World News
Indian prime minister apologizes after Christian marchers beaten
During a Dec. 11 march, police with batons charged and beat up several Christians protesters. Undeterred, the protesters, including Catholic priests in cassocks, knelt on the road with crosses in hand, and a police truck mounted with water cannons sprayed them with muddy water several times.
Hush up before Christmas, pope says, because God speaks in whispers
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- If silence is not one of the sounds associated with Christmas preparations, chances are people will miss an experience of the love and tenderness that is at the heart of the holiday, Pope Francis said.
Pope says peace is impossible without fraternity based on Christ
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- In his first annual message for the World Day of Peace, Pope Francis writes that peace and social justice are impossible without a spirit of fraternity based on recognition that all men and women are children of God -- a relationship fulfilled in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Pope appoints new bishops for Jackson, Miss., and San Angelo, Texas
WASHINGTON (CNS) -- Pope Francis has named a Pennsylvania pastor from the Diocese of Scranton to be bishop of Jackson, Miss., and the vicar general of the Diocese of Austin, Texas, to be bishop of San Angelo, Texas.
Pope: Human trafficking is crime against humanity, must be stopped
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- The trafficking of human beings is a crime against humanity and must be stopped, Pope Francis told diplomats.
Experts praise new Vatican laws, but ask for inspection of Vatican bank
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- European experts on preventing financial crimes praised a series of new Vatican laws and procedures but urged the Vatican to move immediately to conduct onsite inspections of the Vatican bank and the Administration of the Patrimony of the Holy See.
Cubans speculate about replacement for 77-year-old Havana cardinal
HAVANA (CNS) -- When the Cuban bishops' conference announced its new officers in November, Cardinal Jaime Ortega Alamino was not in a leadership position.
Pope Francis is third pope to win Time’s Person of the Year honor
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Pope Francis is not seeking fame or accolades, but being named Time magazine's Person of the Year will make him happy if it helps attract people to the hope of the Gospel, said the Vatican spokesman.
Mandela ‘touched my heart, my soul, my life,’ says ex-fellow prisoner
JOHANNESBURG (CNS) -- Former South African President Nelson Mandela looked down on the tens of thousands of people gathered at his memorial service in Johannesburg and smiled as he watched them celebrate his legacy, said Andrew Mokete Mlangeni, a Catholic who was imprisoned for decades with the late anti-apartheid icon.
Ukraine protest is spiritual movement, bishop says
ROME (CNS) -- When Ukrainian Catholic Bishop Borys Gudziak addressed the crowds in Kiev's Independence Square Dec. 8, he told the youth they could change the country, which is wracked by political corruption.