World News
China’s ‘apple Catholics’ add spiritual activities to daily routine
BEIJING (CNS) -- Many rural villages in Shaanxi do not have a Catholic parish, and some with churches struggle with sparse attendance. But the village of Fufengxian, near the town of Baoji, has a population that is more than 80 percent baptized Catholics. When villagers are not tending to their apple orchards, they can be found attending Mass or praying at Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic Church.
Pope asks pontifical academies to help fight human trafficking
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- At the request of Pope Francis, scholars and researchers belonging to two pontifical academies and representatives of the World Federation of Catholic Medical Associations will begin focusing on the phenomenon of human trafficking and ways to fight it.
Canadian nun: Egyptian Muslims protected church buildings after threats
CAIRO (CNS) -- Churches and other Christian properties around Egypt had already been looted, so when Catholics in Berba were tipped off that their southern village could be next, they acted fast. They and other Christian leaders got on their phones and called their Muslim friends, neighbors and colleagues who all had the same message:
Vatican orders slight change in text for baptism
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- To emphasis that the sacrament of baptism formally brings a person into the church of God and not just into a local Christian community, the Vatican has ordered a slight change of wording in the baptismal rite.
Officials dubious of retired pope’s extraordinary ‘mystical experience’
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- When Pope Benedict XVI announced his resignation in February, he made it very clear that he had done so only after intense prayer and that he intended to live the rest of his life praying and studying.
Teams find thousands of flooded-out Filipinos at parishes, centers
MANILA, Philippines (CNS) -- Teams of relief workers visited evacuation centers and Catholic parishes-turned-shelters across a wide area of the Philippine capital as they began assessing the needs of thousands of people who fled homes inundated by floodwaters. Since Aug. 19, about 300,000 people have been displaced since around Manila, according to government reports.
Ukrainian Catholics dedicate new cathedral in Kiev
OXFORD, England (CNS) -- The Ukrainian Catholic Church dedicated its new cathedral in Kiev, Ukraine, a move some hope will help the church being designated a patriarchate. More than 20,000 people attended the dedication of Resurrection Cathedral, the main event in the anniversary of the 988 baptism of Grand Prince Vladimir, who declared Christianity the official religion in Kievan Rus, lands now making up parts of Belarus, Ukraine and Russia.
Vatican ambassador: World must help end Syria’s ‘serious crisis’
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- The Vatican ambassador to Syria said the international community must help find a political solution to the "serious crisis" continuing in the country.
Christian leaders in Jerusalem pray for end of violence in Egypt
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Catholic, Orthodox, Anglican and Lutheran leaders in Jerusalem prayed for an end to violence and bloodshed in Egypt and the protection of the values of "democracy, dignity and religious freedom."
Ivory Coast bishop calls for continuation of reconciliation commission
YAMOUSSOUKRO, Ivory Coast (CNS) -- A national reconciliation commission, launched in September 2011 after months of armed conflict over disputed election results, should continue working past its mandated closure in September, said the president of the Ivory Coast Catholic bishops' conference.