News/International

A Polish soldier installs barbed wire on the Poland-Belarus border near Kuznica, Poland, Nov. 9, 2021. Poland deployed 15,000 troops with razor wire and tear gas and announced plans for a 65-mile border wall after stranded migrants, mostly from Asia and the Middle East, amassed at the border.

Polish church leaders offer support for refugees, but back border security

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WARSAW, Poland -- Poland's military archbishop urged security forces to prevent the illegal entry of refugees and migrants, as the country's bishops' conference announced a nationwide collection to help those amassing on the frontier with Belarus.

An Ethiopian police officer stands guard during a pro-government rally in Addis Ababa Nov. 7. People were denouncing what rally organizers say is interference by the Tigray People’s Liberation Front and Western countries in internal affairs of the country.

Salesians arrested amid Ethiopian violence

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NAIROBI, Kenya -- Ethiopian government forces raided a centre run by the Salesians of Don Bosco in Addis Ababa Nov. 5 and arrested 17 people, including priests, religious brothers and employees.

Iraqi soldiers take part in an intensive security deployment following a drone attack on Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi's residence in Baghdad Nov. 7, 2021. Pope Francis sent a message to the Iraqi prime minister after the attack.

Pope Francis condemns attack on Iraqi prime minister's residence

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VATICAN CITY -- Pope Francis condemned a drone attack on the Iraqi prime minister's residence as a "vile act of terrorism" and expressed his hope that all people in the country would pursue peace through dialogue.

A cross is silhouetted outside a Catholic church near Nantes, France, Oct. 5, 2021. French bishops have unveiled new measures against sexual abuse by clergy in the wake of an independent report released in October.

French bishops set out new reforms in wake of abuse report

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LOURDES, France -- France's Catholic bishops have unveiled new measures to counter sexual abuse by clergy after an October report by an independent commission estimated more than 330,000 children had been abused since the 1950s.

U.S. President Joe Biden speaks with Paulist Father Steven J. Petroff after attending a Saturday evening Mass at St. Patrick's Church during a break in the G-20 summit in Rome Oct. 30, 2021.

Biden attends Mass in Rome, tells reporters of his admiration for Pope Francis

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ROME -- Pope Francis "is a man who has a great empathy. He's a man who understands that part of his Christianity is to reach out and forgive," U.S. President Joe Biden told reporters in Rome Oct. 31.

U.S. President Joe Biden greets Pope Francis during a meeting at the Vatican Oct. 29, 2021.

U.S. President Biden visits Pope Francis at the Vatican

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VATICAN CITY -- Pope Francis and U.S. President Joe Biden had an unusually long meeting at the Vatican Oct. 29, talking about the climate crisis and poverty, among other issues.

Villagers displaced by fighting in eastern Myanmar cross a river in Kayah state June 12, 2021. Myanmar's military has arrested seven workers from the Catholic Church's social arm Caritas (Karuna) who were on a mission to provide aid for internally displaced persons in Kayah.

Myanmar military arrests seven Caritas workers

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YANGON, Myanmar -- Myanmar's military has arrested seven workers from the Catholic Church's social arm who were on a mission to provide aid for internally displaced persons in conflict-stricken Kayah state.

Seminarians from the Pontifical North American College walk in procession during the ordination of new deacons in St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican Sept. 30, 2021. Pope Francis has shared a letter from an adult survivor of clergy abuse, addressed to the world's seminarians, calling for an end to silence and a commitment to truth.

Pope Francis shares letter of abuse victim

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VATICAN CITY -- An adult survivor of abuse by a priest appealed to the world’s seminarians to become good priests and to make sure the “bitter truth” always prevails, not silence about scandals and their cover-up.

Franciscan Sister Diana Muñoz, a human rights lawyer, poses for a photo outside Casa Betania Santa Martha June 29, 2019, in Salto de Agua, Mexico. In October 2021, the shelter was raided twice within a week by armed individuals claiming to be government officials, but none of the individuals had IDs.

Migrant shelter in southern Mexico denounces raid by armed individuals

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MEXICO CITY -- A Catholic migrant shelter in southern Chiapas state said unidentified individuals forced their way into the premises -- the latest act of intimidation against migrant defenders in the region.

U.S. Cardinal Raymond L. Burke is seen outside the Vatican March 7, 2013. In an Oct. 15, 2021, letter posted on his Facebook page, the 73-year-old cardinal said his recovery from COVID-19 is continuing with the help of physical therapy and he is now able to celebrate daily Mass.

Cardinal Burke continues to recover, urges Catholics to pray rosary daily

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LA CROSSE, Wis. -- Cardinal Raymond L. Burke said his recovery from COVID-19 is continuing with the help of physical therapy and he is now able to celebrate daily Mass.

A confessional on which is written: "M. the Priest" is pictured in a Catholic church near Nantes, France, Oct. 5, 2021. Archbishop Charles Scicluna says the report of clerical sexual abuse in France is a call for the church to take action, get more serious about implementing child protection policies and, especially, justice for victims.

Sorrow must turn to action: Archbishop

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VATICAN CITY -- Shame and sorrow are appropriate initial responses to the report on the extent of clerical sexual abuse in France, but the Catholic Church must move to action to protect children and to guarantee justice for victims and survivors, said Archbishop Charles J. Scicluna.

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