World News
Praise God, proclaim salvation, pray for the persecuted, pope says
Prayer and mission are the very breath of the Christian life, Pope Francis said. "When we inhale, by prayer, we receive the fresh air of the Holy Spirit. When exhaling this air, we announce Jesus Christ risen by the same spirit," Pope Francis told members of the Catholic Fraternity of Charismatic Covenant Communities and Fellowships.
Poverty was among synod’s major concerns, Philippine cardinal says
Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle of Manila said the Synod of Bishops on the family was more than discussions on divorce and gay unions. The impact of poverty on families, especially in Asia, was a major concern of the bishops.
Young and old pray rosary together for peace over 4 weeks
How often do you see approximately 150 men, women and children attending a parish rosary devotion, at least in this day and age? That’s what happened at St. Christopher Parish in Northeast Philadelphia on the four Tuesday evenings in October.
Bright lights, cool air protect Sistine Chapel from visiting hoards
The Vatican is not promising visitors to the Sistine Chapel more elbow room, but it is guaranteeing a cooler experience.
Pope urges prayer, international action to fight Ebola virus
Pope Francis pleaded for the international community to take stronger, coordinated steps to "annihilate" the Ebola virus and help the millions of people impacted by the disease.
CRS manages ‘safe and dignified’ burials of Sierra Leone Ebola victims
Burials that are dignified and safe are urgently needed for Ebola victims in West Africa, where corpses are frequently left unattended for days and then thrown into graves without ceremony, a U.S. church aid official said.
Pope urges activists to struggle against ‘structural causes’ of poverty
Pope Francis urged an international gathering of grassroots social activists to struggle against the "structural causes" of poverty and inequality, with a "revolutionary" program drawn from the Gospels.
Pope: Evolution, Big Bang do not push aside God, who set it in motion
"The Big Bang ... does not contradict the intervention of the divine creator, but requires it," Pope Francis told the Pontifical Academy of Sciences Oct. 27. "Evolution in nature is not at odds with the notion of creation because evolution presupposes the creation of beings that evolve."
Pope says official exorcists show church’s love for the suffering
Exorcists, assigned to that ministry by their bishops, demonstrate the love and care of the church for "those who suffer because of the work of the devil," Pope Francis said in a message to the International Association of Exorcists.
Mexican church responds in case of missing students
The Archdiocese of Mexico City called for a "reconstruction of the country" in response to the disappearance of 43 teacher trainees in an act that authorities allege was authored by a mayor and his wife and carried out by police working alongside an organized crime network.