International News

News from outside of Canada.

Maronite patriarch hopes election of Lebanese president speeds unity

November 1, 2016

BEIRUT – Cardinal Bechara Rai, patriarch of Maronite Catholics, welcomed the election of a new Lebanese president, ending a two-and-a-half-year power vacuum that had crippled the country's government institutions.

Pope offers new Beatitudes for saints of a new age at Mass in Sweden

November 1, 2016

MALMO, Sweden – The saints are blessed because they were faithful and meek and cared for others, Pope Francis said.

Ecumenical gathering: Catholics, Lutherans promise to serve the poor, work for peace

October 31, 2016

MALMO, Sweden – The sheet of ice and the penalty boxes were gone from Malmo Arena Oct. 31 as Catholics and Lutherans filled the stands and promised to work together for peace – particularly in Syria – and for justice – especially for refugees.

Pope, Lutheran leaders begin Reformation commemoration with prayer

October 31, 2016

LUND, Sweden – Urging Catholics and Lutherans to take decisive steps toward unity, Pope Francis nevertheless offered no new openings to the idea of sharing Communion before full unity is achieved.

Pope sends Detroit bishop to Guam archdiocese hit by abuse allegations

October 31, 2016

VATICAN CITY – Pope Francis appointed a Detroit auxiliary bishop to a Guam archdiocese whose leader is under a Vatican investigation for the alleged sexual abuse of minors.

Pope arrives in Sweden for what he calls important ecumenical event

October 31, 2016

MALMO, Sweden – Under a thick gray sky, Pope Francis was welcomed to Sweden with a small formal ceremony, which conveyed by its brevity that the trip was not a formal state visit, but had another purpose.

Priests told to celebrate Masses outdoors after massive earthquake in Italy

October 31, 2016

ROME – Priests in central Italy were instructed to celebrate Mass outdoors following another devastating earthquake that rocked the region and brought one its most spiritually and historically significant churches tumbling down.

Philippine bishops urge All Souls' Day prayers for drug war victims

October 31, 2016

MANILA, Philippines – As Filipinos remembered their departed on All Souls' Day, the country's church leaders called on the faithful to also pray for those who fell victim in the government's all-out war against illegal drugs.

Distributing aid in Haiti is a dangerous proposition

October 30, 2016

JEREMIE, Haiti – I shut my eyes as he swung the large rock at the car window. An instant before, something about his eyes had seemed off. They were glazed over. Maybe he was drunk, or thirsty, or just furious.

Papyrus offers nonbiblical mention of Judean kingdom in Jerusalem

October 29, 2016

JERUSALEM – Israeli archaeologists have unveiled the earliest known nonbiblical Hebrew-language reference to Jerusalem, dating back to the time of the First Temple in the seventh century B.C.