International News

News from outside of Canada.

Pope, U.N. head meet, discuss crises in Syria, Korean peninsula

April 9, 2013

VATICAN CITY - Recognizing the important role each other plays on the global stage, Pope Francis and U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon met at the Vatican April 9, discussing common efforts to promote peace and protect human dignity.

Bishops, Pope offer prayers after death of Britain's Margaret Thatcher

April 8, 2013

LIVERPOOL, England - The Catholic bishops of England and Wales offered prayers for the soul of Margaret Thatcher, the former British prime minister who died at age 87 following a stroke.

In Argentina, some hope new Pope brings Catholics back to churches

April 5, 2013

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina - Rafaela Gonzalez spent the wee hours of March 19 watching the installation of the first Argentine pope on the big screens outside the city's cathedral. She spoke with admiration about Pope Francis, with disdain for the country's political picture and with concern for the church in a country with an overwhelmingly Catholic population, but a flock moving further from parishes, priests and church practices.

Pope urges decisive action against sex abuse

April 5, 2013

VATICAN CITY - Pope Francis reaffirmed the importance of responding decisively to the problem of the sexual abuse of minors by members of the clergy and called on the Vatican office dealing with suspected cases to continue carrying out its mandate.

New secretary of state will be sign of Vatican reform

April 5, 2013

VATICAN CITY - Of the several widely acknowledged priorities in the run-up to the conclave that chose Pope Francis, including the challenge of secularism and the growth of the Church in the global South, none was more prominent than a need to reform the Roman Curia, the Church’s central administration in the Vatican.

Pope expresses his closeness to victims of flooding in Buenos Aires

April 4, 2013

VATICAN CITY - Affirming his closeness to his "beloved Argentine people," Pope Francis offered his prayers for the victims of recent flooding in Buenos Aires and surrounding areas, and he urged government offices and private citizens to help those most in need.

Safeguarding creation expected to be major theme at WYD in Rio

April 4, 2013

VATICAN CITY - When hundreds of thousands of young Catholics gather with Pope Francis in Rio de Janeiro in the summer, reflections on safeguarding the environment will be part of the program.

A few of the Pope's favourite things

April 3, 2013

VATICAN CITY - Here are a few of Pope Francis' favourite things, which he revealed in a series of interviews granted while he was archbishop of Buenos Aires.

Pope recites St. Peter's Gospel professions of faith at apostle's tomb

April 2, 2013

VATICAN CITY - Kneeling before the tomb of St. Peter, Pope Francis repeated the three professions of faith the Gospels report the apostle making: "Lord, you are the Christ, the son of the living God," "Master, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life," and "Lord, you know everything; you know I love you."

Ouellet happy to serve new Pope

April 1, 2013

Unverifiable reports in the Italian daily Il Sole 24 Ore and MacLean’s magazine have clarified Cardinal Marc Ouellet didn’t just tell media before the conclave that becoming pope would be a nightmare, he also threw his support to Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio before the fifth and final vote that chose Pope Francis.