World News
Church is a mother without borders, welcoming migrants, pope says
Pope Francis said the Catholic Church's concern for the whole person motivates its material aid to immigrants and refugees and, especially, its pastoral outreach and offer of the sacraments.
Re-gifting: Vatican raffles pope gifts to raise money for poor
Like many Catholic parishes, the Vatican has turned to a raffle to raise money; the difference is, though, the prizes are items originally given as gifts to Pope Francis.
Create jobs, don’t just expand welfare, handouts, pope says
The Catholic Church calls for the creation of job opportunities and the recognition of the dignity of the poor, not simply for more handouts or expanded government welfare programs, Pope Francis said.
Islam, ecumenism and regional conflict on pope’s agenda in Turkey
Almost every papal trip abroad is a complex mix of the religious and political, and that will be especially true of Pope Francis' Nov. 28-30 visit to Turkey.
Rabbi, speaking at the Vatican, champions marriage as male-female bond
The family based on marriage between a man and a woman is the "single most humanizing institution in history" and the test of any society's future, the former chief rabbi of Great Britain told an interreligious conference at the Vatican.
Pakistani church sends demands related to blasphemy to government
The Catholic Church in Pakistan has presented a series of demands to the government, calling for a fair and thorough investigation into the beatings and burning of a young Christian couple accused of desecrating the Quran.
Feed the hungry and care for ‘mother Earth,’ pope tells leaders
Every person has a right to food, and no business plan can override that right, Pope Francis told world leaders today. Ad-libbing, he asked: "And what of our sister and mother, Earth? Are we free of political or economic pressure so we can care for her to avoid self-destruction?"
Pope condemns attack on Jerusalem synagogue, urges end to violence
Pope Francis condemned the "unacceptable episodes of violence" in Jerusalem, episodes that "do not spare even places of worship," after an attack in a synagogue left four worshippers, a policeman and the two attackers dead.
Holy windfall! Italy to return millions to Vatican Bank
The Italian government has promised to return 23 million euros (US$29 million) to the Vatican that had been blocked for three years during a money laundering probe. Pope Francis has hired a Swiss lawyer to lead the Vatican's Financial Intelligence Agency.
‘Thrilled’ at news of papal visit, Philadelphia Catholics are thinking big
A day after the historic announcement of Pope Francis’ intention to visit Philadelphia next September, the reality of the challenges and joys of the event is sinking in for planners, civic officials and ordinary Catholics in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia.