International News

4 in 5 USAID projects now canceled, with U.S. State Department overseeing the rest

Kate Scanlon · March 10, 2025

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said March 10 that just 18% of programs of the now-shuttered U.S. Agency for International Development will remain intact, and those will now fall under his purview at the State Department.

Church leaders condemn killings, urge prayers amid horrific Syria violence

Dale Gavlak · March 10, 2025

Syria's top Christian leaders have condemned the killing and wounding of hundreds of Alawites, many of them civilians, by security forces and gunmen linked to the country's new Islamist rulers.

In Poland, day of prayer for abuse victims overshadowed by blast on independent commission

Paulina Guzik · March 10, 2025

Poland's day of prayer for victims of clerical sexual abuse, scheduled each year for the first Friday in Lent, was overshadowed March 7 by a controversial opinion from the legal council of the Polish bishops' conference regarding an independent commission for the investigation of abuse cases that has been under development for the past two years.

Pastoral center in northern Myanmar among latest Catholic sites bombed by governing military junta

Junno Arocho Esteves · March 7, 2025

A Catholic pastoral centre in northern Myanmar is among the latest Christian sites bombed by the country's governing military junta.

EU bishops call for unity in supporting Ukraine

Junno Arocho Esteves · March 5, 2025

European bishops have called for unity on the continent following U.S. President Donald Trump ordering a “pause” on U.S. assistance to Ukraine.

Only a united global family can fix crises: Paglia

Carol Glatz · March 5, 2025

One of the most serious emergencies today is that the world forgets about and does not attend to the common good and the needs of regular people, especially poor people, the head of the Pontifical Academy for Life said.

Pew: US Christianity downturn levelling, but Catholics suffer 'greatest net losses'

Gina Christian · February 27, 2025

A multiyear decline in Christianity in the U.S. may have levelled off, according to a new survey by Pew Research Center. However, the Catholic Church, the survey found, is seeing the greatest net losses of believers compared to other religions in the U.S.

A silent genocide is unfolding in Congo, church sources warn

Fredrick Nzwili · February 25, 2025

A "silent genocide"—mimicking the Rwandan one of 1994—is occurring eastern Congo, said some Catholic Church sources, as shock greeted the killing of 70 people in a Protestant church in the North Kivu Province.

Holy Land pilgrimages on hold despite ceasefire

Tour agencies pushing other Jubilee destinations

Luke Mandato · February 24, 2025

Despite reassurance from Catholic leaders in the Holy Land, planned pilgrimages from Canada to the land of Christ's birth will likely remain unavailable for the foreseeable future.

Visiting the poor in Lebanon was a prayer for Pope Francis, Cardinal Czerny says

Cindy Wooden · February 24, 2025

While Pope Francis was hospitalized in Rome's Gemelli hospital, one of the cardinals closest to him traveled to Lebanon to demonstrate the pope's ongoing concern for refugees and for peace in the Middle East.