News/International

Franciscan Father Pierbattista Pizzaballa, head of the Franciscan Custody of the Holy Land, is pictured in a 2011 photo in Rome. Franciscan Father Francesco Patton has been elected as new Custos of the Holy Land, replacing Father Pizzaballa.

Vatican approves election of Italian Franciscan as 'custos' of Holy Land

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JERUSALEM – The Holy See has approved the election of Franciscan Father Francesco Patton as the new "custos" of the Holy Land, replacing Father Pierbattista Pizzaballa, who held the position for 12 years.

Monsignor Tony Anatrella during a conference in Lille.

Prominent French priest and Vatican adviser accused in sex scandal

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For years, seminaries and monasteries around France sent students and novices to Monsignor Tony Anatrella, a prominent French priest and therapist who has written disparagingly of gays, if their superiors decided the young men were struggling with homosexuality.

Anglican Archbishop Michael Jackson and Archbishop Diarmuid Martin of Dublin lead an ecumenical Good Friday procession in 2012 in Dublin. Archbishop Martin confirmed that Pope Francis, or his successor, will visit Ireland in 2018 for the World Meeting of Families.

Pope to visit Ireland for 2018 meeting of families

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DUBLIN – Archbishop Diarmuid Martin confirmed that Pope Francis, or his successor, will visit Ireland in 2018 for the World Meeting of Families.

A man prays in 2013 at a church in Rio de Janeiro. Due to the swine flu outbreak in several parts of Brazil, parishes all over the country have adopted changes in liturgical practices.

Swine flu leads to changes to Brazilian churches Sunday practices

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SAO PAULO – Due to the swine flu outbreak in several parts of Brazil, parishes all over the country have adopted changes in liturgical practices. These changes include suspending hand-held prayers by the congregation and the traditional sign of peace and placing the Eucharist in the parishioners' hands instead of in their mouths during Communion. 

A man getting baptized.

Church of Scotland to consider online baptisms, Communion

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CANTERBURY, England – The Church of Scotland will launch a two-year investigation into the possibility of introducing online baptisms, Communion and other Christian sacraments.

Syrian children stand at a fence April 23 at a refugee camp near Gaziantep, Turkey. Pope Francis told diplomats to the Holy See to not fear helping migrants who are in need.

Do not give in to fear in helping migrants, Pope tells diplomats

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VATICAN CITY – While the international community should continue working for peace in war-torn countries, it also must work to help migrants escaping violence and persecution as well as those caring for them, Pope Francis said. 

Anirban Mukherjee and his wife, Sampa, pose May 2 with their 17-month-old son Anirban at Shishu Bhavan, the Missionaries of Charity children's home in Kolkata, India. The parents adopted Anirban from the home in April 2015 and call him "the gift from the saint of Kolkata, Mother Teresa."

Indian couples frustrated as Missionaries of Charity stop adoptions

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CALCUTTA, India – Seventeen-month-old Anirban Mukherjee playfully touches his mother's face with his fingers at Shishu Bhavan, the Missionaries of Charity children's home.

Afghan farmers extract opium to be processed into heroin in Helmand province, Afghanistan, April 7. A Catholic bishop in southern Mexican has called for compassion toward the impoverished populations harvesting opium poppies out of necessity, saying such people are not sinners and are neglected by the government.

Mexican bishop calls for compassion for people growing opium

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MEXICO CITY – A Catholic bishop in the southern Mexican state of Guerrero has called for compassion toward the impoverished populations harvesting opium poppies out of necessity, saying such people are not sinners and are neglected by the government.

Italian laywoman Francesca Chaouqui, a member of the former Pontifical Commission for Reference on the Organization of the Economic-Administrative Structure of the Holy See, arrives for the third hearing of the"VatiLeaks" case at the Vatican Dec. 7. Her request to have three Vatican officials testify was denied.

Cardinals, papal almoner will not testify at Vatican trial

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VATICAN CITY – The Vatican court denied a request by a defendant in the so-called "VatiLeaks" trial to have three Vatican officials to testify.

In French interview, Pope talks about religious freedom, abuse crisis

In French interview, Pope talks about religious freedom, abuse crisis

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VATICAN CITY – Governments work best when they are secular, not confessional, but they must give ample space for people to express their religious beliefs, including by respecting the right of conscientious objection, Pope Francis told the French Catholic newspaper La Croix.

Headquarter of American global pharmaceutical corporation Pfizer in New York City, N.Y.

Pharmaceutical giant Pfizer hailed for ban on supplying drugs for executions

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WASHINGTON – The pharmaceutical giant Pfizer, in a position statement issued earlier this spring, said some of its drugs are not meant to be used for executions and that it would restrict those drugs' availability to government agencies that might use them to make compounds for lethal injections.

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