World News

Holy Land tour operators scramble to help pilgrims after flight ban

JERUSALEM (CNS) -- With most international airlines canceling their flights into Israel's Ben Gurion airport after several Hamas missiles were launched toward the area July 22, Anton Mousallam has only three words on his mind: cancellation, cancellation, cancellation.

In neighboring African countries, U.S. bishop sees hope, despite trauma

CAPE TOWN, South Africa (CNS) -- Among almost a million people displaced from their homes through conflict in the Central African Republic are 9,000 people who have found refuge at a seminary in the capital, Bangui.

Jerusalem patriarch: Don’t punish all Gaza Palestinians because of Hamas

WASHINGTON (CNS) -- It is impossible for Israeli military to target Hamas missiles without hitting civilians in the Gaza Strip, said Latin Patriarch Fouad Twal of Jerusalem.

Expulsion of Christians a ‘crime against humanity,’ Iraqi bishop says

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Backed up by death threats and property seizures, the expulsion of the entire Christian community from Mosul is "religious cleansing," said Chaldean Archbishop Amel Shamon Nona of Mosul.

Papal puzzler: Leo XIII anonymously published riddles in Latin

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Going by the pseudonym "X," Pope Leo XIII anonymously crafted poetic puzzles in Latin for a Roman periodical at the turn of the 19th century.

Pope names U.S. bishops’ top ecumenical officer to advise Vatican council

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Among the new members and consultants Pope Francis named to the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity is Father John W. Crossin, the executive director of the Secretariat for Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.

At AIDS conference, Catholics remember colleagues on MH17

MELBOURNE, Australia (CNS) -- Catholics involved in the fight against HIV and AIDS took a few moments July 21 to remember their friends and colleagues who perished in the Malaysia Airlines flight shot down over eastern Ukraine.

At AIDS conference, Catholics worry about reduced funding for programs

MELBOURNE, Australia (CNS) -- Catholics gathered for the 20th International AIDS Conference worry that medical advances against the HIV pandemic are leading to decreased attention and less funding for the struggle against the deadly virus.

Bishop Palmer, pope’s Pentecostal friend, dies in motorcycle accident

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- The Pentecostal bishop who used his iPhone to film a video of Pope Francis addressing other Pentecostals died July 20 after a motorcycle accident.

Pope calls for prayers as militants chase all Christians out of Mosul

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Pope Francis' plea for prayers, dialogue and peace came as the last Christian families living in Mosul, Iraq were forced from the city after facing increasing threats, violence and intimidation from the Islamic State group, which has taken control of Iraq's second-largest city.