International News

News from outside of Canada.

Pope Francis asks for international action to help Iraq's persecuted Christians

August 7, 2014

VATICAN CITY - Pope Francis asked Catholics around the world to pray for tens of thousands of Christians from villages in northeastern Iraq who were forced from their homes in the middle of the night by Islamic State militants.

Spanish priest known for working with gangs jailed again in El Salvador

August 7, 2014

SAN SALVADOR - A Salvadoran judge ruled that Spanish Passionist Father Antonio Rodriguez, known for his work in rehabilitating gang members, should remain in jail, accused of various crimes regarding gang activities.

Church leaders staying put despite Libya chaos

August 7, 2014

OXFORD, England - A Catholic official in Libya said Church leaders would remain in the country to support Muslims as well as Christians who remained.

U.S. Chaldeans rally in support of Iraq Christians

August 6, 2014

DETROIT - Shouting slogans such as “Obama, Obama, where are you? Iraqi Christians need you!” and “Stop the violence in Iraq!” about 150 protest-ers marched through the streets of downtown Detroit Aug. 1 to call awareness to the violent persecution of Christians in their native land.

Pope Francis offers prayers for victims of earthquake in China

August 6, 2014

VATICAN CITY - As Chinese authorities raised the official death toll from an Aug. 3 earthquake in the southern Yunnan province, Pope Francis offered public prayers for the victims and their families.

Patriarch pleads for help to stop Christian ‘genocide’ in Iraq

August 6, 2014

OTTAWA - The head of the Syriac Catholic Church is pleading for Western nations to intervene immediately with diplomatic and political clout to save the Middle East’s ancient Christian communities as they face “a kind of genocide.”

Italy expels imam for preaching hatred against Jews

August 6, 2014

ROME - Italian officials on Tuesday (Aug. 5) moved to expel a Moroccan imam who was caught on video inciting violence against Jews during Israel’s military offensive in Gaza.

Gaza on 'brink of collapse'

August 5, 2014

AMMAN, Jordan - A top Catholic charity official described Gaza as a "complete catastrophe" after nearly four weeks of fighting between Israel and the Palestinian militant Hamas.

Pope Francis lifts 29-year suspension on liberation theology icon

August 5, 2014

VATICAN CITY - Continuing a bid to revive a movement that was sidelined by his predecessors, Pope Francis has reinstated a Central American priest who was suspended by the Vatican in the 1980s for his involvement in the political activities of Nicaragua’s leftist Sandinista movement.

Holy Land still safe for pilgrimages, says head of U.S. tour group

August 2, 2014

WASHINGTON - The head of a Michigan-based tour company that leads trips to the Holy Land said the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas so far has not had an impact on pilgrimages he and his associates lead.