News/International

Retired Bishop Erwin Krautler of Xingu, Brazil, attends a news briefing following a session of the Synod of Bishops for the Amazon at the Vatican Oct. 9, 2019.

Brazilian bishops 'surprised' at Amazon post-synodal document

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SAO PAULO -- Pope Francis' apostolic exhortation on the pan-Amazonian synod surprised many church workers who live in the region and elicited a range of reactions.

Cardinal Reinhard Marx of Munich and Freising, Germany, announced Feb. 11, 2020, he would not run for another term as president of the German bishops' conference. He is pictured in a 2017 photo.

Cardinal Marx won't seek second term as president of German bishops

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BONN, Germany -- Cardinal Reinhard Marx, 66, announced that at the full plenary session of the German bishops' conference in early March, he will not be a candidate for another term as president.

Soldiers patrol the surroundings of El Salvador's national congress as supporters of President Nayib Bukele protest outside the building to push for the approval of funds for a government security plan Feb. 9, 2020.

Salvadoran cardinal calls for prudence, patience amid political turmoil

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MEXICO CITY -- A Salvador cardinal urged "prudence" from the politicians in the Central American country as the president pushed congress to approve a package of security spending.

Pope Francis is pictured with U.S. bishops from Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming during their "ad limina" visits to the Vatican Feb. 10, 2020. The bishops were making their "ad limina" visits to report on the status of their dioceses.

U.S. bishops ask Pope Francis about Amazon synod

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VATICAN CITY -- Talking about debates, differences and discernment, Pope Francis told a group of U.S. bishops that people focused on the possibility of ordaining some married men and women deacons for service in the Amazon will be disappointed in his apostolic exhortation.

Cuban President Miguel Mario Diaz-Canel Bermudez speaks during the General Assembly's 73rd session at the U.N. headquarters in New York City Sept. 26, 2018. New York Cardinal Timothy M. Dolan is set to meet with Diaz-Canel during a Feb. 7-12, 2020, trip to the island nation, which includes a visit with the cardinal of Havana and other Cuban prelates.

Cardinal Dolan to meet with Cuban president, church leaders during visit

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WASHINGTON -- New York Cardinal Timothy M. Dolan is set to meet with the president of the Republic of Cuba during a Feb. 7-12 trip to the island nation, which includes a visit with the cardinal of Havana and other Cuban prelates.

Fr. John Mack.

Priest waits and prays for liver donor

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WASHINGTON -- Fr. John Mack, a priest of the Diocese of Buffalo, N.Y., needs a liver transplant — from a living donor.

Couples receive Communion during a mass wedding in 2015 at St. Alphonsus Mary de Ligouri Church in Makati City, Philippines. A Philippine Catholic official expressed surprise over the speedy acceptance of legislation that would legalize divorce in the Philippines.

Lawmakers in Philippines move to legalize divorce

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MANILA, Philippines -- A Philippine church official has expressed surprise over the speedy acceptance of a bill in the country's parliament that would legalize divorce.

Migrants from Central America trying to reach the United States react as police approach them near Frontera Hidalgo, Mexico, Jan. 21, 2020. At least 138 Salvadorans have been murdered after being deported back to country from the United States, according to a report released Feb. 5 from Human Rights Watch.

Human Rights Watch says deportees killed after return to El Salvador

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MORELIA, Mexico -- At least 138 Salvadorans have been murdered after being sent back to their violent Central American country from the United States, according to a report from Human Rights Watch.

Christ the King Seminary in the Diocese of Buffalo, N.Y., is seen in an undated photo. Albany Bishop Edward B. Scharfenberger, apostolic administrator of the Diocese of Buffalo, said Feb. 4, 2020, that the seminary's board of trustees decided the seminary would "cease operations" after determining that a decade of losses averaging $500,000 per year could no longer be sustained.

Buffalo Diocese to close seminary

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BUFFALO, N.Y. -- Citing annual operating losses and declining enrollment, the Diocese of Buffalo announced it will close its seminary at the end of the academic year.

Police walk near along a London street Feb. 3, 2020, following the terror attack in the city believed to be orchestrated by Sudesh Amman, 20, who was shot dead by armed police following what police declared a terrorist-related incident.

Terrorist attack in London condemned by local bishop

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LONDON -- An archbishop has called a terrorist attack in London in which three people were stabbed "saddening and shocking."

A man in Jinhua, China, lies in a coffin March 27, 2019, during an event organized by the local government to promote "Tomb Sweeping Day." Christian funerals outside of churches have been banned in some areas of China as the communist government begins to enforce a new regulations on religious practices.

Chinese government places restrictions on Christian funerals

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HONG KONG -- Christian funerals outside of churches have been banned in some areas of China as the communist government begins to enforce new regulations on religious practices.

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