News/International

Pope Francis embraces Catholicos Karekin II of Etchmiadzin, patriarch of the Armenian Apostolic Church, during an April 12 Mass in St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican to mark the 100th anniversary of the Armenian genocide.

Pope’s visit to Armenian genocide memorial may strain tensions with Turkey

By

VATICAN CITY – Pope Francis will visit the Armenian Genocide memorial complex during a three-day visit to the country in June, a move that may strain the Vatican’s diplomatic relations with Turkey.

An Orthodox Jewish woman walks with her children on the roof in the Arab section of the Old City of Jerusalem on her way from an Israeli settlement March 26. The Jewish settlement is near the Church of the Holy Sepulcher and the Church of the Redeemer in the Christian Quarter of the Old City.

Increasing Jewish settlements cause unease in Jerusalem's Old City

By

JERUSALEM – On a tidy residential street of the Christian Quarter of the Old City, boys still play with marbles along the cobblestones, and neighbours call out to one another from balconies abloom with red carnations.

Bishop David L Ricken of Green Bay, Wis., is pictured with Deacon David Parker Sr., left, his wife, Denise, and their son David Jr., following the father and son's ordination as deacons May 7 at Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church in Pulaski, Wis. The younger Parker, a member of the Legionaries of Christ, was ordained a transitional deacon and and will be ordained to the priesthood in December.

Bishop ordains father, son as deacons in a first for Green Bay Diocese

By

PULASKI, Wis. – When David Parker informed his eldest child, Legionary Brother David Parker Jr., that he was pursuing the diaconate again, the son had a question for his father: "How many years do you have in formation?"

Pope Francis listens as Domingo Sugranyes Bickel, president of the Centesimus Annus Pro Pontifice Foundation, speaks during an audience with business leaders and Catholic social teaching experts at the Vatican May 13. Those at the audience were attending a conference sponsored by the foundation.

Economy of exclusion, inequality caused growth of poverty, Pope says

By

VATICAN CITY – An economic vision geared solely toward profit and material well-being has led to an economy of exclusion and inequality that has increased poverty and the number of people discarded "as unproductive and useless," Pope Francis said. 

An undated photo of St. Peter's Basilica in Vatican City.

Order in the court: 'VatiLeaks' trial testifies to unique legal process

By

VATICAN CITY – The latest "VatiLeaks" trial seemed to have all the makings of a classic courtroom thriller: financial scandal, secrets leaked by an insider and journalists defending their right to blow the whistle on allegations of corruption within a state that is the seat of the Roman Catholic Church.

Pope Francis embraces Sister Carmen Sammut, a Missionary Sister of Our Lady of Africa and president of the International Union of Superiors General, during an audience with the heads of women's religious orders in Paul VI hall at the Vatican May 12. During a question-and-answer session with members of the IUSG, the pope said he was willing to establish a commission to study whether women could serve as deacons.

Pope did not say he'd ordain women deacons, spokesman says

By

VATICAN CITY – After some news outlets reported the Pope was considering ordaining women deacons and comments were made about women deacons leading to women priests, Jesuit Father Federico Lombardi clarified the Pope’s comments May 13.

Australian Cardinal George Pell, prefect of the Vatican Secretariat for the Economy, motions as he leaves the morning session of the extraordinary Synod of Bishops on the family at the Vatican in this Oct. 13, 2014, file photo. Cardinal Pell said that lay people are called to be a bridge between the church and the world, particularly in matters of finance.

Cardinal Pell: Laypeople a bridge between Church and the world

By

VATICAN CITY – Laypeople are called to be a bridge between the Church and the world, particularly in matters of finance where "clerics simply do not have that high level of expertise that can only come from highly competent and dedicated professionals," said Cardinal George Pell, prefect of the Secretariat for the Economy.

U.S. Rep. Don Beyer, D-Va., announces his Freedom of Religion Act at the House Triangle in Washington May 11. The bill would make it illegal to make religion a basis for an individual's entry into the U.S.

Bill would prohibit making religion basis for anyone to enter U.S.

By

WASHINGTON – Talk in the U.S. presidential campaign about restricting entry of Muslims into the United States has some religious leaders concerned that the country's religious liberty heritage is under threat.

Demonstrators take part in a protest for gay rights in late February outside Italy's Milan Cathedral. The Italian government's approval of a controversial bill that grants legal recognition to non-married heterosexual and homosexual couples is a defeat for democracy and family life, an Italian bishop said.

Italy's civil unions bill a defeat for family, democracy, bishop says

By

ROME – The Italian government's approval of a controversial bill that grants legal recognition to non-married heterosexual and homosexual couples is a defeat for democracy and family life, an Italian bishop said.

Philippine presidential candidate and Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte attends an April 27 news conference in Manila. Duterte was elected president May 9.

Philippine priest says Duterte's win is reminder 'people want change'

By

MANILA, Philippines – Philippines President-elect Rodrigo Duterte's win in May 9 national elections was "a strong reminder that people want change," said Fr. Anton Pascual, president of Radio Veritas, the country's largest Catholic radio network.

Women look at a new monthly women's insert called "Women-Church-World" in the Vatican's L'Osservatore Romano newspaper this May 30, 2012, file photo. Pope Francis said he would look into New Testament deaconesses.

Pope to set up commission to study women deacons

By

VATICAN CITY – Pope Francis told the heads of women's religious orders from around the world that he would set up a commission to study the New Testament deaconesses and he also insisted more can and should be done to involve lay and consecrated women in church decision-making at every level.

Page 370 of 650