World News
Jesuit priest working with former refugees kidnapped in Afghanistan
ROME (CNS) -- A Jesuit priest from India was kidnapped June 2 as he was leaving a school serving children who were recently returned to Afghanistan after living as refugees in Iran or Pakistan.
Kidnapped Canadian sister, Italian priests released in Cameroon
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- From Cameroon to northern Italy and from Montreal to the Vatican, statements expressing "great joy" accompanied the news that a Canadian sister of Notre-Dame and two Italian missionary priests were released unharmed almost two months after being kidnapped in northern Cameroon.
Spanish bishops praise abdicating king’s defense of democracy
OXFORD, England (CNS) -- King Juan Carlos of Spain received a tribute from the country's bishops after he announced his decision to abdicate in favor of his son.
American-born nuncio sees new enthusiasm among young Irish Catholics
DUBLIN (CNS) -- Young people are helping lead a rebirth of the Catholic Church in Ireland, said the American-born papal nuncio serving in the country. Archbishop Charles J. Brown described the rebirth as the spring after 20 years of winter, saying he sees "green shoots."
Pope, at charismatic rally in stadium, invites them to Vatican in 2017
ROME (CNS) -- Meeting more than 50,000 Catholic charismatics in Rome's Olympic Stadium, Pope Francis admitted he was not always comfortable with the way they prayed, but he knelt onstage as they prayed for him and over him by singing and speaking in tongues.
Pope blames ‘culture of comfort’ for intentionally childless marriages
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Pope Francis blamed a "culture of well-being" and comfort for convincing married couples that a carefree life of world travel and summer homes was better than having children.
Peace isn’t mass-produced but handcrafted by ordinary people, pope says
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Pope Francis called on the world's Christians to pray with him for peace in the Middle East, help convince governments to come to the aid of refugees and pray for Christian unity.
Fire in Philippines tent claims kills 7 in family that survived typhoon
TACLOBAN, Philippines (CNS) -- A mother and her six children who survived the floods and winds of Typhoon Haiyan died May 28 when their tent in a camp near the city's airport went up in flames.
Sudanese churches condemn death sentence for Christian woman
KHARTOUM, Sudan (CNS) -- Churches in Sudan, including the Sudan Catholic Bishops' Conference, have condemned the death sentence handed to a Christian woman who refused to renounce her faith.
Lusaka archbishop says Africans must do more to protect girls
LUSAKA, Zambia (CNS) -- Lusaka's Catholic archbishop said African nations should do more to protect girls from oppression and harassment.