News/International

A man holds a banner showing new St. Nunzio Sulprizio during the canonization Mass for seven new saints celebrated by Pope Francis in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican Oct. 14. Among the new saints were St. Paul VI and St. Oscar Romero.

Vatican pilgrims at canonization support their local 'heroes'

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VATICAN CITY – As the sun rose over the Tiber River, seven banners hanging on the facade of St. Peter's Basilica depicting the church's newest saints were illuminated by the new day.
A woman holds a banner that reads "Devils Dressed as Priests" during an Aug. 20 vigil to protest against sexual abuse in the Chilean Catholic church outside the Santiago cathedral.

Pope Francis expels two Chilean bishops from priesthood accused of sex abuse

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VATICAN – In an unprecedented move, Pope Francis removed from the priesthood two Chilean bishops accused of sexual abuse.
Washington Cardinal Donald W. Wuerl delivers the homily during a Sept. 14 Mass at the Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle in Washington. The Mass, held on the feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, marked the start of a six-week "Season of Healing" for the archdiocese.

Cardinal Wuerl says celebrating sacraments, sharing Gospel his 'greatest joy'

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WASHINGTON – In a 2016 interview marking his 10th anniversary as archbishop of Washington, Cardinal Donald W. Wuerl said he was inspired by "the faith of our people, strong faith that's manifested at every level of the life of the church."
Pope Francis has accepted the resignation of Cardinal Donald W. Wuerl as archbishop of Washington but did not name a successor. Cardinal Wuerl is pictured in a 2013 photo at the Vatican.

Pope accepts Cardinal Wuerl's resignation as archbishop of Washington

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VATICAN – Pope Francis has accepted the resignation of Cardinal Donald W. Wuerl as archbishop of Washington. Wuerl had been facing pressure to resign after an Aug. 14 grand jury report detailing sexual abuse claims in six Pennsylvania dioceses painted a mixed picture of how he handled some of the cases when he was bishop in Pittsburgh from 1988 until 2006. 

Father Arturo Sosa Abascal, superior general of the Society of Jesus, prays at the start of a session of the Synod of Bishops on young people, the faith and vocational discernment at the Vatican Oct. 11.

Secularization can help the Church proclaim the Gospel, superior general of Jesuits says

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VATICAN – The Catholic Church must find a way to look at secularization as an opportunity to find new ways to proclaim the Gospel, the Jesuit superior general told the Synod of Bishops.
Pope Francis greets a youth delegate before a session of the Synod of Bishops on young people, the faith and vocational discernment at the Vatican Oct. 4.

Some married men would answer a call to priesthood, Belgian bishop says

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VATICAN – Speaking to the Synod of Bishops on behalf of Belgium's bishops' conference, a bishop said he was sure some young married men would become priests if they were asked.
Daniel and Amy McArthur, owners of Ashers bakery in Belfast, Northern Ireland, leave the Supreme Court in London Oct. 10. The court upheld their right to refuse to make a cake emblazoned with a slogan in support of same-sex marriage.

U.K. court upholds bakers' right to refuse making same-sex themed cake

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MANCHESTER, England – The United Kingdom's Supreme Court has upheld the right of a bakery to refuse to make a cake emblazoned with a slogan in support of same-sex marriage.
A portion of a destroyed Catholic school is seen Oct. 10 after an Oct. 6 earthquake in Gros Morne, Haiti.

Catholic, grassroots groups work with survivors after Haiti earthquake

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PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti – As Haitian authorities confirmed the toll from the Oct. 6 earthquake at 17 dead and 333 injured, Caritas and other grass-roots organizations working with the victims highlighted the critical humanitarian situation facing survivors, who now lack shelter.
Archbishop Jean-Claude Hollerich of Luxembourg attends a news conference to discuss the Synod of Bishops on young people, the faith and vocational discernment at the Vatican Oct. 10.

Synod of Bishops can make 'deep and profound change', Luxembourg archbishop says

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VATICAN – At a Synod of Bishops where "cultural shift," "epochal change" and "massive challenge" are almost buzz phrases, Archbishop Jean-Claude Hollerich of Luxembourg said, "I'm very optimistic."
Chinese Bishops Joseph Guo Jincai of Chengde and Coadjutor Bishop John Baptist Yang Xiaoting of Yan'an depart the opening session of the Synod of Bishops on young people, the faith and vocational discernment at the Vatican Oct 3.

Who are the excommunicated Chinese bishops received back into ecclesial communion?

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BANGKOK – Bishop Joseph Guo Jincai, one of two Chinese participants attending the Synod of Bishops at the Vatican, concelebrated Mass with St. John Paul II twice in 1995. Although he was a member of the government-approved Chinese Catholic Patriotic Association – not recognized by the Vatican – it was only after his illicit ordination as a bishop of the Chinese-designated Diocese of Chengde that he was automatically excommunicated.
Cardinals wait for Pope Francis' arrival at a gathering with young people and members of the Synod of Bishops at the Vatican Oct. 6.

Vatican releases list of twelve synod members drafting final report

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VATICAN – Twelve synod members have been named to a commission to draft the final report summarizing the discussion at the Synod of Bishops on young people. The report will be given Pope Francis.
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