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News/International

Pope Francis prays during a memorial Mass for cardinals and bishops who have died over the past year, in St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican Nov. 2, 2022, All Souls' Day.

Vatican news agency reports 20 missionaries murdered in 2023

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In its annual report on Catholic missionaries murdered during the year, the Vatican-based news agency, Fides, noted what many of them had in common was living a normal life in areas where violence had become common.

Parishioners pray at the Metropolitan Cathedral in Managua, Nicaragua, March 12, 2023, as a suspension of diplomatic ties between Nicaragua and the Vatican has been proposed according to a Nicaragua's foreign ministry statement.

Exiled Nicaraguan bishop asks world's bishops 'not to abandon us' as wave of priest arrests ends year in dictator-run country

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Since Christmas, Nicaraguan police and paramilitaries have detained more than a dozen priests, including an archdiocesan vicar, as the Sandinista regime escalates a campaign of terror against the Catholic Church -- an institution it has struggled to subdue.

Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the Latin patriarch of Jerusalem, gestures during an interview with OSV News at the Latin Patriarchate in the Old City of Jerusalem Dec. 12, 2023.

In times of darkness, faith is all you have, says Cardinal Pizzaballa

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While faith cannot change anything in moments of great darkness such as the one Israelis and Palestinians are currently living through in the Israeli-Hamas war, it can, Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa said, create "a small light" which will give "orientation."

Pope Francis waves during a general audience in St. Peter's Square.

Experts: Vatican declaration on blessings walks a fine line on marriage, pastoral care

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A new declaration from the Vatican on pastoral blessings does not change the Catholic Church's teaching on marriage, Catholic experts told OSV News, but seeks to extend the church's accompaniment to those in irregular situations.

Israeli soldiers operate in the Gaza Strip Dec. 18, 2023, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas.

Israeli army denies targeting Gaza church

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Following a series of attacks on Christians in the Gaza Strip by Israeli forces Dec. 16, including the killing of a mother and daughter at a Catholic church, the Israeli Defense Forces said that it "takes claims regarding harm to sensitive sites with the utmost seriousness." However, the statement did not make any mention of the shooting deaths of the two women in the Holy Family Parish premises.

The body of Samer Fouad al-Talalka, a member of Israel's Bedouin Arab minority taken hostage by Hamas who was mistakenly killed by the Israeli military, is laid in the grave during his funeral in Hura village in southern Israel Dec 16, 2023. Al-Talalka was one of three Hamas hostages mistakenly killed by IDF troops in Gaza Dec. 15.

Pope Francis condemns attack on Gaza parish killing 2 Christian women

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Following the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem's denouncement of a series of attacks on Christians in Gaza by Israeli forces Dec. 16, including the killing of a mother and daughter at a Catholic parish, Pope Francis and numerous bishops across the globe also condemned the attack, calling for peace.

Andreia Lopo, right, with a colleague takes a group of pilgrims through Aljustre, home village of the three peasant children who witnessed the Marian apparitions at Fatima. As a tour guide, Lopo leads pilgrimages to many holy places, including Lourdes, France.

Guide makes Fatima personal

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A pilgrimage is a source of spiritual enrichment, and the dream of a lifetime for many Catholics. And Andreia Lopo, 47, takes “pure delight,” as she says, in helping to make that dream come true.

Argentina's President Javier Milei is sworn in as Argentina's president next to Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner at the National Congress in Buenos Aires Dec. 10, 2023.

Pope Francis downplays Argentine president's comments as Javier Milei assumes office

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Pope Francis has downplayed the discourteous comments toward him from Argentine President Javier Milei -- who previously accused the pope of preaching "communism" -- attributing the remarks to electioneering in his home country.

Ukrainian refugees from Dnipro and Zaporizhzhia sing happy birthday in 15th-century Ballindooley Castle in Galway, Ireland, April 16, 2022. Owner Barry Haughian offered his castle as shelter for two families of Ukrainian refugees.

Ireland plans to dramatically cut welfare benefits for Ukrainian refugees

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Plans to dramatically cut welfare benefits for refugees from Ukraine who flee to Ireland to avoid Russia's war are causing anxiety, according to a priest who works with the new arrivals. Officials in Dublin say that they want to "slow" the number of people arriving from Ukraine.

A woman takes a photo of decorations on a Christmas tree in front of the St. Sophia Cathedral in Kyiv, Ukraine, Dec. 6, 2023, amid Russia's ongoing war on the East European country.

Ukraine's war-torn Christians look ahead to first Christmas shared with West

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When Ukraine's embattled citizens gather this Christmas, their rich festivities will feel symbolically different -- as the festival is celebrated for the first time on Dec. 25, in line with the Western calendar.

The Washington County Sheriff's Office investigates the scene of a fatal stabbing at the rectory of St. John the Baptist Parish in Fort Calhoun, Neb., Dec. 10, 2023. Father Stephen Gutgsell, pastoral administrator of the church died after being attacked in his rectory in the early morning of the Second Sunday of Advent.

Nebraska priest dies after attack during apparent rectory break-in

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A Nebraska priest has died after being attacked in the rectory of his parish in the early morning before he was to celebrate Mass for the Second Sunday of Advent.

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