World News

Remembering the dead is profession of hope in eternal life, pope says

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- When Christians remember their beloved deceased, they proclaim that their bonds with them are not broken by death and they profess their hope in eternal life, said Pope Benedict XVI. Pope Benedict celebrated a Mass Nov. 3 in St. Peter's Basilica in memory of the 10 cardinals -- including U.S. Cardinals John P. Foley and Anthony J. Bevilacqua -- and 143 archbishops and bishops from around the world who died in the past year.

‘VatiLeaks’ trial of Vatican computer tech begins

VATICAN CITY (CNS) — A Vatican computer technician charged with aiding and abetting the papal butler in stealing confidential documents went on trial amid legal arguments over the definition of the charge and questions about the “anonymous source” who reported him to officials. As the trial began Nov. 5, the lawyer for Claudio Sciarpelletti, 48, […]

Anger management vital for clergy and religious, Jesuit journal says

ROME (CNS) — Anger awareness and management are vital for priests and members of religious orders because they are called to be people of dialogue, fraternity, service, peace and justice, and to treat others with charity, said an influential Jesuit magazine. If clergy and religious don’t have “an adequate integration of aggression, they can become […]

Vatican to begin trial of computer tech accused of helping papal butler

VATICAN CITY (CNS) — A second criminal trial opens Nov. 5 in the little courtroom on the ground floor of the Vatican’s tribunal building, located just behind the apse of St. Peter’s Basilica. Claudio Sciarpelletti, a computer technician in the Vatican Secretariat of State, is to be tried on charges of aiding and abetting Paolo […]

All Saints’ Day calls for deeper belief in eternal life, pope says

VATICAN CITY (CNS) — The feast of All Saints should prompt Catholics to believe more deeply in eternal life, Pope Benedict XVI said. The day “reminds us of our eternal destiny, where we will dwell, as St. Thomas Aquinas says, in true and perfect light, total fulfillment, everlasting joy and gladness without end,” he said […]

Holy Father prays for victims of Hurricane Sandy

Vatican Information Service released the following message of Pope Benedict XVI regarding Hurricane Sandy Thursday, Oct. 31 from Vatican City: “Conscious of the devastation caused by the hurricane which recently struck the East Coast of the United States of America, I offer my prayers for the victims and express my solidarity with all those engaged […]

Peruvian diocese, first in South America, celebrates 475 years

CUSCO, Peru (CNS) — When Jose Venero Villafuerte was 5 years old, his mother took him to see the statue of Our Lord of the Earthquakes for the first time. “In this moment my path to God was opened,” said Venero, now president of the Fraternity of the Our Lord of the Earthquakes. “I realized […]

Pope says faith and hope are foundation of migrants’ journeys

VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Migrants usually are forced to leave their countries because of poverty, hunger or violence, but faith and hope help them face their hardships and seek a better life elsewhere, Pope Benedict XVI said. The pope chose “Migrations: pilgrimage of faith and hope” as the theme for the 2013 celebration of the […]

Church can learn lessons from history, business, says leader of Jesuits

VATICAN CITY (CNS) — When faced with a particular challenge, such as finding new ways to evangelize in modern times, the current gathering of the Synod of Bishops could have benefited from looking at history and business management, said the head of the world’s largest men’s religious order. Identifying what has worked in the more […]

Faith in Jesus means being optimistic about future, synod message says

Despite the growth of secularism, increased hostility toward Christianity and sinful behavior by some church ministers, members of the Synod of Bishops said they are optimistic about the future because of Christ's promise of salvation. Addressing a message to Catholics around the world Oct. 26, synod members said they were certain God "will not fail to look on our poverty in order to show the strength of his arm in our days and to sustain us in the path of the new evangelization."