World News
Iraqi Catholics call it ‘miracle’ that pope will visit their city
The largest Syriac Catholic congregation in the world is preparing physically and spiritually for Pope Francis' upcoming visit to Qaraqosh, Iraq. "Words can't describe how happy we are," said one priest.
Global players join to set priorities for COVID vaccine
Equitable and effective ways of allocating the vaccines are being sought because if they are not available to everyone, the pandemic continues, taking more lives and harming more people and economies.
Proposed suit in Vancouver alleges Christian Brothers abuse
A class-action suit says that between 1976 and 1983, six men who abused children at a Newfoundland school run by the Christian Brothers were transferred to two Vancouver high schools, also run by the order.
Pandemic shows need for new model of care for elderly, academy says
New solutions are needed for assisted living facilities, architectural barriers, social support networks, caregivers, families and opportunities in parishes, said a letter by the Pontifical Academy for Life.
CRS shifts into gear to help during ‘crisis on top of other crises’
Though COVID-19 seems like the global enemy to defeat, for Catholic Relief Services it comes atop multiple problems -- droughts, civil conflict, hunger -- in the 114 countries in which the organization operates.
Widespread vaccination, supported by pope, faces myriad obstacles
The hurdles to achieving a fair, global distribution of the COVID-19 vaccine are economic, technical, political and moral. "What we need," said a Vatican official, "is an urgent innovation for the common good."
Naming posts for synod, Pope Francis gives a woman a vote
Xaviere Missionary Sister Nathalie Becquart will not be the first woman undersecretary of a major Vatican office, but she will be the first woman with a right to vote at a meeting of the Synod of Bishops, the pope announced Feb. 6.
Pope Francis’ visit to Iraq still on; Vatican releases schedule
Pope Francis said his upcoming trip to Iraq, March 5-8, would be an important sign of his concern for the region's Christians and an important opportunity to build fraternity through interreligious dialogue.
In Iraq, pope hopes to encourage Christians, build bridges to Muslims
On his historic visit to Iraq in March, Pope Francis hopes to encourage his Christian flock, badly bruised by sectarian conflict and brutal Islamic State attacks, while building further bridges to Muslims by extending fraternal peace.
Pope: Markets need regulation to promote justice, not special interests
An economy without exploited persons will require "planning that does not look always and only at the very short-term gains, but at the medium- and long-term fruits and, above all, at people," he said Feb. 8 on the Day of prayer against human trafficking.