News/International

Pope Francis speaks at a ceremony at which he received the Charlemagne Prize in the Sala Regia at the Vatican May 6.

Pope Francis tells Europe to ‘tear down walls’

By

VATICAN CITY – Pope Francis is calling on Catholics to play a part in the “rebirth” of a united Europe that opens its doors to refugees.

Participants wear traditional costumes at a celebration to worship Yellow Emperor Xuan Yuan, who is considered by many to be the ancestor of the Chinese, during Qingming Festival, also known as Tomb Sweeping Festival, in Hangling county, Shaanxi Province, China, April 4, 2016.

China protests at US accusations of abuse of religious groups

By

BEIJING – China has lodged a diplomatic protest with the United States after a U.S. government commission said Chinese violations of religious freedom last year remained “severe,” the Foreign Ministry said.

Fr. Thom Uzhunnalil in an undated photo.

Priest abducted, said to have been crucified, said to be alive

By

ROME – A Catholic priest abducted in Yemen in a deadly attack on a nursing home is reportedly alive and could soon be released, contradicting earlier reports that he was crucified on Good Friday.

Chaldean Catholic Patriarch Louis Sako of Baghdad, pictured in a 2014 photo, urged Iraq's leaders to put an end to the "institutional, economic and security deterioration" in the country.

Chaldean patriarch appeals to Iraqi leaders to work for reconciliation

By

BAGHDAD – Chaldean Catholic Patriarch Louis Sako of Baghdad urged Iraq's leaders to put an end to the "institutional, economic and security deterioration" in the country.

A Pakistani Christian boy holds a banner during a late March protest in Karachi after attacks on churches in Lahore. The U.S. State Department's annual report on the status of religious freedom around the world was released in Washington Oct. 14.

Religious freedom deteriorating around the world

By

WASHINGTON (RNS) Religious freedom remains under “serious and sustained assault” around the globe, according to a new annual report from the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom.

Pope Francis blesses a baby during a visit to a Caritas center for the homeless near the Termini rail station in Rome Dec. 18. The pope opened a Door of Mercy at the center.

Pope to welcome homeless on pilgrimage to Rome

By

VATICAN CITY – Pope Francis will welcome several thousand homeless and vulnerable people from all over Europe when they make a pilgrimage to Rome in November.

Cardinal John Olorunfemi Onaiyekan of Abuja, Nigeria, is pictured in a 2013 photo at the Vatican.Two bishops from southern Nigeria condemned an attack on a vehicle carrying Cardinal Onaiyekan and appealed to the government to tackle the issue of growing attacks in Edo state.

Attack on Nigerian cardinal's car shows need for more security

By

Archbishop Augustine Obiora Akubueze of Benin City and Bishop Donatus Aihmiosion Ogun of Uromi said the situation was becoming more serious because herdsmen committing the attacks were becoming more brazen.

A rosary package with the image of Pope Francis is displayed in a tourist shop outside the Vatican in Rome.

Roman police seize thousands of fake Vatican souvenirs

By

VATICAN CITY (RNS) Police raided a storeroom near St. Peter’s Square and seized a cache of Vatican souvenirs and trinkets including flags, bracelets and key rings bearing Pope Francis’ image.

A pro-life supporter demonstrates in 2012 outside the Marie Stopes clinic in Belfast, Northern Ireland. The Catholic bishops of Northern Ireland have described as "profoundly disquieting" a ruling by the High Court that the region's ban on abortion in all but very limited circumstances breaches human rights legislation.

Northern Ireland bishops urge voters to ask about abortion, poverty

By

DUBLIN – Northern Ireland's Catholic bishops urged Massgoers to support candidates opposed to legalizing abortion in elections to the region's power-sharing assembly May 5.

Daniel Berrigan arrested for civil disobedience outside the U.S. Mission to the U.N. in 2006.

‘Radical priest” Fr. Daniel Berrigan dead at 94

By

NEW YORK – Fr. Daniel Berrigan, a Jesuit priest and herald of the Catholic social justice movement whose name — along with his late brother, Philip, also a priest — became synonymous with anti-war activism in the Vietnam era, has died.

Supreme Knight Carl A. Anderson speaks during a conference addressing the persecution of Christians and other minorities in the Middle East and Africa at the United Nations April 28. Looking on is Thomas Farr, director of the Religious Freedom Project at Georgetown University. The Vatican mission to the U.N. was a co-sponsor of the conference.

World must respond to Islamic State genocide actions, UN conference hears

By

UNITED NATIONS – While religious freedom in much of the Middle East is under siege and the civil war in Syria seems to have no end in sight, Carl Anderson, CEO of the Knights of Columbus, and others called the United Nations to action.

Page 373 of 651