News/International

Archbishop Charles J. Chaput of Philadelphia receives a hand-carved crosier July 24 from artist Mark McAllister during the annual Tekakwitha Conference in Fargo, N.D. The staff features a likeness of St. Kateri Tekakwitha. Before his homily, Archbishop C haput announced that Pope Francis has accepted his invitation to attend the World Meeting of Families in the U.S. next year. The Philadelphia Archdiocese said later it has not received official confirmation from the Vatican.

Archbishop says Pope Francis coming to Philadelphia in 2015

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It's been the worst-kept secret in Christendom, but this week Philadelphia Archbishop Charles Chaput gave the strongest indication yet that Pope Francis will visit Philadelphia next year.

Israeli soldiers stand atop tanks outside the northern Gaza Strip July 22. Israel pounded targets across the Gaza Strip July 22, saying no cease-fire was near as top U.S. and U.N. diplomats pursued talks on halting fighting that has claimed more than 50 0 lives, mostly Palestinians.

Holy Land priests on both sides try to help parishioners confront war

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JERUSALEM - Two priests on either side of the Gaza border are trying to help their small communities confront the realities of war.

Meriam Ibrahim

Free from ordeal in Sudan, woman condemned for apostasy meets Pope

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VATICAN CITY - Meeting a Sudanese woman who risked execution for not renouncing her Catholic faith, Pope Francis thanked Meriam Ibrahim for her steadfast witness to Christ.

Most international airlines have cancelled their flights into Israel's Ben Gurion airport after several Hamas missiles were launched toward the area July 22.

Holy Land tour operators scramble to help pilgrims after flight ban

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JERUSALEM - With most international airlines cancelling their flights into Israel's Ben Gurion airport after several Hamas missiles were launched toward the area July 22, Anton Mousallam has only three words on his mind: cancellation, cancellation, cancellation.

Chaldean Patriarch Louis Sako of Baghdad speaks during a July 22 news conference in Irbil, Iraq. He said the future of Christians in Iraq was uncertain because of the recent violence.

Expulsion of Christians a 'crime against humanity,' Mosul bishop says

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VATICAN CITY - Backed up by death threats and property seizures, the expulsion of the entire Christian community from Mosul is "a crime against humanity," said an archbishop from Mosul.

An Israeli soldier prays atop a tank near the border with the Gaza Strip July 23. Israeli forces pounded the Gaza Strip July 23 and said they were meeting stiff resistance from Hamas militants.

Stop targeting civilians, archbishops tells Israelis, Gaza fighters

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VATICAN CITY - The Vatican representative to the UN Human Rights Council urged the Israeli military and fighters in the Gaza Strip to stop targeting civilian areas.

All Saints’ Cathedral in Khartoum is an Anglican church and one of the houses of worship that the Sudanese government says is enough to serve the remaining Christian population.

A ban on new church construction angers Sudanese Christians

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Christians in Sudan frequently face arrests, impromptu questioning and expulsion. But this month, conditions worsened after the government announced a ban on the construction of new churches.

Franciscan Father Alberto Gauci looks over a soccer stadium he is helping to build in Juticalpa, Honduras, where he has promoted public works projects for the past 31 years. The stadium, which cost approximate $2 million, is nearing completion.

With passion for projects, Franciscan works to give Hondurans options

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JUTICALPA, Honduras - Franciscan Father Alberto Gauci's field of dreams unfolds in a remote corner of Central America, far from the limelight of the recently concluded World Cup. His soccer stadium sports a full-size pitch, floodlights for night games and covered seating for 20,000 screaming fans. There's even a parking lot.

Bishop Tony Palmer of the Communion of Evangelical Episcopal Churches (CEEC) died in England July 20 after his motorcycle collided with another vehicle.

Pope’s friend Bishop Tony Palmer dies in motorcycle crash

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OTTAWA - Pope Francis’ friend Bishop Tony Palmer of the Communion of Evangelical Episcopal Churches (CEEC) died in England July 20 after his motorcycle collided with another vehicle.

A bystander points in front of a "Pray for MH17" message on a flight information board at Malaysia's Kuala Lumpur International Airport July 18. Catholics involved in the fight against HIV and AIDS took a few moments July 21 to remember their friends and colleagues who perished in the Malaysia Airlines flight shot down over eastern Ukraine.

At AIDS conference, Catholics remember colleagues on MH17

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MELBOURNE, Australia - Catholics involved in the fight against HIV and AIDS took a few moments July 21 to remember their friends and colleagues who perished in the Malaysia Airlines flight shot down over eastern Ukraine.

An Israeli mobile artillery unit fires toward the Gaza Strip July 18. Pope Francis telephoned Israeli President Shimon Peres and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas July 18, urging all sides to end hostilities and build peace.

No electricity, water: Caritas official to launch appeal for Gaza

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JERUSALEM - The head of Caritas in Jerusalem said he would launch an international appeal to help with the Gaza Strip and would not wait until the end of Israeli-Hamas hostilities, as he had done in the past.

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