International

Christian, Muslim leaders appeal to protect places of worship

Spearheaded by Jordan’s Prince El Hassan Bin Talal, a group of Arab and international scholars, thinkers and religious figures – Muslim and Christian – have launched a global appeal to protect worshippers and places of worship. “In the face of what we see as the continuation of repeated attacks on places of worship and on […]

Saying grace: How a moment of thanks, religious or not, adds meaning to our meals

Brett Levanto and his family had never said grace before meals, not regularly, anyway. But what began as a temporary challenge transformed them in small ways. This year, his daughter decided to start saying grace before dinner during Lent, and he and his wife were encouraging, thinking it would be a nice thing to try […]

Catholic Church still growing in Africa as it recedes in Europe

According to recent statistics, Africa added more than 8 million Catholics in 2019, the largest area of growth in the world. In comparison, America added 5.3 million, Asia added 1.9 million and Oceania 118,000. Europe, on the other hand, saw a decrease of almost 300,000 Catholics. Kinga von Poschinger, who works at the pontifical charity […]

Pope: the Beatitudes, proclamation of a new humanity that revolutionizes the world

The Beatitudes “are the prophecy of a new humanity, of a new way of living: to make oneself small and entrust oneself to God, instead of emerging over others; to be meek, instead of trying to impose oneself; to practice mercy, instead of thinking only of oneself; to commit oneself to justice and peace, instead […]

Escalating Attacks on Poland

Poland’s prime minister is calling on the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) to help stay the influx of tens of thousands of migrants gathering at Poland’s eastern frontier. Mateusz Morawiecki is also calling on Poland, along with Latvia and Lithuania, to consider invoking Article 4 of the NATO treaty over the deepening crisis on the […]

Italy sees drop in native-born priests, increase in foreign clergy

New data released by the Italian church highlights what has been a concerning trend among Catholic leaders in the country for decades: namely, a drop in the number of local priests and an increase in the average age of Italy’s clerics. However, this data also found that while there are less men joining the priesthood […]

Why Bad Things Happen to People, According to 6,500 Americans

“Job and His Three Friends,” by 19th-century French painter Jacques Joseph (James) Tissot. Long before Rabbi Harold Kushner’s When Bad Things Happen to Good People got Americans talking about theodicy in the 1980s, these famous thinkers wrestled with explaining why an all-loving, all-knowing, and all-powerful God would allow suffering. Amid the pandemic and its 5.2 […]

Pope Francis to UNESCO: ‘The Gospel is the most humanizing message known to history’

Pope Francis said on November 12 that “the Gospel is the most humanizing message known to history.” He made the remark in a video message marking the 75th anniversary of UNESCO, the United Nations’ educational, scientific and cultural organization. “From my heart, I express my congra-tulations on the 75th anniversary of this United Nations agency. […]

Eviction-facing Indian Catholics to fight Muslim charity’s claims

Goans oppose tourism project near 16th century basilica