News/International

A Palestinian protestor reacts after inhaling tear gas fired by Israeli troops during clashes near the border of Israel and Gaza City Nov. 13.

In Gaza, visiting bishops see signs of hope amid continued destruction

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JERUSALEM - From a new playground at the Catholic parish in Gaza to transitional housing provided by a U.S. agency, visiting bishops from three continents said they saw signs of hope and resilience amid the continuing poverty and destruction in the Gaza Strip.

Syrian refugees stand in snow outside their tents Jan. 2 in Lebanon's Bekaa Valley. Lebanon continues to bear the brunt of absorbing massive numbers of refugees.

Lebanon strains under weight of refugees, but keeps accepting them

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BEIRUT - While the flow of migrants into Europe and the West has sparked controversy, Lebanon continues to bear the brunt of absorbing massive numbers of refugees. A commonly cited figure is that one in four people in Lebanon is displaced from Syria.

Guns for sale are displayed in Roseburg Gun Shop in Roseburg, Ore., Oct. 3.

Texas bishop rips U.S. ‘cowboy mentality’ against gun control

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In a blistering critique of what he describes as congressional kowtowing to the gun lobby, the Roman Catholic bishop of Dallas is praising President Obama’s new actions on gun control and ripping the “cowboy mentality” that allows open-carry laws like one that just went into effect in Texas.

Sister Sandra Amado, a Comboni sister from Brazil, teaches a class in 2012 at a teacher training institute in Yambio, South Sudan. A late-December attack on religious sisters at the training institute in South Sudan has shaken and saddened the church, a church leader said.

South Sudan bishop urges peace, says attack on nuns shakes church

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YAMBIO, South Sudan - An attack on religious sisters at a teacher training college in South Sudan has shaken and saddened the church, a church leader said, while urging people of faith to demand the implementation of the latest peace accord to end the civil war.

The coffin of Gisela Mota, former mayor of Temixco, Mexico, is carried out of her home Jan. 3. Mota was killed Jan. 2, one day after taking oath of office.

Bishop says Mexican mayor's murder was message from organized crime

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MEXICO CITY - The assassination of a Mexican mayor the day after she assumed office was a message from organized crime and evidence of its influence in the area around the city of Cuernavaca, said the bishop who celebrated her funeral Mass.

Evacuees from besieged towns in Syria rest at Ebla Hotel in Damascus Dec. 30.

Syriac church leaders angered by Islamic State attack in Qamishli

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BEIRUT - Syriac church leaders denounced the year-end terrorist attack that targeted Christian-owned restaurants in Qamishli, Syria.

Local volunteers and the British Army fill sandbags Dec. 28 to stem floodwater in York, England. Pope Francis called on Christians to pray for victims of several natural disasters that have hit parts of the United States, Great Britain and Paraguay.

Some priests organize rescues, others trapped in northern England floods

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MANCHESTER, England - A 78-year-old Catholic priest trapped in his home was among those rescued as floods ravaged the north of England.

An Iranian girl raises a sheet of paper with 'Please HELP Me' on it Nov. 24 as a group of people wait for permission to cross the border from Greece into Macedonia. Macedonia began granting entry only to refugees from Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan.

2015: the year of the refugee

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The easy way to look back on 2015, or any year of news, is to list off all the bombings, shootings, riots, droughts, hurricanes, floods and famines. We can always find a parade of disaster.

Galit Oren, Tali Khanin, and Zohar Kaplan wear special glasses that make the lights multiply on the Christmas tree in the lobby of the YMCA in West Jerusalem Christmas Eve. They were part of a group of secular rabbinical students who had come to experience Christmas in Jerusalem.

In Israeli cities, Jews show an increase in interest in Christmas

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JERUSALEM - On Christmas Eve, the entrance to the West Jerusalem YMCA was decked out in colorful lights against the night sky, and a Christmas tree sparkling with ornaments stood in the lobby. Jewish Israelis and international visitors, guests at the YMCA's popular restaurant, stopped to take pictures in front of the tree.

Pope Francis smiles as he arrives to lead his general audience in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican Dec. 16. The pope won the German 2016 Charlemagne Prize for European unification

Pope Francis to receive Germany's Charlemagne Prize

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VATICAN CITY - Pope Francis was selected to be the 2016 recipient of Germany's Charlemagne Prize for his commitment in promoting European unity.

A Kenyan bus arrives to pick up passengers in this picture dated 2009. Christian leaders have hailed as an act of bravery and selflessness the shielding of some Christians by Muslims after suspected al-Shabab gunmen in Mandera County ambushed a passenger bus.

Muslims shield Christian passengers in militant attack on Kenyan bus

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NAIROBI, Kenya - Christian leaders have hailed as an act of bravery and selflessness the shielding of some Christians by Muslims after suspected al-Shabab gunmen in Mandera County ambushed a passenger bus.

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