Pope names new members to commission for protection of minors
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Pope Francis reconfirmed the leadership of the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors and expanded its membership from...
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Pope tells Putin: Stop the war
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- With "rivers of blood and tears" still flowing in Ukraine and with the increasing threat of the use of nuclear weapons, Pope Francis...
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At trial, Vatican auditor says he was shocked by misuse of funds
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- The Vatican auditor general said he was surprised by the lack of ethical standards demonstrated by officials considering investment...
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Vatican announces theme for World Communications Day
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Pope Francis' theme for the next World Communications Day is a call for a peaceful dialogue that allows for uncomfortable truths...
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Is Pope Francis' diplomacy of dialogue failing?
VATICAN CITY (RNS) -- Pope Francis returned from his brief trip to Kazakhstan, a country nestled between Russia and China, having failed to sit down with...
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Nicaragua president calls church a dictatorship, bishops 'murderers'
MEXICO CITY (CNS) -- Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega blasted Catholic leaders as a "gang of murderers," in comments amping up persecution of the church...
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Food cannot be used as 'bargaining chip,' pope says
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- The international community can no longer ignore the cries of the poor and the hungry who fall victim to food loss and waste, Pope...
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Russian bishops: Nation must recognize conscientious objection to war
WARSAW, Poland (CNS) -- Russia's bishops said Catholics face dilemmas responding to a mass call-up for the war in Ukraine, and they urged President Vladimir...
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Montana bishop ordains 23 deacons from North American College
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Ordaining deacons on the feast of the archangels Michael, Gabriel and Raphael, Bishop Austin A. Vetter of Helena, Montana, told the...
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Jerusalem church leaders thank Jordan's king for defending their rights
JERUSALEM (CNS) -- The patriarchs and leaders of Christian churches in Jerusalem praised Jordan's King Abdullah II for turning a spotlight on what they...
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Hong Kong cardinal's trial adjourned before defense can call witnesses
HONG KONG (CNS) -- After only two days, the West Kowloon Magistrates' Court adjourned the trial of Hong Kong Cardinal Joseph Zen Ze-kiun, 90, and four...
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Cardinal Parolin calls Putin's nuclear threat 'repugnant'
NEW YORK (CNS) -- Russian President Vladimir Putin's warnings that he would consider using nuclear weapons is a "repugnant threat" that shows the urgency...
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Jesus is the best, most faithful friend a person can have, pope says
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Jesus never abandons, coerces or blackmails anyone when they stray, rather, he patiently waits and is "our greatest and most faithful...
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Science needs ethicists, more open debate, some say at Vatican conference
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Biological engineering, such as gene therapy for treating human disease, is making such swift advancements that the public's knowledge...
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Pope encourages young Catholics to use 'creative courage' to evangelize
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Pope Francis encouraged young Catholics to take an active role -- not be spectators -- in the church's mission. "You are not museum...
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Pope names prefect, secretary for Dicastery of Culture and Education
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Pope Francis has named Portuguese Cardinal José Tolentino de Mendonça to be prefect of the new Dicastery for Culture and Education...
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Jesus, present in the Eucharist, inspires compassion, sharing, pope says
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- One cannot love and worship the Eucharist without compassion for the poor and marginalized, Pope Francis said at a Mass concluding...
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Padre Pio showed the world that 'God is real,' Cardinal O'Malley says
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- St. Pio of Pietrelcina did not boast of his fame or holiness but instead showed that God "chooses the weak to confuse the strong,"...
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Help the poor and the planet, pope tells young economists, entrepreneurs
ROME (CNS) -- Acknowledging how young people have been given a world marked by inequality, injustice, war and environmental degradation, Pope Francis urged...
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Northern Ireland census shows more Catholics than Protestants
DUBLIN (CNS) -- More people in Northern Ireland now identify as Catholic than Protestant for the first time in the history of the jurisdiction, new census...
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Cardinal Parolin, Russian foreign minister meet at U.N.
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Vatican secretary of state, met with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on the sidelines of the U.N....
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What is the Doctrine of Discovery and will Vatican statement affect it?
TORONTO (CNS) -- A date for a new papal statement on the Doctrine of Discovery, promised by Pope Francis on his way home from Canada to Rome, has not been...
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Papal envoy delivers aid to Ukraine under gunfire
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Polish Cardinal Konrad Krajewski, papal almoner, said he and several others came under gunfire while delivering humanitarian aid...
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Editor says renewal of Vatican agreement with China is on the horizon
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- As the October deadline approaches for the extension of the Vatican's agreement with the Chinese government, the newly appointed...
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Russian priest says Catholics, including clerics, fear conscription
A senior Russian priest dismissed President Vladimir Putin's threats of nuclear war as "just words," but said many young Catholics now fear being forcibly...
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Honor Aquinas, don't instrumentalize him, pope says
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- When reflecting on and teaching about St. Thomas Aquinas or any of the great theologians or philosophers, there is a danger of using...
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Making room: Catholics with disabilities hope synod will hear their voices
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- The Gospel of St. John tells the story of Jesus' encounter with a man who was born blind. Upon seeing him, the disciples asked Jesus...
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Making money must serve spiritual mission, pope tells Norbertines
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- A religious community must make sure its economic activity serves its mission, fulfills its charism and never becomes an end in itself,...
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Prayers, support needed for those with Alzheimer's disease, pope says
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Marking World Alzheimer's Day Sept. 21, Pope Francis asked people to pray for all those affected by the illness, including families...
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Pope calls for increased assistance to those hit by Hurricane Fiona
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- As Hurricane Fiona swept across the Caribbean, leaving behind numerous victims and material destruction, Pope Francis called for...
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Pope decries savagery, monstrosities against people in Ukraine
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Highlighting the "terrible situation" unfolding in Ukraine, Pope Francis again called for prayers for the nation's "noble and martyred"...
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UPDATE: Bishops in Belgium authorize prayer for committed gay couples
BRUSSELS (CNS) -- The Flemish-speaking bishops of Belgium have appointed a contact person for ministry to and with gay Catholics and have authorized prayer...
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Vatican basilica provides background for new film on St. Peter
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- For two weeks in October, the facade of St. Peter's Basilica will be the screen for the nighttime showing of a short film about the...
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Cardinal prays at queen's funeral, signaling Charles' openness to dialogue
LONDON (CNS) -- An English cardinal took part in the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II in an indication of openness of the British Royal family to ecumenical...
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'Enough is enough,' say Cameroon bishops after kidnapping, church burning
YAOUNDÉ, Cameroon (CNS) -- Catholic bishops in Cameroon's war-torn English-speaking regions said they were left in "shock and utter horror" following...
Read MoreCardinal: Candidates for sainthood must be inspirational models of holiness
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- While all Christians are called to live a life of holiness, only some are recognized as having lived life in such a way that they...
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Pope Francis' representative in Ukraine shot at while delivering aid
Cardinal Konrad Krajewski, Pope Francis' representative in Ukraine, was shot at Saturday as he delivered humanitarian aid near the city of Zaporizhzhia,...
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Archbishop Paul Gallagher to represent Pope Francis at Queen Elizabeth II's funeral
Pope Francis' representative at the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II will be veteran Vatican diplomat Archbishop Paul Gallagher, Holy See press office...
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To serve, not be served: Curia called to help bishops, bishops' conferences
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Pope Francis' reform of the Roman Curia emphasizes work in the Vatican as a service not only to the pope, but also to dioceses and...
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Pope: Under right conditions, nations may buy weapons for self-defense
ABOARD THE PAPAL FLIGHT FROM KAZAKHSTAN (CNS) -- Under the right moral conditions, a country has the right to purchase weapons to defend itself from those...
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Pope urges world leaders to 'work for peace, not weapons'
NUR-SULTAN, Kazakhstan (CNS) -- Speaking on behalf of dozens of religious leaders, Pope Francis called on world leaders to put an end to violence and bloodshed...
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Kazakh bishop says his criticisms of pope are sign of collegiality
NUR-SULTAN, Kazakhstan (CNS) -- Awaiting the arrival of Pope Francis, a bishop who frequently criticizes Pope Francis told reporters that speaking up when...
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Lebanese nun says she learned from writing icon for London shrine
BEIRUT (CNS) -- In London, prayers now rise up to God from the shrine of Mary, Mother of Persecuted Christians, and also from Lebanon, where the shrine's...
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Pope: Religions must be purified of extremism, self-righteousness
NUR-SULTAN, Kazakhstan (CNS) -- As war, violence and extremism in countries around the world threaten the lives of countless men, women and children, religions...
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Arriving in Kazakhstan, pope makes case for peace
NUR-SULTAN, Kazakhstan (CNS) -- Arriving in Kazakhstan, a country that borders Russia, Pope Francis said he came as a "pilgrim of peace" at a time when...
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Germany's fourth synodal assembly ends with proposals for reforms
FRANKFURT, Germany (CNS) -- The fourth plenary assembly of the Synodal Path in Frankfurt ended Sept. 10 with a series of far-reaching reform resolutions. They...
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Young must hasten to share God's love, pope says in WYD message
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Like Mary, who after the Annunciation went in haste to visit her cousin Elizabeth, young Catholics are called to welcome Jesus into...
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Pope asks for prayers before Kazakhstan visit
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Pope Francis asked Christians to pray for him before he embarks on a three-day visit to Kazakhstan. The pope, who will attend the...
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British Catholics, Pope Francis pay tribute to Queen Elizabeth II
MANCHESTER, England (CNS) -- Catholics in the U.K. paid tribute to Queen Elizabeth II following her death Sept. 8 and the end of a reign that lasted more...
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Before her murder by insurgents, Italian nun called niece for prayers
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Perhaps just hours or less before her murder in northern Mozambique as militants swept into the area, Comboni Sister Maria De Coppi...
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Australian bishops offer Catholic schools guidance on identity, gender
Catholic bishops in Australia have released guidelines for the country's almost 2,000 Catholic schools on gender, urging school leaders to resist pressure...
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