International News

News from outside of Canada.

Cardinal Zen's trial adjourned before defense can call witnesses

September 28, 2022

After only two days, the West Kowloon Magistrates' Court adjourned the trial of Hong Kong Cardinal Joseph Zen Ze-kiun, 90, and four co-defendants, until Oct. 26.

Migrants, refugees praised for strength, courage

September 28, 2022

Rookie Member of Parliament Rechie Valdez had trouble holding back her tears as she celebrated the 108th World Day of Migrants and Refugees with the Syriac Catholic community at St. Joseph’s Church in Mississauga, Ont., where she recalled her parents’ journey from the Philippines to Zambia and then on to a new life in Canada.

Euthanasia would upset France’s ethical ‘balance,’ bishops say

September 28, 2022

France’s Catholic bishops warned President Emmanuel Macron’s government that “immoral legislation” to allow euthanasia risked overturning the country’s “ethical equilibrium.”

Ukraine religious leaders call for return of POWS, criticize 'referendums'

September 27, 2022

Religious leaders in Ukraine called for safe return of prisoners of war, civilian hostages and all those who were forcibly taken to Russia.

Russian priest says Catholics, including clerics, fear conscription

September 23, 2022

A senior Russian priest dismissed President Vladimir Putin's threats of nuclear war as "just words," but said many young Catholics now fear being forcibly conscripted with their priests to join the war against Ukraine.

Cardinal Parolin, Russian foreign minister meet at U.N.

September 23, 2022

VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Vatican secretary of state, met with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly in New York, Vatican News reported.

Ethiopians starve in forgotten war

September 23, 2022

“Seeing video footage of hungry families in agony breaks one’s heart,” Argaw Fantu writes in an e-mail from his home base in Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia.

Change allows Knights of Malta to better serve poor

September 22, 2022

After years of internal struggle and uncertainty, the Knights of Malta have a new papal mandate, a new constitution, a new legal code and a Canadian lawyer seeing the whole process to completion at an extraordinary general chapter of the sovereign lay religious order in the new year.

Bishops in Belgium authorize prayer for committed same-sex couples

September 20, 2022

The Flemish-speaking bishops of Belgium have appointed a contact person for ministry to and with gay Catholics and have authorized prayer for committed gay couples on the condition it is clear that it is not equivalent to a wedding blessing.

France won't extradite priest, 92, to Canada, but Oblates might expel him

September 19, 2022

The French Ministry of Justice announced that France will not extradite Oblate Father Joannès Rivoire to Canada.