News/International

A necropolis under Vatican City State will open to visitors in early 2014. Mud and gravel slides entombed five centuries of pre- and early Christian burials, keeping the "city of the dead" sealed for two millennia.

Mudslides protected ancient Vatican necropolis from ravages of time

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VATICAN CITY - Slipping hillsides of clay, mud and gravel entombed an enormous necropolis below today's Vatican City State, keeping its underground "city of the dead" safely sealed for two millennia.

Men displaced by fighting pray Dec. 8 at a Catholic church in Bangui, Central African Republic. A church official said thousands of displaced civilians had taken refuge in Bangui's churches and parish buildings, creating drastic humanitarian needs.

Central African leaders tell of humanitarian crisis in Bangui

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OXFORD, England - Catholic leaders in the Central African Republic spoke of a humanitarian crisis and criticized attempts to fuel interreligious clashes in their nation.

A large crowd gathers during a Dec. 8 rally organized by supporters of the European Union integration in Independence Square in central Kiev, Ukraine. The protests began in late November when Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovich announced the end of a p rocess to bring Ukraine closer economically and legally to the EU.

Bishops lead protesters in prayer after night of police action in Kiev

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ROME - In the deep of the freezing night, security forces moved into Ukraine's Independence Square intent on dislodging protesters who had spent weeks talking, singing and praying for their country.

A poster with an image of former South African President Nelson Mandela is displayed during a special prayer service in his honor at the Holy Family Church in the West Bank city of Ramallah Dec. 8. People around the world paid tribute to the anti-aparthe id hero, who died Dec. 5 at age 9 5 at his Johannesburg home.

Mandela 'touched my heart, my soul, my life,' says ex-fellow prisoner

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JOHANNESBURG - Former South African President Nelson Mandela looked down on the tens of thousands of people gathered at his memorial service in Johannesburg and smiled as he watched them celebrate his legacy, said Andrew Mokete Mlangeni, a Catholic who was imprisoned for decades with the late anti-apartheid icon.

Rene Brulhart, director of the Vatican's Financial Intelligence Authority

European body accepts Vatican report on fighting financial crime

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VATICAN CITY - A European body that investigates government efforts to combat financial crimes has confirmed the Vatican has made significant progress in reducing the risk that its institutions could be used for money laundering and financing terrorism.

A man shouts slogans during a Dec. 8 rally organized by supporters of the European Union integration at Independence Square in central Kiev, Ukraine. The protests began in late November when Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovich announced the end of a pr ocess to bring Ukraine closer economically and legally to the EU.

Ukraine protest is spiritual movement, bishop says

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ROME - When Ukrainian Catholic Bishop Borys Gudziak addressed the crowds in Kiev's Independence Square Dec. 8, he focused on the youth and told them they could change the country.

Pope advances sainthood causes, including Puerto Rican schools pioneer

Pope advances sainthood causes, including Puerto Rican schools pioneer

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VATICAN CITY - Pope Francis advanced the sainthood causes of 13 candidates, including the "father of Puerto Rican public education" and the Canadian founder of a religious order dedicated to helping unwed mothers.

A Coptic Orthodox bishop surveys a damaged church in late August in Minya, Egypt. Concelebrating Mass with the leader of Egypt's Coptic Catholics, Pope Francis prayed for the safety and religious liberty of Christians in the Middle East.

Pope, with Egyptian Catholic leader, prays for Middle East Christians

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VATICAN CITY - Concelebrating Mass with the leader of Egypt's Coptic Catholics, Pope Francis prayed for the safety and religious liberty of Christians in the Middle East.

Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper signs a book of condolence for former South African President Nelson Mandela on Parliament Hill in Ottawa Dec. 6. Mandela, who led the struggle to replace his country's apartheid regime with a multiracial democracy, died Dec. 5 at age 95 at his home.

Mandela praised for inspiring others to uphold human dignity

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WASHINGTON - Pope Francis joined church and government leaders from around the world in crediting Nelson Mandela for a steadfast commitment to promoting human rights and upholding the dignity of all people in response to the death Dec. 5 of the former president of South Africa.

Nelson Mandela, who led the struggle to replace South Africa's apartheid regime with a multiracial democracy, died Dec. 5 at his home in Johannesburg.

Iconic Mandela had touch of humanity

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CAPE TOWN, South Africa - Nelson Mandela, who led the struggle to replace South Africa's apartheid regime with a multiracial democracy, died Dec. 5 at his home in Johannesburg.

Honduran Cardinal Oscar Rodriguez Maradiaga of Tegucigalpa speaks during the presentation of a book about Pope Francis at the Vatican Dec. 4. The book, titled "La Mia Porta 'E Sempre Aperta," is an expanded version of the interview the pope had with Jesu it Father Antonio Spadaro, editor of La Civilta Cattolica, which was published in Jesuit periodicals around the world in September.

For Pope, Church reform is spiritual exercise, not a project

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VATICAN CITY - For Pope Francis, the reform of the Catholic Church and its structures "isn't a project, but an exercise of the Spirit" that will take time, said Honduran Cardinal Oscar Rodriguez Maradiaga.

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