World News
North American College breaks ground for $7 million expansion
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Fresh soil on compact dirt, a small pile of rubble, incense, gold-trimmed liturgical vestments and the sound of dozens of young men singing "Holy God We Praise Thy Name" meant it was groundbreaking day at the Pontifical North American College, the Vatican seminary sponsored by the U.S. bishops.
Turkey to set up separate camp for Christians near Syrian border
ISTANBUL (CNS) -- Christians escaping the two-year civil war in Syria will soon have their own humanitarian aid camp in which to live, the Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency of Turkey told local media.
Growing presence demands increased responsibilities, say Latino leaders
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Aware of the sign of the times, the Catholic Church is reaching out and assigning greater responsibility to the growing Latino Catholic population, said a group of U.S. Catholic Latino leaders. The March 13 election by the College of Cardinals of a pope from Latin America made that task even more evident, three top leaders of the Los Angeles-based Catholic Association of Latino Leaders (CALL) told Catholic News Service.
Christians can’t lead ‘double life,’ pope says in homily
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- A "double life" that honors both worldly values and the teachings of Jesus is not an option for Christians, even when obedience to God leads to persecution, Pope Francis said in a morning homily April 11. The pope spoke at Mass in the chapel of the Domus Sanctae Marthae, the Vatican guesthouse where he has been living since his election in March.
Pope thanks Bala Cynwyd-based foundation for fight against poverty, work for peace
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- In a written greeting to 120 members of the U.S.-based Papal Foundation and their families, Pope Francis said he was "deeply grateful" for their work against poverty and on behalf of peace. Instead of reading his speech, Pope Francis personally greeted each of the participants, which was "a great experience," said William Canny, chief operating officer of the foundation that is based in Bala Cynwyd, Montgomery County.
Vatican office looks at challenges facing couples from different faiths
VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Catholics need to know that marrying someone from a different Christian community or, even more so, from a different religion will create extra challenges in their marriage, but church leaders also must learn how to help people in mixed marriages meet those challenges, a Vatican official said. “We can express a […]
Sectarian strife scaring Egypt’s Christians into leaving
CAIRO (CNS) -- Mounting sectarian violence in Egypt is pushing tens of thousands of Egyptian Christians to look for security abroad, say Christian community members, church leaders and aid workers.
Central African Republic church leaders ask world to help restore order
OXFORD, England (CNS) -- Church leaders in the Central African Republic appealed for international help in restoring order after a wave of attacks on Catholic clergy and churches. "Parishes, churches and communities of nuns have been pillaged and ransacked by rebel units, losing their cars and other possessions," said Msgr. Cyriaque Gbate Doumalo, secretary-general of the Catholic bishops' conference. "We appeal to the international community not to forget us, but to help restore peace and security."
Korean Bishop: North Korea’s threats might aim to increase aid, preserve pride
MANILA, Philippines (CNS) -- The head of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Korea said North Korea's recent threats of aggression may be an attempt to shore up foreign aid while preserving pride. "It is our presumption that they wish to draw out some financial assistance from abroad without conceding their pride or self-esteem," said Bishop Peter Kang U-Il of Cheju, South Korea. His fellow bishops "feel very sorry" that tension provoked by North Korean threats are making "the whole world very uncomfortable and anxious."
Demographic shifts mean Europe no longer Catholic Church’s center
OXFORD, England (CNS) -- The election of Pope Francis, an Argentine, to lead the world's 1.2 billion Catholics confirms what observers have long known: Vast demographic shifts in the Catholic population are reconfiguring the face of the church and shifting the institution's center from its historic European heartland. What that means for the church remains unknown, but Europeans who have long viewed themselves as Catholicism's traditional guardians are likely to find they will have to share that role with others.