News/International

A statue of St. Gregory of Narek, a 10th-century Armenian monk, is seen during its dedication in the Vatican Gardens April 5. Pope Francis blessed the statue in the presence of Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan, Armenian Apostolic Catholicos Karekin II and Armenian Apostolic Catholicos Aram of Cilicia.

Pope blesses statue of 10th-century Armenian saint in Vatican Gardens

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VATICAN – During a brief ceremony in the Vatican Gardens, Pope Francis blessed a new statue of a 10th-century Armenian monk he had declared a "doctor of the church" in 2015.
Children walk past a church in the Mexican state of Tlaxcala in this 2015 file photo.

Mexican diocese apologizes for failing to stop abusive priest

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MEXICO CITY – A Mexican diocese has apologized and asked for forgiveness for failing to stop a priest from sexually abusing Catholic school children. At the time, the priest had been banned from his priestly duties in a neighboring archdiocese.
Alfie Evans picture lying in his hospital bed at Alder Hey Hospital. He has been hospitalized continuously since Dec. 2016, suffering from chronic seizures of an undiagnosed disorder. Evans is in a “semi-vegetative state” and on life support at Alder Hey Children's Hospital in Liverpool, where doctors have said further efforts are futile and went to court to argue that continuing treatment, as his parents wish, is not in Evans' best interest.

Pope prays for parents, toddler who risks losing life-support

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VATICAN – Pope Francis asked that all efforts be made to accompany a seriously ill toddler in Great Britain whose parents are fighting a legal battle to keep him on life-support.
Pope Francis laughs after losing his zucchetto to a gust of window during his general audience in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican March 21.

Pope's exhortation on holiness to be released April 9

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VATICAN – "Rejoice and Be Glad," Pope Francis' new apostolic exhortation on "the call to holiness in the modern world" will be released April 9, the Vatican announced.
A priest gestures while vesting for Palm Sunday Mass March 25 at a Catholic church in Youtong, in China's Hebei province.

China official: Vatican can't fully control naming bishops

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BEIJING – In a rare move, a top Chinese official answered journalists' questions about a new white paper on religious freedom and the ongoing talks between his government and the Vatican.

Legionaries of Christ Brother Anthony Freeman, 29, a U.S. seminarian from Houston studying in Rome, was found dead in his room April 2. Italian authorities are investigating the death. The "millennial" seminarian was very active in evangelization efforts on social media. He is pictured is this October 2017 photo.

Seminarian who carried cross at Pope's Easter Mass dies in Rome

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ROME – Friends and fans called him a "gentle giant," a faithful "prayer warrior" and a Clark Kent whose superman power was helping people grow in holiness and faith.
A group of teenagers from Pearl, Miss., walk along U.S. Highway 61 just south of Memphis, Tenn., April 2, on their 50-mile "March to Memphis" tribute to the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. April 2. April 4 marks the 50th anniversary of the death of the civil rights leader in Memphis.

Pope, Martin Luther King share common dream, Vatican official says

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VATICAN – The Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.'s dream of a dignified life for all men and women regardless of color or creed continues to live on in the teachings of one his most influential admirers, Pope Francis, a Vatican representative said.
Syrian children are seen inside an informal settlement for refugees in Bar Elias, Lebanon.

Mideast Catholic patriarchs evoke Resurrection hope in Easter messages

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BEIRUT – In Easter messages, Catholic patriarchs of the Middle East evoked the hope of the Resurrection.
Men put the body of a man from Christian family into an ambulance April 2 at a hospital morgue in Quetta, Pakistan. Four members of a Catholic family were killed in a militant attack a day after the minority community celebrated Easter.

Islamic State claims it killed four Catholics in southern Pakistan

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QUETTA, Pakistan – Four members of a Catholic family were killed in a militant attack in southern Pakistan a day after the minority community celebrated Easter.

People react as others run for cover after a shooting near a Via Crucis procession in Acapulco, Mexico, March 30.

In Mexico, ongoing violence continues during Holy Week

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MEXICO CITY – A pair of passion plays were interrupted by gunfire on Good Friday as the violence convulsing Mexico continued claiming lives through the Holy Week holidays.
A woman and boy mourn outside a police station jail March 28 in Valencia, Venezuela. At least 68 people, mostly prisoners, were killed in a fire at the jail.

Venezuelan bishops: Jail fire that killed 68 could have been prevented

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CARACAS, Venezuela – A jail riot and fire that killed 68 people in Venezuela's deadliest tragedy in decades could have been prevented, according to the Venezuelan bishops' conference.
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