World News

German bishops’ head meets pope about case of ‘luxury bishop’

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- The president of the German bishops' conference said he was "strengthened and encouraged" by his discussion with Pope Francis about the case of a German bishop under fire for a massive building project that critics have denounced as extravagant.

Comedy of errors: Cardinal’s arrival in New Zealand marked by miscues

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (CNS) — A miscommunication between the Vatican and New Zealand church officials resulted in an adventurous arrival for the prelate who coordinates a key commission of cardinals that advises Pope Francis.

Vatican investment office announces outside review of its activity

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- The office that handles the Vatican's investment portfolio and its real estate holdings, as well as serving as the Vatican employment office and procurement agency, has asked an international financial risk-management company to review its books and procedures.

Pope Francis encourages people to visit retired priests, nuns

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Calling homes for retired priests and nuns "sanctuaries of holiness," Pope Francis asked Catholics to visit those who spent their lives sharing the Gospel and caring for others. In his morning Mass homily Oct. 18, the pope described retired clergy and religious as "good priests and good sisters, aged and bearing the weight of solitude, waiting for the Lord to knock on the doors of their hearts."

At Caritas home, orphans find jobs, skills and sense of belonging

TBILISI, Georgia (CNS) -- Georgian children of parents who could not -- or would not -- care for them were getting ready for the day on a recent weekend morning in their group house run by the Catholic charity, Caritas.

Catholic media needed to lead people to encounter Jesus, pope says

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Catholic media are important not only as means of documenting church events, Pope Francis said, but especially as a means for bringing the church and the Gospel closer to people. Catholic media professionals must report news and share stories, "dialoguing with a world that has a need to be listened to and understood, but also needs to receive the message of true life," the pope said Oct. 18.

Pope denounces wasted food as fruit of ‘throwaway culture’

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Pope Francis denounced widespread hunger due to wasted food as a symptom of a "throwaway culture," and called for greater effort to build a worldwide "culture of encounter and solidarity" instead.

In Philippines, fear of aftershocks keeps people in the streets

MANILA, Philippines (CNS) -- Like many others in the town of Jetafe, Father Chito Lozada and his staff at Santo Nino parish did not go inside their homes Oct. 15; they remained outdoors.

Nazi war criminal’s SSPX funeral stopped by protests

ROME (CNS) -- The traditionalist Society of St. Pius X offered to celebrate a funeral for convicted war criminal Erich Priebke after the Diocese of Rome said the service would be allowed only in a private home, but violent protests outside the chapel forced cancellation of the Mass.

Church agencies in India brace for rehabilitation after Cyclone Phailin

THRISSUR, India (CNS) -- Church charities in India are preparing for a massive relief work after Cyclone Phailin left nearly 9 million people affected along the east coast of India.