World Youth Day 2019

News/International

Palestinian children receiving treatment are seen in early September at Augusta Victoria Hospital in East Jerusalem.

Protection of human dignity must be government priority, Pope Francis says

By
VATICAN – Protecting human dignity and human rights must always be at the heart of any action by world leaders to confront the many humanitarian crises afflicting today's world, Pope Francis said.
A French soldier stands guard near a closed wooden barrack shop at the traditional Christkindelsmaerik (Christ Child market) in front of the Cathedral of Our Lady of Strasbourg Dec.12, the day after a shooting. At least two people were killed while one person was left brain dead and at least a dozen others were injured after a gunman attacked the market Dec. 11, authorities said.

Strasbourg bishop speaks of 'lucid madness' after terror attack at Christmas market

By
STRASBOURG, France – At noon Dec. 12, the bells of every Catholic church in Strasbourg rang for 10 minutes to honor the victims of a terror attack at a Christmas market the previous day.
A police officer stands next to a body at the scene of a shooting Dec. 11 at the Metropolitan Cathedral in Campinas, Brazil. Police said Euler Fernando Grandolpho opened fire in the cathedral, killing at least four people and injuring several others before the 49-year-old turned the gun on himself after being shot by police.

Shooting in cathedral leaves five dead, four injured in Brazil

By
SAO PAOLO – A gunman opened fire inside a Brazilian church, killing four people and injuring four others before turning the gun on himself, police said.
Chaldean Catholic Archbishop Bashar Warda of Irbil, Iraq, holds the pen given to him by U.S. President Donald Trump Dec. 11 after Trump used it to sign into law the Iraq and Syria Genocide Relief and Accountability Act of 2018 at the White House in Washington. The bill will provide humanitarian relief to genocide victims in Iraq and Syria and hold accountable Islamic State perpetrators of genocide.

New U.S. law will provide relief to genocide victims of Islamic State in Iraq, Syria

By
WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump has signed into law the Iraq and Syria Genocide Relief and Accountability Act of 2018, which will provide humanitarian relief to genocide victims in Iraq and Syria and hold accountable Islamic State perpetrators of genocide.
Philippine soldiers use a crane to lift three Balangiga Bells off crates during a turnover ceremony Dec. 11 at Villamor Air Base near Manila. After more than a century, the United States government has returned the three church bells swiped by American forces as war booty from the central Philippine town of Balangiga in 1901.

U.S. returns 'Balangiga Bells' to Philippines after more than 100 years

By

MANILA, Philippines – After more than a century, the United States government has returned three church bells swiped by American forces as war booty from the central Philippine town of Balangiga.

A Venezuelan migrant brushes his teeth outside his tent at a makeshift camp Nov. 26 in Bogota, Colombia. The United Nations estimates there are more than 258 million migrants around the world living outside their country of birth.

With migration, cooperation is better than isolationism, Cardinal Parolin says

By
VATICAN – The Vatican praised the adoption by more than 160 nations of a key agreement on global migration, saying today's migration challenges are better tackled together than with "isolationist" stances.
The U.S. Supreme Court is seen in Washington Dec. 3.

U.S. Supreme Court wont hear appeals over defunding Planned Parenthood, pro-life leaders upset

By
WASHINGTON – Pro-life leaders said they were disappointed the U.S. Supreme Court declined Dec. 10 to hear appeals from Kansas and Louisiana on lower court rulings that have stopped the states from blocking Medicaid funds going to Planned Parenthood.
A woman watches an exhibition inside the venue of the U.N. climate change conference, or COP24, Dec. 8 in Katowice, Poland.

Catholics push for strong climate deal at U.N. summit in Poland

By
Catholic representatives worked to keep negotiations on track for a comprehensive deal to address global warming as the U.N. climate change conference entered its second and final week in Katowice, Poland.
Inhabitants of Western Sahara territory south of Morocco plea for an end to Canadian mining operations in the disputed territory.

Sisters of Mercy help push Canadian mining giant to abandon operations 

By

After years of lobbying by a small community of Catholic sisters from eastern Canada, the world’s largest producer of potash is abandoning mining operations in territory south of Morocco.

A girl looks out from a makeshift tent Sept. 17 at a camp for refugees and migrants on the island of Lesbos, Greece.

New U.N. compact on migrants, stateless people an alternative to fear

By

A new international agreement that covers all dimensions of international migration that will be signed in Morocco, Dec. 10-11 represents the alternative to fear, says Canadian Jesuit Fr. Michael Czerny.

Pope Francis greets a child as he visits poor, sick people at a center run by the CasAmica Onlus organization on the outskirts of Rome Dec. 7.

Human rights of most vulnerable must be promoted at all times, Pope Francis says

By
VATICAN – The fundamental rights of all human beings, especially the most vulnerable, must be respected and protected in every situation, Pope Francis said, marking Human Rights Day, Dec.10.
Page 8 of 516