News/International

Salesian Father Mauro Mantovani, rector of Rome's Pontifical Salesian University, is pictured in an undated photo. In an April 25, 2020, interview, Father Mantovani said at least 19 people at the university tested positive for the COVID-19 and six have been hospitalized for their symptoms.

Dozens test positive for coronavirus at Rome pontifical university

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ROME -- At least 39 people at a Rome pontifical university tested positive for the coronavirus, the rector said.

A priest celebrates Easter Mass via livestream from an empty church in San Giorgio Ionico, Italy, April 12, 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic. In an April 26 statement, the Italian bishops' conference accused the government of adopting plans to ease the country's COVID-19 lockdown rules in a way that "arbitrarily excludes the possibility of celebrating Mass with the people."

Italian bishops demand plan for resuming public Masses

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ROME -- The Italian bishops' conference accused the government of adopting plans to ease the country's COVID-19 lockdown rules in a way that "arbitrarily excludes the possibility of celebrating Mass with the people."

People walk past a damaged building depicting drawings alluding to COVID-19 encouraging people to stay at home in Idlib, Syria April, 18, 2020. Religious freedom advocates and health care professionals have expressed concerns about the COVID-19 response in northeast Syria.

Fears mount for threats to religious freedom in northeast Syria

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AMMAN, Jordan -- Religious freedom advocates and medical practitioners have expressed concerns about the COVID-19 response in northeast Syria.

A sunset is seen through a wind farm in 2015 near Puck, Poland. Poland's Catholic bishops have urged nationwide prayers for rain, amid warnings huge areas of farmland could be ruined by drought during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Polish church warns of water shortages during pandemic

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WARSAW, Poland -- Poland's Catholic bishops have urged nationwide prayers for rain, amid warnings huge areas of farmland could be ruined by drought during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Pope Francis.

Pope Francis donates respirators, medical equipment to hospitals

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VATICAN CITY -- To mark his name day, the feast of St. George, Pope Francis gave the gift of medical supplies to several countries reeling from the coronavirus pandemic.

A nurse wears a protective suit while taking the temperature of a Palestinian boy in a special tent for pediatric and maternity COVID-19 patients at St. Joseph's Hospital in East Jerusalem April 16, 2020.

East Jerusalem Catholic hospital gets coronavirus unit for Palestinians

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JERUSALEM -- When the Israeli Ministry of Health asked St. Joseph's Hospital to set up a coronavirus unit, the hospital had it completed within a week.

Franciscan University of Steubenville is seen in this undated photo. In response to the unprecedented economic fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Ohio university announced April 21, 2020, it will cover the remainder of tuition costs, after scholarships and grants have been applied, for the fall 2020 semester for all incoming full-time undergraduate students enrolled in its on-campus programs.

Franciscan University Steubenville to pay tuition costs for new students in fall

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STEUBENVILLE, Ohio -- In response to the unprecedented economic fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic, Franciscan University of Steubenville announced it will cover the remainder of tuition costs, after scholarships and grants have been applied, for the fall 2020 semester for all incoming full-time undergraduate students enrolled in its on-campus programs.

Volunteers for a local association, "Cittadini del Mondo," work to bring needed assistance to refugees and others living in an occupied building in Rome. The association is concerned 50 occupants recently testing positive for coronavirus may signal more cases to come.

Fears grow for health of refugees at a Rome settlement

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ROME -- Dozens of refugees sheltering in an abandoned office building have tested positive for the coronavirus, triggering concerns for the welfare of the hundreds more still living there in crowded and unsanitary conditions.

A priest blesses the coffin of a woman who died from COVID-19 in Seriate, Italy, March 28, 2020. The Italian bishops' conference is in discussion with Italy's Ministry of Internal Affairs about a resumption of public Masses, and especially of funerals.

Italian bishops in talks with government on post-lockdown liturgies

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ROME -- As the Italian government makes plans for a gradual return to normality after the COVID-19 pandemic, representatives of the country's bishops' conference are meeting with the Ministry of Internal Affairs to discuss a resumption of public Masses and, especially, of funerals.

A priest celebrates Holy Thursday Mass via livestream April 9, 2020, at a nearly empty church in Bonn, Germany. The head of the German bishops' conference voiced disappointment that the government decided April 15 the ban on public church services should remain until further notice because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

German bishops criticize decision to maintain church service ban

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BONN, Germany -- Catholic and Protestant churches in Germany have responded differently to the federal government's decision not to lift the ban on public church services.

French Army Gen. Jean-Louis Georgelin, in charge of the Notre Dame Cathedral reconstruction, stays at a distance to answer journalists' questions in Paris April 14, 2020, during the coronavirus pandemic. French President Emmanuel Macron has reiterated a pledge to restore the historic cathedral by 2024.

Macron renews pledge to rebuild Notre Dame

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PARIS -- Archbishop Michel Aupetit of Paris welcomed a renewed pledge by French President Emmanuel Macron to rebuild Notre Dame cathedral.

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