International News

News from outside of Canada.

Islam, ecumenism and regional conflict on Pope's agenda in Turkey

November 23, 2014

VATICAN CITY - Almost every papal trip abroad is a complex mix of the religious and political, and that will be especially true of Pope Francis' Nov. 28-30 visit to Turkey.

Pope's Philippine's visit for healing, not fundraising

November 23, 2014

MANILA, Philippines - Philippine Church officials expect the Pope's Jan. 15-19 visit to bring healing to victims of disasters. They also emphasized that the visit will not be a fundraising event for the Church.

Cardinal O’Malley repeats: Church needs to discipline bishops over sex abuse

November 22, 2014

Following up on remarks to 60 Minutes about the clergy sex abuse crisis and other controversial topics, Boston Cardinal Sean O’Malley has stressed that the Catholic Church needs a system to hold bishops accountable and must “avoid crowd-based condemnations.”

Chaldean patriarch urges moderate Muslims to challenge extremist acts

November 21, 2014

VIENNA - Chaldean Catholic Patriarch Louis Sako of Baghdad implored moderate Muslims to reject "terrorism in the name of religion" and step up to challenge the actions of Islamic State militants against minority communities in Iraq.

Kenyan city of Mombasa tense after mosque closures

November 21, 2014

NAIROBI, Kenya - Christian and Muslim leaders fear more violence in the coastal city of Mombasa after the government indefinitely closed four mosques over suspected terror activities.

As Obama unveils program, other efforts aim to help Central Americans

November 21, 2014

WASHINGTON - As millions of immigrants to the United States celebrate the possibility of protection from deportation under a new Obama administration plan, among those who cannot take advantage of it will be the 68,445 families and 68,541 unaccompanied minors who were apprehended at the border in the last fiscal year.

St. Louis Catholic schools prepare for Ferguson grand jury verdict

November 20, 2014

ST. LOUIS - While the timing of the grand jury decision involving the Michael Brown shooting remained uncertain, Catholic schools in the Ferguson area were already prepared in case the ruling comes down with classes in session.

Feed the world, safeguard the planet, Pope tells nutrition conference

November 20, 2014

ROME - Every human being has a right to food, and no business plan or economic policy can override that right, Pope Francis told world leaders gathered in Rome.

Pope’s 2015 Philly visit won’t focus on hot-button sex issues

November 20, 2014

VATICAN CITY - Philadelphia Archbishop Charles Chaput says hot-button socio-sexual issues won’t be the central focus when the World Meeting of Families welcomes Pope Francis to the City of Brotherly Love next year.

Pakistani church sends demands related to blasphemy to government

November 19, 2014

THRISSUR, India - The Catholic Church in Pakistan has presented a series of demands to the government, calling for a fair and thorough investigation into the beatings and burning of a young Christian couple accused of desecrating the Quran.