World News
Harley Davidson riders rumble into the Vatican
Some 35,000 Harley-Davidson motorcycles arrived in Rome last week to celebrate the 110th anniversary of the American motorcycle maker's founding. There was room for faith among the rumbling engines, leather jackets and elaborate tattoos. Events began early in the morning of June 14 with Cardinal Angelo Comastri, archpriest of the Vatican Basilica, saying Mass in St. Peter's Basilica for 2,000 of the participants.
Catholics, Lutherans look to commemoration of Reformation anniversary
VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Joint Catholic-Lutheran commemorations of the 500th anniversary of the beginning of the Reformation must recognize the harm caused by the split in Western Christianity, the polemics that exacerbated differences and the progress made through 50 years of ecumenical dialogue, a new document said. “From Conflict to Communion,” a document released June […]
Pope says false ideas of freedom spawn threats to human life
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Ideologies and practices that destroy human life arise from false ideas of freedom without God, Pope Francis told a crowd in St. Peter's Square, including thousands of pro-life activists from around the world. "Whenever we want to assert ourselves, when we become wrapped up in our own selfishness and put ourselves in the place of God, we end up spawning death," the pope said in his homily during the Mass June 16.
Pope urges G-8 leaders to put politics, economics at service of poor, unborn people
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- The goal of politics and economics is to serve all of humanity, starting with the poorest, the most vulnerable and the unborn, Pope Francis told British Prime Minister David Cameron, president of the Group of Eight industrialized nations. "Money and other political and economic means must serve, not rule," the pope said, adding that "in a seemingly paradoxical way, free and disinterested solidarity is the key to the smooth functioning of the global economy."
Just say new: Vatican official calls for new approach to fight drugs
ANTIGUA, Guatemala (CNS) — Archbishop Francis A. Chullikatt, the Vatican’s permanent observer to the United Nations, discussed the Holy See’s commitment to formulating a new, comprehensive approach to anti-drug policies in the Americas during a three-day session of the Organization of American States’ General Assembly in Antigua. Current policies surrounding drug abuse, addiction and related […]
Pope, Anglican leader meet, pledge to continue search for unity
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Pope Francis and Anglican Archbishop Justin Welby of Canterbury, spiritual leader of the Anglican Communion, pledged to support each other with their prayers and to continue the search for full unity between their communities. "As you yourself have observed," Pope Francis told the archbishop, "we Christians bring peace and grace as a treasure to be offered to the world, but these gifts can bear fruit only when Christians live and work together in harmony."
Anglican leader says he and pope discussed their spirituality, prayer
ROME (CNS) -- Anglican Archbishop Justin Welby of Canterbury said his private conversation with Pope Francis was "very personal," with the new leaders of the Catholic Church and of the Anglican Communion discussing how their positions have influenced their prayer lives. In addition to delivering speeches and praying together, the two spent more than 30 minutes speaking privately and later had lunch together in the pope's residence.
Maronite, Orthodox leaders call for release of kidnapped Syrian bishops
BEIRUT (CNS) — Lebanon’s Maronite Catholic patriarch and Syria’s Greek Orthodox patriarch called for the release of two Orthodox bishops kidnapped in Syria. “We demand the kidnappers and the countries concerned” to release the two bishops and the two priests kidnapped before them, and all those who have been kidnapped on Syrian territory, said Lebanese Cardinal Bechara Rai, the Maronite patriarch, and Greek Orthodox Patriarch John X in a joint statement from Bkerke, the Maronite patriarchate north of Beirut.
What the pope’s leaked comments really tells us about the church
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- A report that Pope Francis privately acknowledged the existence of a "gay lobby" inside the Vatican offers a sensational example of his unvarnished speaking style and a reminder of the challenge that style poses for the papacy in the age of digital communications and vanishing privacy. But the context of the comment is a series of remarks most illuminating for what they reveal: not about divisions within the church, but about Pope Francis' vision of its harmony and unity.
Quebec’s end-of-life bill decried as Belgian-style euthanasia
OTTAWA, Ontario (CNS) -- Pro-life and other groups joined forces to denounce a bill governing end-of-life care introduced by the Quebec government June 12 as a form of Belgian-style euthanasia. The head of the Euthanasia Prevention Coalition said the bill redefines palliative care to include "terminal medical sedation" and "medical aid in dying," which he called a euphemism for euthanasia.