International News

News from outside of Canada.

Catholic bishops decry British end of life vote: 'May God help us'

Simon Caldwell · November 29, 2024

Catholic bishops in England have decried a vote for assisted suicide, with one saying it represented a "dark day" in the history of the country.

Catholic priests face pressure in Belarus

Jonathan Luxmoore · November 27, 2024

Clergy in Belarus are deleting their social media profiles to avoid arrest, according to Church sources, as local parishes face pressure under a new religious law.

St. Jude relic tour halted over 'incident' involving students, visiting priest

Lauretta Brown · November 25, 2024

A tour of a relic of St. Jude conducted by Father Carlos Martins, a priest of the Companions of the Cross religious community known for hosting "The Exorcist Files" podcast, was halted Nov. 21 following an alleged "incident" involving students, according to a statement from Queen of Apostles Church in the Diocese of Joliet, Illinois, and from the diocese. The priest has been temporarily suspended from ministry pending an ongoing police investigation.

Pope condemns 'arrogance of invaders' in Ukraine and Palestine

Justin McLellan · November 25, 2024

The "arrogance" of the invaders attacking Ukraine and Palestine blocks the dialogue necessary to build peace in those countries, Pope Francis said.

El Salvador charges ex-president for '89 Jesuit slayings

David Agren · November 22, 2024

El Salvador has ordered a former president to stand trial for the 1989 murders of six Jesuits, their housekeeper and her 16-year-old daughter -- a notorious crime from the Central American country's civil war, which has languished in the realm of impunity.

Pope Francis calls on G20 to work for food equality, end armed conflicts

Justin McLellan · November 18, 2024

The "silent acceptance" of famine in the world is a "scandalous injustice and a grave offense" that requires the unified attention of the international system, Pope Francis said.

Destruction grows daily as Israel-Hamas war enters second year, say Catholic relief agency leaders

Gina Christian · November 15, 2024

As the Israel-Hamas war enters its second year, expanding to a wider region of the Middle East, two Catholic agency leaders based in Jerusalem and Beirut are warning the conflict is decimating the populations they serve.

Poor, vulnerable at heart of COP29

OSV News · November 13, 2024

The poor and vulnerable must be front and center when it comes to climate change policies, said two leading bishops of the Catholic Church in the U.S. and the head of the U.S. church's international humanitarian agency, in a statement issued ahead of the United Nations' annual gathering on climate concerns.

Head of Anglican Communion resigns over failures in dealing with 'abhorrent' abuse case

OSV News · November 12, 2024

Archbishop Justin Welby of Canterbury, the head of the Anglican Communion, resigned Nov. 12 due to failures in dealing with a British abuse case.

Vatican, Microsoft unveil AI-generated 'digital twin' of St. Peter's

Carol Glatz · November 11, 2024

Aimed at reaching out to people unable to go to Rome for the Holy Year and helping the millions who are expected to visit St. Peter's Basilica, the Vatican teamed up with Microsoft and other specialized experts to create a "digital twin" of the church for an immersive and more meaningful experience.