International News

As millions of pilgrims flocked to the famed Ugandan shrine in Namugongo in the days leading to commemoration of the country's 45 Christian martyrs, local authorities prevented an attempted terror attack in what they said was a swift secret service operation, possibly saving hundreds from imminent death.

A video of Brazilian nuns beatboxing and dancing hip-hop, a scene taken from a local TV show and defined by celebrities like Whoopi Goldberg as "a real life Sister Act," went viral on May 28, with millions of views all over the world.

Their names may have faded from history books, but on May 31, the Church officially remembered them forever. In a solemn ceremony in Braniewo, northeastern Poland, 15 nuns from the Congregation of St. Catherine Virgin and Martyr, were beatified.

Pope Leo XIV acknowledged the Day of Prayer for the Church in China (May 24) in his May 25 Regina Caeli address, just as navigating relations with the Chinese Communist Party is already shaping up to be one of the thornier issues Leo will have to contend with during his pontificate.

Russia has rejected the Vatican's offer to host talks for ending the war in Ukraine, despite international support for the idea.

In the Flannery O'Connor short story "Good Country People," a mother ruefully wishes her offspring had chosen another career path than philosophy because, "You could not say, 'My daughter is a philosopher.' That was something that had ended with the Greeks and Romans."

With France poised to vote on a controversial "assisted dying" bill, the country's Catholic bishops have launched an unprecedented public campaign urging Catholics to speak out.

Catholic bishops from Europe and Africa have issued a strong joint statement warning that Africa is once again becoming a "battleground for external interests"—particularly over land, resources and Europe's climate agenda.

Reflecting on the conclave that saw the election of Pope Leo XIV, Cardinal Stephen Chow of Hong Kong says he is hopeful the new pontiff will continue along the same path of dialogue and engagement with China as his predecessor—a deal that had prominent and outspoken critics.

Catholic bishops are calling for prayer after two Israeli Embassy staff members were slain late May 21 outside the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington.