News/International

A Nativity scene and Christmas tree decorate the Apostolic Palace at the Vatican Dec. 15.

Tree, creche inspire all, even nonbelievers, to love, share, says Pope

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VATICAN CITY - God did not come to the world with arrogance to impose His might; He offered His powerful love through a fragile child, Pope Francis said.

A man lights a candle in a temporary Ukrainian Catholic tent church in 2013 during anti-government protests in Kiev. Archbishop Sviatoslav Shevchuk of Kiev-Halych and other Ukrainian Catholic leaders have warned their church is being driven underground a gain, a quarter-century after it was re-legalized with the end of communist rule.

In eastern Ukraine, church has 'returned to catacombs,' spokesman says

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WARSAW, Poland - Ukrainian Catholic leaders have warned their Church is being driven underground again, a quarter-century after it was re-legalized with the end of communist rule.

A car drives past the building of the the U.S. diplomatic mission in Cuba, the U.S. Interests Section, in Havana, in this 2013 file photo. U.S. President Barack Obama announced a shift in policy toward Cuba Dec. 17.

U.S. Church leaders pleased that U.S.-Cuba will rebuild relations

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WASHINGTON - American Church officials expressed optimism about plans by the United States and Cuba to normalize diplomatic relations and work toward reshaping how the two neighbouring countries interact with each other.

Cars in Havana drive past a banner Dec. 17 featuring five Cuban prisoners held in U.S. custody; two were previously released. U.S. President Barack Obama announced a shift in policy toward Cuba Dec. 17.

Pope Francis credited for urging U.S., Cuba to normalize relations

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WASHINGTON - Pope Francis personally appealed to President Barack Obama and Cuban President Raul Castro this year to encourage both leaders to normalize diplomatic relations, a senior Obama administration official said.

Lorette Kassis watches her daughter Lordes, 10, light candles near a painting of St. Nicholas in a church named after the saint in Beit Jalla, West Bank, Dec. 14. In Beit Jalla, which is about 65 percent Christian, St. Nicholas day is celebrated with t he Greek Orthodox Dec. 19.

West Bank town takes pride in links to St. Nicholas, celebrates Dec. 19

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BEIT JALLA, West Bank - Bethlehem might have the Church of the Nativity, but residents of this largely Christian town adjacent to Bethlehem say they have St. Nicholas.

People pose to take pictures with the popemobile in front of Gemelli Hospital in Rome June 27. Pope Francis will ride in a “accessible” popemobile that will not be bulletproof and will have a roof when he visits the Philippines from Jan. 15-19 next year.

Pope to ride in open vehicles during trip to Philippines

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MANILA, Philippines - Philippine church officials said the pope will be riding in open vehicles during his five-day visit in January.

Members of the public look at thousands of floral tributes placed Dec. 16 near the Sydney cafewhere hostages were held for more than 16 hours. An Irish priest based in Sydney said he was amazed at how many people turned to prayer during the deadly siege.

Darkness of Sydney siege cannot overcome Christ's light, archbishop says

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SYDNEY - Hell has touched Sydney, but the darkness let loose on a terrorized city cannot overcome the light of Christ, the city's archbishop said at a special Dec. 16 Mass after a lone gunman took 17 people hostage in a cafe, killing two before being shot by police.

A man carries a student released from a hospital in Peshawar, Pakistan, after the Dec. 16 Taliban attack on the Army Public School.

Pakistani Catholic official calls attack on school 'barbaric, inhuman'

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NEW DELHI - The Catholic Church in Pakistan has joined the chorus of condemnation of the deadly attack by Taliban on an army school in Peshawar that has left at least 126 children and others dead and 250 injured.

A Liberian woman prays for the end of Ebola outside Monrovia, Liberia, Oct. 31. Catholic Relief Services committed $1.5 million to its pre-existing programs in Sierra Leone, Liberia and Guinea, the three West African countries affected by widespread tran smission of the Ebola virus. The money is being used several ways, including to train heath workers, ensure safe and dignified burials, and maintain local Catholic-run health care facilities.

Sierra Leone bans Christmas, New Year’s celebrations to prevent spread of Ebola

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NAIROBI, Kenya - The government of Sierra Leone banned public Christmas and New Year’s celebrations because they may exacerbate efforts to eradicate the Ebola virus.

A woman holds a baby Aug. 18 at a temporary tent camp set up for Ukrainian refugees near the Russian-Ukrainian border. The U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs estimated Aug. 15 that 155,800 Ukrainians had been displaced by fighting, more than 2,000 people had been killed since mid-April and another 5,000 had been injured.

Lithuanian archbishop worried Russia will move against Baltic states

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WARSAW, Poland - A top Baltic church leader voiced concern about possible Russian aggression against Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia, and appealed to Western Catholics to be better informed about the situation.

An Advent wreath is pictured in the Apostolic Palace at the Vatican Dec. 15.

Count down to Christmas by counting your blessings, Pope says

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VATICAN CITY - No saint was ever known for having a "funeral face," Pope Francis said; the joy of knowing one is loved by God and saved by Christ must be seen at least in a sense of peace, if not a smile.

Celebrating the third Sunday of Advent, Gaudete Sunday, Dec. 14, Pope Francis paid an evening visit to Rome's St. Joseph parish, meeting with the sick, with a group of Gypsies, with a First Communion class and with dozens of couples whose newborn babies were baptized in the past year.

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