News/International
Indian prime minister apologizes after Christian marchers beaten
By Anto Akkara, Catholic News ServiceNEW DELHI - Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh apologized to church leaders for the police beating of protesters -- including priests and nuns -- during a march to Parliament advocating for rights for low-caste Christians.
Mudslides protected ancient Vatican necropolis from ravages of time
By Carol Glatz, Catholic News ServiceVATICAN CITY - Slipping hillsides of clay, mud and gravel entombed an enormous necropolis below today's Vatican City State, keeping its underground "city of the dead" safely sealed for two millennia.
Central African leaders tell of humanitarian crisis in Bangui
By Jonathan Luxmoore, Catholic News ServiceOXFORD, England - Catholic leaders in the Central African Republic spoke of a humanitarian crisis and criticized attempts to fuel interreligious clashes in their nation.
Bishops lead protesters in prayer after night of police action in Kiev
By Cindy Wooden, Catholic News ServiceROME - In the deep of the freezing night, security forces moved into Ukraine's Independence Square intent on dislodging protesters who had spent weeks talking, singing and praying for their country.
Mandela 'touched my heart, my soul, my life,' says ex-fellow prisoner
By Catholic News ServiceJOHANNESBURG - Former South African President Nelson Mandela looked down on the tens of thousands of people gathered at his memorial service in Johannesburg and smiled as he watched them celebrate his legacy, said Andrew Mokete Mlangeni, a Catholic who was imprisoned for decades with the late anti-apartheid icon.
European body accepts Vatican report on fighting financial crime
By Cindy Wooden, Catholic News ServiceVATICAN CITY - A European body that investigates government efforts to combat financial crimes has confirmed the Vatican has made significant progress in reducing the risk that its institutions could be used for money laundering and financing terrorism.
Ukraine protest is spiritual movement, bishop says
By Cindy Wooden, Catholic News ServiceROME - When Ukrainian Catholic Bishop Borys Gudziak addressed the crowds in Kiev's Independence Square Dec. 8, he focused on the youth and told them they could change the country.
Pope advances sainthood causes, including Puerto Rican schools pioneer
By Francis X. Rocca, Catholic News ServiceVATICAN CITY - Pope Francis advanced the sainthood causes of 13 candidates, including the "father of Puerto Rican public education" and the Canadian founder of a religious order dedicated to helping unwed mothers.
Pope, with Egyptian Catholic leader, prays for Middle East Christians
By Francis X. Rocca, Catholic News ServiceVATICAN CITY - Concelebrating Mass with the leader of Egypt's Coptic Catholics, Pope Francis prayed for the safety and religious liberty of Christians in the Middle East.
Mandela praised for inspiring others to uphold human dignity
By Catholic News ServiceWASHINGTON - Pope Francis joined church and government leaders from around the world in crediting Nelson Mandela for a steadfast commitment to promoting human rights and upholding the dignity of all people in response to the death Dec. 5 of the former president of South Africa.
Iconic Mandela had touch of humanity
By Bronwen Dachs, Catholic News ServiceCAPE TOWN, South Africa - Nelson Mandela, who led the struggle to replace South Africa's apartheid regime with a multiracial democracy, died Dec. 5 at his home in Johannesburg.