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May 2014

May 24

At Amman Mass, Pope calls on Christians to promote peace

May 24, 2014

AMMAN, Jordan - Celebrating Mass on his first day in the Holy Land, Pope Francis said hope for peace in a region torn by sectarian conflicts comes from faith in God.

Pope Francis pleads for peace and justice in Jordan address

May 24, 2014

Pope Francis was barely off the plane in Amman, Jordan when he began to take on the hardest and most delicate issues in the Middle East – including refugees.

At River Jordan, pope meets suffering, speaks against arms trade

May 24, 2014

AMMAN, Jordan - Jordan's powerful and marginalized joined together at the banks of the River Jordan to welcome Pope Francis at the site believed to be where Jesus was baptized.

May 25

Crowds gather early in anticipation of Pope appearance

May 25, 2014

BETHLEHEM - The faithful began arriving in Manger Square four hours in advance of Pope Francis' appearance, waving flags, shaking hands, buzzing with excitement. With three hours to go the people are singing hymns.

In Bethlehem, near site of Christ's birth, pope speaks out for children

May 25, 2014

BETHLEHEM, West Bank - Celebrating Mass a few steps from the spot traditionally believed to the birthplace of Jesus, Pope Francis said that the way society treats its young reveals its moral character.

Pope invites Israel, Palestine leaders to Vatican

May 25, 2014

BETHLEHEM - Pope Francis has offered his home, the Vatican, to Israeli President Shimon Perez and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to pray together for peace.

Israel, Palestine leaders accept invite to Vatican

May 25, 2014

Israeli President Shimon Peres and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas are both on record accepting the invitation from Pope Francis to come and pray for peace at the Vatican.

May 26

Fifty years later, Pope and patriarch meet again in Jerusalem

May 26, 2014

JERUSALEM - Half a century after a historic encounter between their predecessors, Pope Francis and Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew met in the same place to seek inspiration for Christian unity at the site of Christ's death and resurrection.

Eight ordained to Toronto's permanent diaconate

May 26, 2014

TORONTO - On May 24 eight men entered St. Paul's Basilica in Toronto only to leave a short time later as the archdiocese's newest deacons.

Sudanese churches condemn death sentence for pregnant Christian

May 26, 2014

KHARTOUM, Sudan - Churches in Sudan, including the Sudan Catholic Bishops' Conference, have condemned the death sentence handed to a pregnant Christian who refused to renounce her faith.

Ukrainian bishop says election was 'fruit of the revolution'

May 26, 2014

OXFORD, England - The Ukrainian Catholic Church has welcomed the victory of a billionaire candy tycoon in presidential election and praised the previous interim government for holding the country together in "dramatic circumstances."

On last morning in Holy Land, Pope reaches out to Muslims, Jews

May 26, 2014

JERUSALEM - Pope Francis spent the last morning of his three-day pilgrimage to the Holy Land meeting with Muslims and Jews and calling for closer relations among the three major monotheistic religions as the basis for peace in the region.

Pope Francis thanks religious for their presence in Holy Land

May 26, 2014

JERUSALEM - Pope Francis dedicated his final hours in Jerusalem to time with local Catholics, reminding them that despite difficulties, God is always by their side.

Campaign Life expresses hopes for Maternal Health Summit

May 26, 2014

OTTAWA - Campaign Life Coalition hopes Prime Minister Stephen Harper's international summit May 28-30 in Toronto is “successful and life-affirming in its results,” says its Ottawa lobbyist.

A papal pilgrimage of peace

May 26, 2014

JERUSALEM - The Pope had a simple plan as he set out for the Holy Land with a rabbi and a Muslim sheik in tow. But simple plans can be difficult to execute.

May 27

Quebec Premier backs off free vote promise on euthanasia

May 27, 2014

OTTAWA - Quebec Premier Philippe Couillard is under fire for violating a promise of a free vote on euthanasia in Quebec.

Pope to meet with sex abuse victims for first time in June

May 27, 2014

Pope Francis will meet with a group of sex abuse victims for the first time in June, he told reporters May 26.

May 28

Quebec bishops condemn re-introduction of euthanasia bill

May 28, 2014

OTTAWA - The Assembly of Catholic Bishops of Quebec warns the adoption of euthanasia Bill-52 would have serious and harmful consequences for the future of Quebec.

Vatican has named two bishops being investigated for abuse

May 28, 2014

VATICAN CITY - Pope Francis told reporters May 26 that "three bishops are under investigation" for misdeeds related to the sexual abuse of minors and that "one has already been condemned and his penalty is being studied."

Eastern Ukraine bishop: Catholics stay home amid fighting, kidnapping

May 28, 2014

WARSAW, Poland - A Catholic bishop in eastern Ukraine said church members are afraid to attend Mass in Donetsk and other towns after a priest from Poland was abducted by pro-Russia separatists.