News/International

Bomb kills 21 in Jos, Nigeria, Feb. 26.

Create united front against violence, Pope tells Nigeria's bishops

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VATICAN CITY - As the people of Nigeria prepared for general elections, Pope Francis wrote to the nations' bishops urging efforts to build up a "culture of encounter" that would create a united front against Boko Haram terrorists and ethnic tensions.

Elaine Corrigna of Achill Island, Ireland, smiles before the start of the St. Patrick's Day parade in New York March 17, 2009.

Debate over gays in St. Patrick’s parades roils Irish on big day

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NEW YORK - St. Patrick’s Day is associated as much with Roman Catholicism as it is with Irish-Americans, but this year some of the faithful aren’t happy with the inclusion of gays and lesbians marching under their own banner for the first time in parades in Boston and New York.

Displaced Iraqi Christians who fled from Islamic State militants in Mosul pray at a school acting as a refugee camp in Irbil, Iraq, Sept. 6. Irbil now hosts more than 100,000 displaced Christians and other minorities. Some Christians who have fled Iraq say they do not want to return

Bishops urge Arab, Muslim countries to help preserve Christian presence

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BEIRUT - Maronite Catholic bishops urged Arab and Muslim countries to combat terrorism in order to preserve the Christian presence in the Middle East.

Pakistani Christians protest March 16 in the aftermath of two suicide attacks that targeted two churches in Lahore.

Attack in Pakistan part of wave of anti-Christian violence, Pope says

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VATICAN CITY - Condemning deadly terrorist attacks against a Catholic and an Anglican church in Pakistan, Pope Francis said "the world is trying to hide" a wave of anti-Christian persecution in various parts of the globe.

The Khabur River south of Hassakeh, Syria. The Society of St. Vincent de Paul has been unable to confirm the number of people, including women and children, kidnapped.

St. Vincent de Paul members abducted in Syria, whereabouts unknown

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VATICAN CITY - The Society of St. Vincent de Paul has been unable to confirm the number of its members abducted in Syria, as well as where they are being held.

Pakistanis protest Christian couple burned alive for alleged blasphemy in Islamabad, Pakistan Nov. 14, 2014. The U.S. bishops are calling on people of all faiths to pray for those facing religious persecution in the Middle East and elsewhere.

Government reps say Christian survival in Middle East 'in question'

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VATICAN CITY - In a joint statement, representatives of more than 50 countries have recognized that Christians are particularly endangered in the Middle East, and they called on the international community to reaffirm the human right to freedom of religion.

Cardinal Chibly Langlois of Les Cayes, Haiti, says that local police have failed to protect religious in his city. Langlois says that police are lacking in manpower and have been lax in responding, according to local news reports.

Haitian cardinal wants police to boost security for country's religious

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WASHINGTON - Cardinal Chibly Langlois of Les Cayes, Haiti, charged that police have failed to protect religious and priests who have faced a growing number of break-ins, robberies and attacks, including rape.

Climate justice activist Yeb Sano talks to a group of environmentalists during a Global Catholic Climate Movement's Lenten Fast campaign gathering in Manila, Philippines March 11.

Filipinos join fast for climate justice with Typhoon Haiyan in mind

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MANILA, Philippines - Dozens of Filipino Catholics are joining a global Lenten fast to call on world leaders to act on climate change.

L’Arche founder Jean Vanier won the Templeton Prize on March 11. He told CNS that his inspiration came from Jesus, that He was “the heart of the matter.” He also cited a chaplain, St. Therese of Lisieux, Mahatma Gandhi as his spiritual role models.

Vanier cites St. Therese of Lisieux, Gandhi as spiritual role models

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WASHINGTON - In 1964, when Jean Vanier quietly began what would become an international network, he had "no idea that this would be a revolutionary reality ... that it would grow," he remarked joyfully.

Archbishop Oscar Romero receives a sack of beans from parishioners following Mass outside of the church in San Antonio Los Ranchos in Chalatenango, El Salvador, in 1979. The Italian newspaper, Avvenire, reported today that Oscar Romero will be beatified in San Salvador on May 23, according to the chief promoter of Romero’s sainthood cause, Italian archbishop Vincenzo Paglia.

May 23 outdoor Mass set for beatification of Archbishop Oscar Romero

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SAN SALVADOR, El Salvador - Salvadoran Archbishop Oscar Romero will be beatified in San Salvador May 23, said Italian Archbishop Vincenzo Paglia, the postulator or chief promoter of the archbishop's sainthood cause.

Jean Vanier, left, with Amanda, a member of the L’Arche community in Canada. Vanier has won the 2015 Templeton Prize for making “exceptional contributions” to affirming the spiritual aspect of life. He said he will donate the money to his charities so that they can expand the work for people with developmental disabilities internationally.

L'Arche founder Jean Vanier wins Templeton Prize

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Jean Vanier, the Canadian advocate for people with developmental disabilities who helped create an international network of residential communities that champion the rights of their residents, has won the 2015 Templeton Prize.

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