International News

News from outside of Canada.

Church must show women are equal

December 22, 2006

ROME - Unless the Catholic Church can show the world concrete models of male-female co-operation in positions of responsibility and decision-making, the church will continue to struggle against charges that it is chauvinistic, said Mary Ann Glendon.

Mass translation could be ready by March

December 19, 2006

VATICAN CITY - The Vatican could approve the new English translation of the main Mass prayers as early as mid-2007 if the work of its advisory committee proceeds as planned, the committee said.

A shower of roses in Beijing

December 19, 2006

Chinese Singles for Christ [images/stories/international/chinasing.jpg]BEIJING, China - She sat at the hospital bed, her baby face brightening as visitors came to hold her hand, tell her stories and shower her with gifts of s'mores, pizza and, most of all, roses.

A growing faith in atheist China

December 18, 2006

Bernadette Woo attended her first Mass at Christmas 2001 [images/stories/international/bernadettewoo.jpg]BEIJING, China - They came clutching their shopping bags, curious newcomers who pushed and shoved their way to get a closer view. As regular worshippers celebrated in silence, the visitors chatted and filed in and out of the overflowing cathedral throughout the service.

Afghan mission bound to fail, says Caritas head

December 18, 2006

TORONTO - Canada's twin goals of military success and humanitarian aid in Afghanistan are doomed to failure, the president of Caritas Internationalis told The Catholic Register as he visited the international aid network's Canadian partner.

Turkey's Christians urged to live in harmony with all

December 7, 2006

Orthodox Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew and Pope Bendedict XVI [images/stories/international/Turkey_Christians.jpg]ISTANBUL, Turkey - Closing out a four-day pilgrimage of dialogue in Turkey, Pope Benedict XVI celebrated Mass with the tiny Christian community in Istanbul and encouraged it to live in harmony with the Muslim majority. "Brothers and sisters, your communities walk the humble path of daily companionship with those who do not share our faith, yet profess to hold the faith of Abraham, and together with us adore the one, merciful God," the Pope said in a sermon.

Papal gestures win over Turkish hosts

December 7, 2006

Pope visits the Istanbul, Blue Mosque [images/stories/international/Turkey_mosque.jpg]ISTANBUL, Turkey - During his four-day trip to Turkey, Pope Benedict XVI, known for his precise and incisive words, showed he was also a master of the spontaneous gesture. While his scholarly words in a September lecture in Germany offended millions of Muslims, his prayer in an Istanbul mosque surprised and delighted many of them.

Benedict offers friendship to Turkish Muslims

November 30, 2006

Pope Benedict XVI shakes hands with Ali Bardakoglu, the head of Turkey's religious affairs directorate [images/stories/international/popeTurkey.jpg]ANKARA, Turkey - Acknowledging that his four-day trip to Turkey would be largely symbolic, Pope Benedict XVI opened his visit by paying respect to the Turkish state and extending a hand of friendship to its predominantly Muslim population. On the plane from Rome Nov. 28, Pope Benedict told reporters, "We must not exaggerate; one cannot expect great results in just three days. The value (of the trip) I would say is symbolic, the fruit of the encounters themselves, of encounters in friendship and respect."

Value of priestly celibacy reaffirmed

November 24, 2006

VATICAN CITY - Pope Benedict XVI and top Vatican officials, meeting to review the status of married priests, reaffirmed the value of priestly celibacy and said its importance should be highlighted among priests and seminarians.

Honduran cardinal seeks 'helping hand' on mining problem

November 20, 2006

TORONTO - A cardinal in Honduras has asked the Canadian government to rein in Canadian mining companies operating in his country.