News/International

New Cardinal Matteo Zuppi of Bologna, Italy, greets guests prior to a consistory for the creation of 13 new cardinals by Pope Francis in St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican Oct. 5, 2019.

Pope Francis will never give up hope for peace, says papal envoy back from Ukraine

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When it comes to peace in Ukraine, Pope Francis is not giving up hope, said Cardinal Matteo Zuppi, the papal envoy recently returned from the war-torn nation.

Members of the media are seen outside of Rome's Gemelli hospital March 30, 2023.

Pope Francis to undergo surgery for hernia, expected to remain in hospital

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Pope Francis was scheduled to undergo surgery at Rome's Gemelli hospital June 7 to treat a hernia that had developed at an incision of a previous operation, the Vatican said.

Cardinal Matteo Zuppi, papal envoy to Ukraine, gestures during a meeting in Kyiv with Ukraine's parliamentary commissioner for human rights, Dmytro Lubinets on June 5, 2023.

Papal envoy meets Zelenskyy in Kyiv

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Pope Francis' peace envoy to Ukraine, Cardinal Matteo Zuppi, was finishing his two-day visit to Ukraine June 6. He met President Volodymyr Zelenskyy amid breaking news of the destruction of a critical dam and hydroelectric power plant along the front lines in southern Ukraine that Zelenskyy blamed on "Russian terrorists." The Russian side accused Ukrainian forces of blowing up the dam. Ukraine accused Russians of committing what it called "ecocide."

Washington Nationals starting pitcher Trevor Williams throws to the plate in the first inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium May 29, 2023. Williams, known for his devout Catholic faith and prominent tattoos, expressed his disappointment with the Los Angeles Dodgers’ decision to re-invite and honour controversial group called the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence.

Ballplayers criticize Dodgers’ plan to honour controversial drag group

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Washington Nationals starting pitcher Trevor Williams, known for his devout Catholic faith and prominent tattoos, expressed his disappointment with the Los Angeles Dodgers' decision to re-invite and honour a controversial group called the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence.

Pope Francis and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy shake hands after their meeting at the Vatican May 13, 2023.

Ukrainian church leaders cite lack of information on Vatican initiatives

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Ukrainian church leaders have voiced skepticism over a planned Vatican "peace mission" to their war-torn country and have complained of being left in the dark about Rome's intentions.

A man kisses a rosary as he prays before Mass in 2018 at a church in Beijing. The Day of Prayer for Catholics in China is celebrated annually May 24.

Under surveillance, government pressure, China needs prayers, observers say

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When Pope Benedict XVI instituted the Day of Prayer for Catholics in China in 2007, Aloysius Jin Luxian was bishop of Shanghai. That year, an article in The Atlantic monthly described Bishop Jin as "arguably the most influential and controversial figure in Chinese Catholicism of the last 50 years."

New Cardinal Matteo Zuppi of Bologna, Italy, greets guests prior to a consistory for the creation of 13 new cardinals by Pope Francis in St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican Oct. 5, 2019.

Pope Francis asks Cardinal Zuppi to lead peace mission for Ukraine

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Pope Francis has asked Italian Cardinal Matteo Zuppi of Bologna to lead a mission "to help ease tensions in the conflict in Ukraine," the Vatican press office said.

Italian Cardinals Gualtiero Bassetti of Perugia-Città della Pieve and Matteo Zuppi of Bologna attend the concluding session of the "Mediterranean for Peace" meeting at Palazzo Vecchio in Florence, Italy, in this Feb. 27, 2022, file photo. Cardinal Zuppi has been chosen by Pope Francis as the president of the Italian bishops' conference, succeeding Cardinal Bassetti.

Pope Francis wants to send peace envoys to Kyiv, Moscow: report

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A popular blog that closely monitors the Vatican has reported that Pope Francis wants to send envoys to Moscow and Kyiv to begin discussions about achieving a truce.

Palestinian children participate in an activity in the central Gaza Strip May 15 aimed to support the mental health of children affected by the recent Israel-Gaza fighting, near the site of an Israeli strike. A ceasefire was agreed to between Palestinian factions and Israel on May 13.

Gaza priest helps calm traumatized community

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Even before the ceasefire between Israel and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad had been called on the evening of May 13 after five days of fighting, Fr. Gabriel Romanelli of Gaza Holy Family Parish was already tentatively going over travel details for a trip to Egypt with some of the Catholic Scouts youth leaders, which had been long in the making.

Bishop Georg Bätzing of Limburg, president of Germany's bishop's conference.

New report says Germany's Catholic Church faces major decline in membership, revenue

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Germany's Catholic Church will be forced to give up a third of its properties in the face of dwindling membership and revenue, according to a new report, with many buildings facing demolition unless converted to other uses.

Archbishop Tarcisius Isao Kikuchi of Tokyo, the new president of Caritas Internationalis, speaks at the Caritas general assembly in Rome May 13, 2023.

Caritas Internationalis elects new president, stressing local connections in aid

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Caritas Internationalis, the global Catholic charity network, elected Archbishop Tarcisius Isao Kikuchi of Tokyo to be its new president following a Vatican-mandated overhaul of its leadership.

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