International News

News from outside of Canada.

Church in Congo criticizes West for failing to stop abuse of resources

September 30, 2015

OXFORD, England - Congo's Catholic bishops criticized the failure of Western governments to stop the abuse of the continent's natural resources and urged church groups to follow the pope's call to mobilize.

Statue of St. Junipero Serra defaced at California's Carmel Mission

September 29, 2015

CARMEL, Calif. - Days after St. Junipero Serra was canonized by Pope Francis in Washington, a statue of the 18th-century Franciscan missionary and other property at the Carmel Mission where the saint is buried were defaced.

COLF director tells of divorce, annulment experience at families meeting

September 24, 2015

PHILADELPHIA - As the director of the Catholic Organization for Life and Family, Michele Boulva is well-known in the Canadian Catholic Church. Yet at the World Meeting of Families Sept. 23, she mentioned something she had never told publicly before.

Burkina Faso bishops call for elections, denounce military coup

September 22, 2015

OUAGADOUGOU, Burkina Faso - Bishops in Burkina Faso, one of Africa's most Catholic countries, have denounced a Sept. 16 military coup and demanded that democratic elections proceed as planned.

A look at the prominent US churches Pope Francis will visit

September 20, 2015

WASHINGTON - When Pope Francis visits the U.S. in September, he’ll make stops at prominent churches that have drawn the faithful and the curious for decades.

Meeting in Jerusalem, European bishops call on nations to support migrants

September 18, 2015

JERUSALEM - Leaders of the European bishops' conferences expressed solidarity with people of the Middle East, especially those being forced from their homes, and called on European states to act generously, justly and respectfully toward the influx of migrants and refugees now reaching their shores.

Support rises for end to Cuba embargo

September 18, 2015

SANTO DOMINGO, DOMINICAN REPUBLIC - Pope Francis’ visit to Cuba and the United States comes as people and politicians in both countries increasingly support ending an economic embargo that has been in place for more than five decades.

Jerusalem mayor takes tough stand against Al-Aqsa rock throwers as skirmish escalates

September 17, 2015

JERUSALEM - The Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem cannot be used to harbour violent agitators, the city’s mayor said after Muslims stockpiled rocks and pipe bombs inside the mosque just before and after the start of the Jewish New Year and violently clashed with Israeli police.

'Unprecedented' security for Pope despite no credible threats

September 17, 2015

WASHINGTON - Less than a week before Pope Francis begins his highly anticipated trip to the United States, Secret Service Director Joseph Clancy said Sept. 16 there are no credible threats against the pontiff.

Pope comes to a nation divided

September 17, 2015

One nation under God will have five days this month to consider its unity and its divisions, its aspirations and its relationship with God as Pope Francis comes to challenge, console, cajole and confound 325 million Americans.