Bishops appointed for Chaldean Church in Toronto, Sydney, Baghdad
VATICAN CITY - Pope Francis named new bishops for Chaldean Catholics in Toronto and Sydney and confirmed the election of a Chaldean priest, who is currently ministering in Detroit, to be a new auxiliary bishop in Baghdad.
Vatican downplays report that it’s under threat from Islamic terrorists
VATICAN CITY - The Vatican rejected reports that it could be the next target of Islamist terrorists after last week’s deadly attacks in France.
Pope to diplomats: Rejecting God, people, nature leads to conflict
VATICAN CITY - Highlighting some of the most urgent conflicts facing the world, Pope Francis said such strife and injustices were rooted in a culture of rejection that refuses to recognize God, to protect nature and to respect other human beings.
Panel advising Vatican unanimous that Archbishop Romero is a martyr
VATICAN CITY - A panel of theologians advising the Vatican's Congregation for Saints' Causes voted unanimously to recognize the late Salvadoran Archbishop Oscar Romero as a martyr, according to the newspaper of the Italian bishops' conference.
God created all people, desires to save them, Pope says on Epiphany
VATICAN CITY - In every age and in every culture, people seek God just as the Three Kings did and, in every age, with the help of the Holy Spirit, they find him in the surprising humility of a baby born in a manger, Pope Francis said.
Want to see Pope Francis’ vision for the church? Look at his new cardinals
VATICAN CITY - Pope Francis reinforced his radical reshaping of the Catholic Church by naming 20 new cardinals from countries as far afield as Ethiopia, Tonga, Thailand and Panama.
Pope Francis names 15 new cardinal electors, most from global south
VATICAN CITY - Underscoring the geographical diversity of his selections, Pope Francis named 15 cardinal electors "from 14 nations of every continent, showing the inseparable link between the church of Rome and the particular churches present in the world."
New Year's Eve is time for examination of conscience, Pope says
VATICAN CITY - The end of one calendar year and the beginning of another is the perfect occasion to reflect on how well people have used the time and gifts God has given them -- especially how well people have helped the poor, Pope Francis said.
Vatican honors murdered missionaries, kidnapped priests, Ebola victims
VATICAN CITY - In addition to its annual report on church workers murdered during the year, the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples highlighted the sacrifice of pastoral workers who died of Ebola contracted while caring for others and reminded Catholics that the fates of five kidnapped priests remain unknown.
In Christmas messages, patriarchs lament peoples' suffering, offer hope
BEIRUT - Catholic patriarchs of the Middle East lamented the suffering of their people in violence-wracked areas and offered words of hope while calling for prayers for their safety.
Pope Francis: Prolong Christmas joy by serving others, witnessing to Christ
VATICAN CITY - The day after Christmas, Pope Francis warned Catholics about two related temptations: giving Christmas a "false, sugary coating" and not putting the faith one professes into action.