World News
Pope proclaims year dedicated to St. Joseph
Pope Francis proclaimed a yearlong celebration dedicated to the foster father of Jesus. The pope said the saint is "an intercessor, a support and a guide in times of trouble."
Pope says Catholics can receive plenary indulgence for Guadalupe devotion
With the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe closed for her feast to prevent the spread of COVID-19, Pope Francis said Catholics still can receive blessings Dec. 11 and 12 under certain conditions.
As pandemic devastates Latin America, pope prays to St. Juan Diego
Marked the feast day of St. Juan Diego Dec. 9, Pope Francis sought the intercession of the first Indigenous saint of the Americas, "whom Our Lady of Guadalupe chose as her envoy."
Vatican cardinal says confession by phone likely invalid
Despite the pandemic's limits on many people's ability to celebrate the sacraments, the head of the Apostolic Penitentiary confirmed "the probable invalidity of the absolution (of sins) imparted" through electronic means.
Tackling threats to planet demands cooperation, pope tells new ambassadors
The pope told 10 new ambassadors to the Vatican that they are beginning their work "at a time of great challenge facing the entire human family," with "grave threats facing our planet and mortgaging the future of younger generations."
Pope Francis plans to visit Iraq in March
Barring any obstacles caused by the global pandemic, the pope is set to begin international travel again in 2021 for the first time since November 2019. He would be the first pope to visit Iraq and its 400,000 remaining Christians.
Man arrested for firebombing Catholic church in Israel
Israeli police arrested a Jewish man after he allegedly threw a firebomb inside the Basilica of All Nations at Gethsemane Church on the Mount of Olives Dec. 4.
Pope: Make your heart accessible to people with disabilities
Pope Francis insisted that all Catholics with disabilities have a right to receive the sacraments, and he suggested that Catholic parishes make real efforts to welcome persons with disabilities.
When (Christmas) markets fall, economies in Germany, Austria take a hit
Nuremberg, which boasts one of the oldest Christmas fairs, is seeing a loss of more than $200 million in revenue, as in other cities. Still, one teen said this year, "Christmas simply moves people back into their homes. "
German cathedral becomes center of mourning after SUV attack
People gathered in Trier's Catholic cathedral Dec. 1 to pray for the victims of a lone attacker who plowed into Christmas shoppers, killing five people and seriously injuring a dozen others.