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January 2016

January 1

In Peace Day message, Pope addresses death penalty, debt, migrants

January 1, 2016

VATICAN CITY - Pope Francis called for abolishing the death penalty worldwide, lifting the burden of debt on poor nations, global aid policies that respect life and revamped laws that welcome and integrate migrants.

Mercy conference for Chinese Catholics

January 1, 2016

TORONTO - Archbishop Savio Hon Tai-Fai, the Vatican’s Secretary of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples, will be the keynote speaker at a Jubilee Year of Mercy conference in Toronto on New Year’s weekend.

Homily for Mass on Feast of Mother of God

January 1, 2016

Pope Francis delivered the homily at Mass on New Year's Day, the Solemnity of the Mother of God, in St. Peter's Basilica. Below, please find the full text of the official English translation of his prepared remarks.

January 2

Canadian bishops, rabbinic caucus seek help for persecuted Christians

January 2, 2016

OTTAWA - Canada’s Catholic bishops and the Canadian Rabbinic Caucus are asking the Canadian government to make it a priority to help persecuted Christians in the Middle East and Africa, whom Pope Francis and Rabbi Jonathan Sacks say face genocide.

Some priests organize rescues, others trapped in northern England floods

January 2, 2016

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

January 3

Mercy enlightens past year, gives hope for new year, Pope says

January 3, 2016

VATICAN CITY - The gift of mercy is a light that helps Christians reflect on the past year and radiates hope at the start of the new year, Pope Francis said.

January 4

God's mercy knows 'no limits,' frees people from despair, Pope says

January 4, 2016

VATICAN CITY - God's ability to forgive "knows no limits" as his mercy frees people from bitterness and despair, Pope Francis said.

Vatican agreement with Palestine goes into effect

January 4, 2016

VATICAN CITY - A historic agreement signed between the Holy See and Palestine that supports a two-state solution in the Holy Land has gone into effect, the Vatican announced.

Pope erects Syro-Malankara eparchy for Canada, U.S.

January 4, 2016

VATICAN CITY - Pope Francis erected a new Syro-Malankara eparchy for the United States and Canada. The pope also named Bishop Thomas Eusebios Naickamparambil, who served as the apostolic exarch for Syro-Malankaran Catholics in the United States, as its first bishop.

Syriac church leaders angered by Islamic State attack in Qamishli

January 4, 2016

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

Canada on track to welcome 25,000 Syrian refugees, says ambassador

January 4, 2016

AMMAN, Jordan - As a cautious world rang in the New Year with concerns over terrorism and security, Catholics in Canada were continuing to welcome Syrian refugees to their newly adopted homeland.

January 5

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

January 5, 2016

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.

Away in a manger: Pope makes secret stop at Nativity scene's birthplace

January 5, 2016

VATICAN CITY - Pope Francis made a surprise visit to the place where his namesake, St. Francis of Assisi, created the world's first Nativity scene.

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

January 5, 2016

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.

January 6

Seek out signs God offers everyone for finding Jesus, Pope says

January 6, 2016

VATICAN CITY - Go out and seek the signs God is offering everyone today that will lead to Christ, Pope Francis said.

Diplomat tells students to live religious freedom boldly

January 6, 2016

MONTREAL - The greatest threat to religious freedom in Canada is silence, Canada’s ambassador for Religious Freedom told more than 700 university students attending the Rise Up conference in Montreal.

Catholic groups miss TRC target by $21 million

January 6, 2016

A $21-million shortfall in Catholic fundraising has added another challenge to the task of reconciliation between Canadian churches and Native communities.

St. Raphael’s community lives on after church closure

January 6, 2016

MONTREAL - St. Raphael’s church may be closed, but a small group of parishioners refuse to let their parish die.

Catholic agencies plead for help as Ethiopian drought crisis worsens

January 6, 2016

As the worst Ethiopian drought in 60 years threatens as many as 20 million people living in more than half of Africa’s second largest country, Catholic aid agencies in the desperate nation are asking for help as the crisis continues into 2016.

Vatican newspaper denounces ‘blasphemous’ Charlie Hebdo cover

January 6, 2016

VATICAN CITY - The Vatican’s newspaper has criticized French weekly Charlie Hebdo for manipulating faith in the magazine’s latest front page, which depicts a blood-soaked God armed with a Kalashnikov.