International News

News from outside of Canada.

Nigerian seminary defies global trend

April 12, 2024

The Bigard Memorial Seminary in Enugu, Nigeria, is celebrating its 100th birthday in 2024. Officials say the sheer statistics warrant a big celebration: The institution has 780 clerics — a number not seen in years in seminaries across Europe and the Americas. Nigerian Christians are one of the most persecuted religious groups in the world, but the rector of the seminary, Fr. Albert U. Ikpenwa, told OSV News the growth in vocations and of the Church in Nigeria is a function of positive Christian teachings.

Sister keeps faith, hope alive in Africa

February 23, 2024

Once described as the “heart of darkness” by Polish-English author Joseph Conrad, Africa, despite its undeniable challenges, is now considered a continent of hope for the Catholic Church.

$1 million to replicate Shroud of Turin

February 14, 2024

Are you looking to make an easy $1 million? All you have to do is recreate a photographic negative image of an apparently crucified man on a 14-foot-by-3-foot piece of linen. And it has to have holographic features, so that when it is rendered as a three-dimensional profile based on the intensity of the shading, it should produce an accurately contoured 3-D image of a human form.

A year after train derailment, Ohio parish has become a 'family' that serves community

February 6, 2024

One year after a toxic train derailment, an Ohio parish has "solidified" into a "family" that seeks to serve the community, its pastor told OSV News.

As King Charles is diagnosed with cancer, Cardinal Nichols offers 'steadfast prayers'

February 6, 2024

Cardinal Vincent Nichols has offered "steadfast prayers" on behalf of Catholics after it was announced that Britain's King Charles III is undergoing treatment for cancer.

Northern Ireland has Catholic leading its government for the first time in history

February 5, 2024

Ireland's most-senior churchman hailed an agreement that sees a Catholic take the top political job in Northern Ireland for the first time in its history as an "opportunity for a fresh start and a new beginning."

Evidence in Jimmy Lai trial may have been obtained through torture, U.N. rapporteur says

February 2, 2024

The United Nations is warning that evidence in the trial of prominent Hong Kong Catholic, philanthropist and media mogul Jimmy Lai may have been obtained by torturing a witness in China.

Christian exodus from Iraq ‘alarming’

February 1, 2024

A multitude of problems — corruption, discrimination and unemployment at home, exacerbated by the fallout from the Gaza war — are driving an alarming number of Iraqi Christians from their homeland, seeking emigration as a last resort, say Church leaders and advocacy organizations.

Three bishops, approved by pope and government, ordained in China

January 31, 2024

In less than a week, three Chinese bishops were ordained with the approval of both Pope Francis and the Chinese government.

France's Catholic bishops strongly back farmers in their massive protest

January 29, 2024

France's bishops stand in solidarity with farmers protesting across the country. After days of protests in the local provinces, farmers were determined to block the main roads leading to Paris, with spectacular traffic jams of tractors and farm vehicles they formed Jan. 29 across the French capital.