World News
Pope shows up at Vatican cafeteria for Friday lunch with workers
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Taking the chef completely by surprise, Pope Francis unexpectedly showed up to eat with the Vatican's blue collar workers at their cafeteria in the tiny city-state's "industrial park." He acted "normally, like the humblest of the workers," the chef said.
Syrian Christian leader warns of impending Islamic State assault
NICOSIA, Cyprus (CNS) -- A prominent Syrian Christian political leader has warned of an impending assault on the northeastern province of Hassake amid reports that thousands of Islamist fighters are preparing to take control of the predominantly Christian and Kurdish area.
Catholic mask: Italian bishops try to reveal truth behind mafia’s faith
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- The godfather who stands up for a child's baptism one day and spends the rest of the week running a brutal crime ring unfortunately is not the stuff of movies.
Holy Land priests on both sides try to help parishioners confront war
JERUSALEM (CNS) -- Two priests on either side of the Gaza border are trying to help their small communities confront the realities of war. Both priests spoke of their material powerlessness against the weapons of war, but of the importance of their spiritual presence for their community.
Vatican revising canon law on abuse penalties, cardinal says
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Church law has procedures and penalties for effectively dealing with allegations of clerical sexual abuse, but the Vatican is working to revise a section of the Code of Canon Law to make those norms and procedures clearer and, therefore, more effective, said the president of the Pontifical Council for Legislative Texts.
Free from ordeal in Sudan, woman condemned for apostasy meets pope
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Meeting a Sudanese woman who risked execution for not renouncing her Catholic faith, Pope Francis thanked Meriam Ibrahim for her steadfast witness to Christ.
Stop targeting civilians, archbishop tells Israelis, Gaza fighters
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- The Vatican representative to the U.N. Human Rights Council urged the Israeli military and fighters in the Gaza Strip to stop targeting civilian areas.
Along the border: Agent has keen eye for signs of people on move
Border Patrol Agent Bryan Flowers has a keen eye for spotting signs of people on the move. He can make out fresh footprints in the dry desert sand and easily spot newly discarded water bottles, backpacks or clothing.
With passion for projects, Franciscan works to give Hondurans options
JUTICALPA, Honduras (CNS) -- Franciscan Father Alberto Gauci's field of dreams unfolds in a remote corner of Central America, far from the limelight of the recently concluded World Cup.
French Catholic leaders condemn anti-Jewish violence
PARIS (CNS) -- France's Catholic leaders condemned anti-Jewish violence in Paris by rioters protesting Israel's actions in the Gaza Strip.