KINSHASA, Democratic Republic of Congo – In the wake of an attack on a Catholic seminary, the leader of the Church in the Democratic Republic of the Congo has issued an appeal about “the alarming security situation” in his country.

OXFORD, England – Church leaders and organizations in Africa, Europe and the United States said it would be disastrous if U.S. President Donald Trump issued an executive order telling companies they no longer had to disclose whether their firms use "conflict minerals" from Congo.

Recent developments regarding the Catholic Church in China brought to mind the Canadian visit of the Chinese Church’s most outspoken pastor in 2013.

WARSAW, Poland – As preparations get underway for this year's 100th anniversary of the Russian Revolution, the country's small Catholic Church is keeping a low profile.

SYDNEY – Australia's Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse kicked off a three-week "Catholic wrapup," expected to discuss the church's theology and doctrine, structure and governance, including the role of the Vatican and canon law, and issues like celibacy, confession and more.

MATUU, Kenya – When her pantry runs dry, Agnes Mwikali walks down a dusty road to the local Roman Catholic Church mission.

In general, I’m a pretty hopeful person about the future of the Church, even more so with the announcement of the theme for next year’s Synod of Bishops.

KINSHASA, Democratic Republic of Congo – In late September, Pope Francis met with the controversial president of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Joseph Kabila.

The relationship between Fidel Castro and the Cuban Catholic Church has been a roller-coaster ride of ups and downs, though it has noticeably improved in recent years.

RIO DE JANEIRO – A Brazilian court’s ruling legalizing abortion during the first trimester has caused uproar among politicians with strong ties to Roman Catholic and evangelical faiths, who have gained ground in the current government.

OTTAWA – Reconciliation between the Catholic Church and indigenous peoples has been a lifetime journey for Harry and Germaine Lafond.

VATICAN CITY – Pope Francis is defending his efforts to make the Catholic Church more open and pastoral in its ministry, telling an interviewer that his opponents have a legalistic mindset about Christianity that only sees the faith in “black or white.”

REGINA – With six First Nations’ youth recently taking their own lives in northern Saskatchewan, Canadian bishops who have ministered in mission territory say the Church must continue to be a presence in these remote communities for those experiencing deep pain.

Martin Luther would be amazed. He would never have imagined the Pope of Rome could be a mere guest in any Christian church.

In a stark prognosis for contemporary Catholicism, a leader of the conservative wing of the U.S. hierarchy has said that “a smaller, lighter church” of fewer but holier believers is preferable to one that promotes inclusion at the expense of traditional orthodoxy.