to end slavery by 2020
As Pope Francis and leaders of other churches and religions signed a declaration pledging to work together to help end modern slavery in the world by 2020, he urged governments, businesses and all people of good will to join forces against this "crime against humanity."
Aceh Catholics say Shariah expansion has had little impact on them
An expansion of Islamic law, Shariah, to include non-Muslims has had little impact on Catholics in Indonesia's conservative Aceh province.
Some see unity vision reignited by pope, patriarch’s gestures in Turkey
After watching firsthand as Pope Francis bowed his head for a blessing from Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew during the pope's Nov. 28-30 trip to Turkey, an American-born Orthodox priest felt a joyful disbelief.
‘The planet is sad’: Marchers pray for success of U.N. climate summit
Dwarfed by the grown-ups holding banners and signs around her, Ruby Arizabal clutched a doll in one hand and a candle in the other. "I've come here," she told Catholic News Service, "because the planet is sad."
In Turkey, Pope Francis got a look at Christianity on the margins
Ankara and Istanbul were gray and cold, at least compared to Rome, during Pope Francis' Nov. 28-30 visit to Turkey. And the general reception, outside of the pope's official meetings, was hardly warmer.
Pope urges Muslim leaders to condemn violence done in name of Islam
Pope Francis called on political and religious leaders across the Muslim world to condemn violence done in the name of Islam.
Pope, Turkish leaders trade concerns about religious discrimination
Interreligious dialogue dominated Pope Francis' first day in Turkey, with the pope and Turkish leaders frankly stating their concerns, respectively, about discrimination against Christians in the Middle East and against Muslims in the West.
Church, National Library of Ireland to make parish records free online
The Catholic Church and the National Library of Ireland have partnered to make almost 400,000 images of Catholic parish register microfilms available online for free.
Changing times may call for changes in religious orders, pope says
Religious orders and the Vatican congregation that assists them must be bold in assessing whether current structures and practices help or hinder the proclamation of the Gospel, the pursuit of holiness and the service of the poor, Pope Francis said.
Pope prays in Istanbul mosque, rallies local Christians
A day after hearing Turkish leaders demand the West show more respect for Islam, Pope Francis prayed alongside a Muslim cleric inside Istanbul's most famous mosque.