News/International
Pope Francis asks Cardinal Zuppi to lead peace mission for Ukraine
By Cindy Wooden, Catholic News ServicePope 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.
Pope Francis wants to send peace envoys to Kyiv, Moscow: report
By Cindy Wooden, Catholic News ServiceA 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.
Gaza priest helps calm traumatized community
By Judith Sudilovsky, OSV NewsEven 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.
New report says Germany's Catholic Church faces major decline in membership, revenue
By Jonathan Luxmoore, OSV NewsGermany'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.
Caritas Internationalis elects new president, stressing local connections in aid
By Justin McLellan, Catholic News ServiceCaritas 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.
Pope Francis, Zelenskyy talk about humanitarian situation provoked by war in Ukraine
By Cindy Wooden, Catholic News ServiceAfter literally hundreds of public prayers for peace in Ukraine and 443 days after Russia launched an all-out war on the Eastern European country, Pope Francis welcomed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to the Vatican.
Ukrainian bishops hopeful for President Zelenskyy's Vatican visit
By Jonathan Luxmoore, OSV NewsUkrainian church leaders have cautiously welcomed news of a Vatican visit by their country's president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, after a fresh wave of Russian missile attacks in anticipation of a counteroffensive by Kyiv's forces.
UK bishop denounces new IVF method resulting in first baby born with DNA of three people
By Simon Caldwell, OSV NewsAn English Catholic bishop has denounced the first reported births of "three-parent" babies in the UK as "deeply concerning."
Catholic leaders welcome 'focus on service' at king's coronation
By Jonathan Luxmoore, OSV NewsCatholic leaders in Britain welcomed the ecumenical and interfaith elements in the May 6 coronation of King Charles III and his consort, Queen Camilla, as well as a pledge by the new monarch "not to be served but to serve."
Kremlin, Ukraine deny working with Vatican on peace talks
By Justin McLellan, Catholic News ServiceMoscow is not working with the Vatican to end the war in Ukraine, said a Kremlin spokesperson.
Most victims of mass cult starvation in Kenya are children
By Fredrick Nzwili, OSV NewsAs the death toll in what is becoming known as the "Shakahola starvation massacre" in Kenya hit 110, religious leaders in the region are finding that the majority of victims are children. They also suspect that not all of the victims died from starvation.