World News
Hunger in a world of wasted food is a tragic paradox, pope says
Providing food aid to people in need is not enough to eradicate world hunger, Pope Francis said.
Paul VI was pope of firsts, a pope of dialogue, cardinal says
Retired Italian Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, who comes from the same diocese as Pope Paul VI did and worked for him in the Vatican Secretariat of State, described the late pope as a man rich in spirituality, a thinker and a pastor "very sensitive to the challenges of the modern world."
Synod working groups emphasize beauty of marriage, church teaching
The extraordinary Synod of Bishops on the family must put greater focus on the beauty of the Christian vision of marriage and not let an approach of "welcoming" and mercy override the church's duty to call people to turn away from sin, according to a number of reports from the synod's small groups.
Cardinal says balancing truth, mercy always difficult, always needed
Austrian Cardinal Christoph Schonborn of Vienna, one of the Catholic Church's best known cardinal-theologians, said the Catholic Church must hold together truth and mercy, even if it is criticized for its attempt.
Anglican, Lutheran delegates say synod’s concerns are theirs, too
Upholding the Christian ideal of marriage and family life while also reaching out to those whose lives do not reflect that ideal is a pastoral challenge faced by all Christian communities, said the Anglican representative to the Synod of Bishops.
Archbishop Kurtz hopes synod’s final report will ‘refine and clarify’
Archbishop Joseph E. Kurtz of Louisville, Kentucky, said he hoped the final report of the Synod of Bishops on the family would improve on the assembly's midterm report in celebrating exemplary families, encouraging missionary outreach and emphasizing that the church's pastoral efforts must be grounded in Scripture and Catholic teaching.
‘Responsibility to protect’ must be part of ‘rule of law,’ says nuncio
The Vatican's nuncio to the United Nations called for a broad definition of the term "rule of law" that includes respect, dignity and justice.
Family synod midterm report stirs controversy among bishops
The official midterm report from the Synod of Bishops, which uses strikingly conciliatory language toward divorced and remarried Catholics, cohabitating couples and same-sex unions, has proven highly controversial inside and outside the synod hall, with some synod fathers saying it does not accurately reflect the assembly's views.
Philippine general orders chaplains to pray rosary for pope’s safety
The head of the Armed Forces of the Philippines Oct. 13 ordered all military chaplains to dedicate their daily rosary for the safe visit of Pope Francis to their country in January.
If laws don’t lead people to Jesus, they are obsolete, pope says
In a homily at morning Mass, Pope Francis said the legal scholars of Jesus' day were unable to see he was leading people down a new and surprising path. The pope urged people to "love God's surprises and to know that this holy law is not an end in itself," he said.