International

Pope Meets With Genocide Survivor Who Inspired His Iraq Trip

Pope Francis held a private audience with Nadia Murad, a Nobel Peace Prize laureate and survivor of the Islamic State-led genocide in Iraq, Aug. 26 at the Vatican. While the Vatican did not release any details about the visit, Ms. Murad tweeted Aug. 27, “We discussed the importance of support for #Yazidis & other minority […]

Bishops say Spain trying to ‘dismantle the Christian worldview’

Spain’s Catholic bishops warned of growing division and tension in their country over government attempts to “deconstruct and dismantle the Christian worldview.” “We are in a difficult moment, not only because of COVID-19, but because we are convulsed by a deep institutional crisis, with some groups seeking to open a new constitutional phase and replace […]

New report says anti-Christian violence in Nigeria highest level for years

At least 3,462 Christians, including ten priests or pastors, were murdered in Nigeria in the first 200 days of 2021. The number, just 68 deaths short to the estimated total for 2020, is aligned with the warnings from human rights organizations that focus on anti-Christian persecution regarding the rise of religious-motivated violence in Nigeria, and […]

Christians in Lebanese border town say they’re having spiritual revival

Young adults and families say they are experiencing a spiritual revival in this town near the Syrian border even as Lebanon is pummeled by multiple crises: an economic meltdown, mass unemployment, a fresh wave of coronavirus infections, and shortages of fuel and electricity — all made worse by the ongoing political paralysis and an unresolved […]

Berlin archbishop to name minister for gays, calls side-lining ‘painful’

Archbishop Heiner Koch said he would appoint a pastoral minister as a contact person for gays, the Berlin Archdiocese announced. The German Catholic news agency KNA reported Koch made the pledge when he met with representatives of the Lesbian and Gay Association of Berlin-Brandenburg, with the Archbishop saying this was important so that the marginalization […]

Britney declares she has become a Catholic

In a post on Instagram on Aug. 5 Britney Spears wrote: ”I just got back from mass… I’m Catholic now…let us pray.” The 39-year-old pop star was raised in a strict Baptist household and is a regular churchgoer, but has had a troubled relationship with her family and her fame. Her apparent swim across the […]

Envelope with bullets addressed to Pope Francis intercepted

An envelope containing three bullets addressed to Pope Francis was intercepted in Milan late on Aug. 8, according to Italian media reports. The piece of mail, which had no return address but carried a French stamp, was addressed to “The Pope, Vatican City, St. Peter’s Square in Rome,” the Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera reported. […]

Spiritual abuse occurs more frequently than believed, Vatican official says

The Vatican is investigating about a dozen founders of congregations of consecrated or religious life, and the most common allegations involve abuse of power or conscience, financial corruption or problems associated with “affectivity,” said a top official. Spanish Archbishop José Rodríguez Carballo, secretary of the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic […]

Pope Leo XIV shares vision for papacy in age of artificial intelligence

Pope Leo XIV’s coat of arms and motto: Here’s what they stand for