International News

Flash flooding temporarily closes Lourdes' grotto

Maria Wiering · September 9, 2024

River flooding forced the temporary closure of the famous grotto at the shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes in southern France. The shrine complex remained open to visitors. A morning Mass, however, was canceled Sept. 7 at the major Catholic pilgrimage site, which has experienced several major floods in recent years.

Suspects who threatened Pope Francis arrested in Indonesia, local police say

Cindy Wooden · September 6, 2024

Not long after Pope Francis left Indonesia, authorities there announced they had arrested seven people for making online "terror threats" against the pope.

Multiple dead after mass shooting at Georgia high school

Kate Scanlon · September 4, 2024

A mass shooting took place at Apalachee High School in Winder, Georgia, on Sept. 4, local officials reported.

Polish church defends religious teaching against new government curbs

Jonathan Luxmoore · September 4, 2024

Poland's Catholic bishops have urged schools to continue offering religious teaching after government attempts to restrict it were blocked by the Constitutional Tribunal following church appeals.

Bell tower at historic church in northern France collapses in arson fire

OSV News · September 4, 2024

A man was taken into police custody after a major fire broke out at the historic Church of the Immaculate Conception in the northern French town of Saint-Omer in the morning hours of Sept. 2, causing its bell tower to collapse.

Shroud ‘consistent’ with Christ’s tortures

New analysis says bloodstains match Jesus’ wounds as told in Gospels

Junno Arocho Esteves · August 30, 2024

A study published in July revealed that a new analysis of the Shroud of Turin, including the composition and a microscopic analysis of bloodstains, shows that the marks are consistent with the tortures endured by Christ as described in the Gospels.

Pope Francis expresses concern about religious freedom in Ukraine

Cindy Wooden · August 26, 2024

"Please, let no Christian church be abolished directly or indirectly: the churches are not to be touched," Pope Francis said about a Ukrainian law banning the Russian Orthodox Church, which President Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed Aug. 24, Ukrainian independence day.

Phil Donahue and the Catholic Church

Kurt Jensen · August 26, 2024

Broadcaster and TV personality Phil Donahue, who died Aug. 18 at age 88, was once busted by Catholic News Service.

Olympic bell will ring inside newly rebuilt Notre Dame Cathedral during every Mass

Caroline de Sury · August 22, 2024

During the Paris Olympic Games, track and field champions rang the bronze bell located close to the finish line at Saint-Denis' Stade de France. In December, that same bell will ring in the newly reopened Notre Dame Cathedral during the most sacred part of the Mass.

Ukraine's religious leaders back proposed ban on Russian Orthodox Church over security concerns

Gina Christian · August 22, 2024

The largest organization of religious leaders in Ukraine is backing a proposal by that nation's president -- approved by Ukrainian lawmakers Aug. 20 -- to ban the Russian Orthodox Church and its affiliates, which have openly supported Russia's decade-long war on Ukraine.