International News

News from outside of Canada.

Sagrada Familia a step nearer completion

November 23, 2023

It seemed like one of Antonio Gaudí's dreams come true. On Nov. 12, the papal nuncio to Spain, Archbishop Bernardito Auza, blessed the towers of the Evangelists of the famous Sagrada Familía basilica in Barcelona. Gaudí, a legendary Catalan architect, started working on the now-iconic basilica 140 years ago. Five generations now have watched the temple’s progress.

Dubai bound: Pope Francis seeks action at COP28

November 21, 2023

When Pope Francis visits Dubai in the United Arab Emirates Dec. 1-3 to address the opening of the UN Climate Change Conference, he will be the first pope ever to attend one of the global gatherings that began in 1995.

Haiti hospital attack shows 'those most in need' pay price of violence, says CRS rep

November 21, 2023

A recent attack on a hospital in Haiti underscores the desperate condition of that nation's civilians, a Catholic Relief Services official told OSV News.

Christians fear for Holy Land future

November 16, 2023

Despite a looming threat of being displaced forever from the Holy Land, the Christian community in Gaza is staying faithful to its commitment to help compatriots in facing an increasingly serious humanitarian crisis as war consumes all around them.

Ukraine’s Secret Service probes Russian Patriarch

November 8, 2023

Ukraine’s Secret Service, SBU, has gathered evidence against Russian Orthodox Patriarch Kirill, who, it said, “blessed the racists to kill Ukrainians.”

Fate of captured Ukrainian Catholic priests unknown

November 1, 2023

The fate of two Ukrainian Greek Catholic priests remains unknown almost a year after their capture by the Russian National Guard amid Russia‘s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, according to Forum 18, an Oslo, Norway-based news service that covers religious and intellectual freedom violations in several countries.

Pope Francis calls for cease-fire in Holy Land; Vatican-Iranian diplomats talk

October 30, 2023

The day after Pope Francis called for a cease-fire in the Holy Land, his foreign minister spoke by phone with the foreign minister of Iran, "reiterating the absolute need to avoid escalating the conflict," the Vatican press office said.

Football’s the dream, but faith is his focal point

October 28, 2023

In his second year as an offensive tackle for the Seattle Seahawks, Abraham “Abe” Lucas is living his childhood dream. Even so, it’s faith, not football, that’s the most important thing for this self-described “hard-core Catholic.”

As Rupnik investigation reopens, debate continues over use of his art

October 27, 2023

Two days after news broke Father Marko Rupnik was incardinated by Slovenia's Koper diocese, the Vatican announced Oct. 27 that Pope Francis has lifted the statute of limitations on abuse accusations against Father Rupnik to allow for a formal investigation of the case by the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith.

Young Christians a lifeline to Gaza neighbours

October 27, 2023

In a media world that portrays the Israel-Palestine conflict as simple hostility between people of the Judaic and Muslim faiths, the Christian presence in Palestine is minimized or erased.