Catholic News Service
Bangkok asylum seekers appeal to Pope Francis
BANGKOK -- When Pope Francis celebrates Mass in a Bangkok sports stadium Nov. 21, tens of thousands of Catholics from across Thailand will congregate to celebrate with him.
Chinese rules spark concern over Church
HONG KONG -- Weeks after the first anniversary of the deal between the Vatican and the People’s Republic of China on the appointment of bishops — the first formal agreement between the two countries since the 1950s — Beijing promulgated a fresh batch of regulations governing places of worship.
Pope Francis: Jesus' saving love is real
VATICAN CITY -- Jesus' love for each person is a concrete love, a love that is addressed to each person "with their first and last name," Pope Francis said.
Pope Francis calls for dialogue in wake of protests in Iraq
VATICAN CITY -- In the wake of deadly protests in Iraq, Pope Francis called on the people and their leaders to take the path of dialogue to find answers to their nation's problems.
Hong Kong bishop reminds listeners that protesters are human
HONG KONG -- As demonstrations pitting pro-government groups against pro-democracy protesters continue, a bishop urged Catholics to pray for the realization that all are humans and not "cockroaches or dogs."
UNITED NATIONS -- Expressing concern that arms control treaties are "abrogated and flouted," the Vatican's permanent observer to the United Nations called on global leaders to work to rid the world of nuclear weapons.
VATICAN CITY -- Pope Francis appointed Frances H. Arnold, a Nobel-winning chemical engineer from the United States, to the Pontifical Academy of Sciences.
Hong Kong withdraws extradition bill that sparked protests
HONG KONG -- A controversial extradition bill that sparked months of protest has been formally withdrawn by Hong Kong's government, reported ucanews.org.
Lebanon's Catholic patriarchs support anti-government protesters
BEIRUT -- Hundreds of thousands of Lebanese of various religions sounded their cries in unison in streets and public squares throughout the country calling for government reforms.
Syriac Catholic patriarch pleads for peace in northeastern Syria
ROME -- The patriarch of the Syriac Catholic Church pleaded for "immediate and lasting peace in northeastern Syria and the preservation of innocent lives, especially for Christians, who are the original and founding component of Syria."