News/International

isitors walk into the Cenacle, the upper room believed to be the site of Jesus' Last Supper, on Mount Zion in Jerusalem.

Site of Jesus’ Last Supper a point of contention for some Israeli Jews

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JERUSALEM - Ahead of Pope Francis’ visit, Jewish religious and nationalist groups plan to demonstrate May 22 to demand that the Israeli government not cede sovereignty or control of the Cenacle, traditionally considered the site of Jesus’ Last Supper.

Brazil's religions promote peace with events during World Cup

Brazil's religions promote peace with events during World Cup

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SAO PAULO - Less than a month from the start of the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil, leaders of several religions gathered at Maracana Stadium in Rio de Janeiro to kick off what they are calling the World Peace Cup.

Military personnel stand around a statue of Our Lady of Lourdes during a candlelight vigil involving militaries from 36 nations at the Shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes in southwestern France May 17. About 60 wounded U.S. military personnel, together with fa mily members and caregivers, were a part of the annual International Military Pilgrimage to Lourdes.

Soldiers lay down weapons for rosaries as they pray, pay homage to Mary

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LOURDES, France - It looked like any other military parade with bands playing, flags waving and thousands of men and women marching in colorful uniforms decorated with medals and ribbons.

German Cardinal Walter Kasper walks smiles in St. Peters Square March 4.

Cardinal Kasper enjoying the spotlight, and taking heat, as ‘Pope’s theologian’

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NEW YORK - To hear Cardinal Walter Kasper tell it, he became the Pope’s point man for reform in the Catholic Church thanks to a bit of serendipity, or, if you will, Providence, before anyone knew that Francis was going to be the next Roman pontiff.

New rural police force in Mexico faces distrust from priests, community

New rural police force in Mexico faces distrust from priests, community

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MEXICO CITY - Fr. Andres Larios once supported the highly effective self-defense groups, which formed to fight off drug cartels carrying out various crimes in Mexico's western state of Michoacan. He lent them spiritual support, endorsed their activities and let them ring the church bells to call the community to meetings or warn of pending dangers.

Sudanese demonstrators leave a Khartoum mosque after Friday prayers in this picture dated Sept. 14. Sudanese Christians have condemned the sentencing of a Christian woman to death by hanging after she married a Christian man.

Christians condemn death penalty for Sudanese doctor accused of apostasy

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Sudanese Christians have condemned the sentencing of a Christian woman to death by hanging after she married a Christian man.

A sparrow rests on a barbed wire fence that surrounds Jilava prison near Bucharest, Romania. Bishop Anton Durcovici, who was secretly ordained under communist rule and died in prison in Romania was to be beatified May 17.

Romanian bishop who died in communist prison cell to be beatified

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WARSAW, Poland - A Catholic bishop who was starved and forced to stand naked in winter will be beatified as a martyr in Romania, 63 years after dying of malnutrition in a communist prison.
U.S. President John F. Kennedy and first lady, Jacqueline Kennedy, arrive at Love Field in Dallas Nov. 22, 1963.

Letters to Irish priest reveal Jackie Kennedy's struggles with faith

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DUBLIN - Newly released letters between former U.S. first lady Jacqueline Kennedy and a Dublin-based priest reveal Kennedy's struggles to keep her faith after her husband's assassination.

Arkansas became the first Southern state to issue same-sex marriage licences on May 9th, 2014.

Arkansas to appeal ruling that strikes down ban on same-sex marriage

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LITTLE ROCK, Ark.- Arkansas became the first Southern state to issue marriage licences to gay couples May 9 when a state judge overturned a 10-year constitutional amendment that banned same-sex unions in the state.

Holy Land Christians hope Pope Francis’ visit might revive peace talks

Holy Land Christians hope Pope Francis’ visit might revive peace talks

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BETHLEHEM, West Bank - With the last round of peace talks between the Israeli government and the Palestinian Authority stalled if not moribund, some are hoping that a scheduled visit by Pope Francis to the Holy Land in May will breathe new life into the peace process.

Latin Patriarch Fouad Twal of Jerusalem gestures during a procession in Haifa, Israel, May 11. Patriarch Twal said a spate of attacks he described as acts of terror against the church were poisoning the atmosphere ahead of this month's visit by Pope Fran cis, and urged Israel to arrest more perpetrators.

Patriarch wants Israelis to crack down on vandalism at religious sites

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JERUSALEM - The Latin patriarch of Jerusalem called a continuing wave of vandalism against Christian, Muslim and Druze properties a "blight on Israeli democracy" and urged authorities to step up prosecution against the perpetrators.

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