International

In their words – Untold stories of victims of violence in Nigeria

Victims of violence in north central Nigeria have told The Pillar that they believe the Nigerian government will not bring any aid to them as their communities continue to face violence from marauders who have burned villages and crops, stolen cattle, and kidnapped people for ransom. In Nigeria’s Niger state, a survivor of violence and […]

How the synodal way split Germany’s bishops

Four of Germany’s 27 diocesan bishops have refused to fund a committee created to implement the resolutions of the country’s controversial “synodal way.” The synodal way’s logo at the final assembly in Frankfurt, Germany, on March 9, 2023. © Synodaler Weg/Maximilian von Lachner. Cologne’s Cardinal Rainer Maria Woelki, Regensburg’s Bishop Rudolf Voderholzer, Passau’s Bishop Stefan […]

Iraqi Christians oppose move for ‘demographic change’ in Nineveh

Christian leaders and activists from five political parties have jointly issued a statement over large-scale real estate operations in the Christian stronghold of the Nineveh Plains, saying the move aims to change the demography and threaten the Christian heritage of the region. Five political groups – the Assyrian Democratic Movement (Zowaa), the National Union of […]

Synod working doc aims to unite Catholics, but may alienate conservatives

Touting the process as an effort to lead global Catholicism “beyond fragmentation and polarization,” the Vatican published Tuesday the Instrumentum laboris, or “working document,” for a Synod of Bishops on Synodality convened by Pope Francis in October. However, the specific issues the document lists as matters to be addressed during the summit may actually fuel […]

Corpus Christi procession in Valencia, Spain, continues to catechize

Year after year, the feast of Corpus Christi brings whole neighborhoods to the streets in Spain, with some enterprising families chaining lawn chairs to prominent viewing spots days in advance. This year was no different, with the procession lasting for hours and civic and religious leaders, as well as representatives of various religious groups, taking […]

Asian Church voices concern over shrinking democratic spaces

A weeklong conference of Asian Church leaders has ex-pressed concern over shrinking democratic spaces in several countries in the region. The June 5-10 conference at Marian Pilgrim Centre Bai Dau in the Vang Tau City of Vietnam regretted that the rulers in those countries have become totalitarian, violating their citizens’ basic rights and instilling fear […]

Conditions harden for Belarus Catholics

A Catholic parish priest accused of “offending state authorities” in Belarus said he understood the hardships facing prisoners of conscience after just four days in jail. “I wouldn’t wish this on anyone – not a single hour in such a place,” said Father Andrej Kulik, rector of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Parish […]

New discoveries of genocide victims Rwanda’s ‘sad reality,’ priest says

More than 1,000 corpses will be buried at the Mibilizi genocide memorial site in Rwanda on June 3. The bodies of 1,238 victims of the 1994 mass killings recently were exhumed from church-owned land, and according to a Catholic priest and diocesan official in Rwanda, the discovery of the cache of remains means the route […]

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

Goans oppose tourism project near 16th century basilica