World News
Elderly Iraqi Christians stand up to extremists
A group of 11 sick, disabled and elderly Iraqi Christians defied terrorists who ordered them to convert to Islam or be beheaded, saying they preferred death to giving up their faith. The Islamic State extremists dropped their demands and ordered the Christians to leave their village, after first robbing them, a survivor said.
Pope asks prayers after great nephews, their mother die in car crash
Pope Francis asked people to join him in prayer Aug. 19 after he learned that two of his little great nephews and their mother had died in a car crash in Argentina and his nephew was in critical condition.
Pope talks of airstrikes in Iraq, and possible Philadelphia visit
On the plane back to Rome from his trip to Korea, Pope Francis said force can be justified to stop "unjust aggressors" such as Islamic State militants in northeastern Iraq, but he declined to endorse U.S. military airstrikes against the militants. He also said he would travel to Iraq if necessary -- and he spoke at length about other travel plans including possibly to Philadelphia next year.
Prelates call for international action to liberate Iraq
Pope Francis' personal envoy to the suffering people of Iraq joined the Chaldean Catholic patriarch in launching an appeal to the international community Aug. 18, pleading for help to liberate villages controlled by the Islamic State terrorists and to provide the displaced with international protection.
Iraqi Christians arrive in Jordan with tearful tales of desperation
The first Iraqi Christians fleeing Islamic State militants reached the safety of Jordan, helped by King Abdullah II and Catholic aid groups.
‘We need actions, not words’ to stop militants, says Chaldean leader
As the heart-rending images of Christians and Yezidis fleeing for their lives continue to pour in from Iraq, the Vatican called on Muslim leaders to condemn the "barbarity" and "unspeakable criminal acts" of Islamic State militants in Iraq.
Charity, forgiveness keys to Korean reunification, says pope
God's promise to restore unity and prosperity to "a people dispersed by disaster and division ... is inseparably tied to a command: the command to return to God and wholeheartedly obey his law," Pope Francis told Korean Catholics during a Mass for peace and reconciliation at Seoul's Myongdong Cathedral Aug. 18.
Religious congregations urged to evolve to serve changing church, world
Religious congregations must evolve to meet the needs of a changing society and church, Sister Carol Zinn, president of the Leadership Conference of Women Religious, told members of the organization during its annual assembly Aug. 12-15 in Nashville.
Pope meets and honors Korean laypeople, religious and disabled
Pope Francis visited a set of Korean Catholic institutions exemplifying some of his highest priorities for the church, including engagement of laypeople and dedication to the needy.
Pope calls on Catholics to dialogue with China, other Asian societies
Speaking at the execution site of anonymous Korean martyrs, Pope Francis told Catholic bishops and young laypeople from across Asia to evangelize their continent through dialogue and openness, even with others suspicious or intolerant of the church.