World News
Pope names five women to International Theological Commission
Pope Francis, who has said the Catholic Church has "not yet come up with a profound theology of womanhood," named five women, a record number, to the International Theological Commission.
Survivors of Albania’s dictatorship give witness, move pope to tears
Two survivors of Albania's communist crackdown against the church brought Pope Francis to tears with their stories during a vespers service in Tirana's cathedral Sept. 21.
Pope names panel to streamline marriage annulment process
Two weeks before the start of an extraordinary Synod of Bishops on the family, the Vatican announced the formation of a special commission to reform the process of granting marriage annulments.
Vatican astronomer: Just a matter of time until life found in universe
Jesuit Brother Guy Consolmagno, the new president of the Vatican Observatory Foundation, has no doubt that life exists elsewhere in the universe and that when humanity discovers it, the news will come as no big surprise.
Pope, in Albania, says killing in God’s name is sacrilege
Killing in the name of God is sacrilege, and religious leaders must denounce the use of faith to justify violence and oppression, Pope Francis said during a one-day visit to Albania.
There’s no ‘magic wand,’ evangelizing takes hard work
Pope Francis told 2,000 pastoral workers from 60 countries to remember the church is like a field hospital, where there are "so many people who are hurt and they are asking us to be close. They are asking us the same thing they asked Jesus," to be by their side.
Doctrinal wars? Both sides fire over Communion for divorced, remarried
The extraordinary Synod of Bishops on the family will not open until Oct. 5, but some of its most prominent members are already publicly debating what is bound to be one of its most controversial topics: the eligibility of divorced and civilly remarried Catholics to receive Communion.
Brazil’s bishops host national presidential debate on variety of topics
Brazil's bishops hosted a debate with eight presidential candidates because, as Cardinal Raymundo Damasceno Assis of Aparecida said, the "church cannot ignore politics."
U.S. bishops plan to be stronger advocates for Israeli-Palestinian peace
American bishops were returning to their dioceses after a nine-day pilgrimage to the Holy Land with a stronger resolve to advocate for peace and to urge the U.S. government to take a leadership role in ushering Israelis and Palestinians toward peace, a member of the delegation said.
Scot bishops hope Catholics join public debate after independence vote
The Catholic bishops of Scotland said they accept the results of referendum in which Scot voters rejected independence.