Vatican Talks With Kremlin On Ending War
Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has spoken with the Vatican on ending the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Vatican and Russian sources say.
Pope Francis
Russia’s Putin Says ‘We Don’t Want War in Europe’ But Doubts Remain
Russian President Vladimir Putin said Tuesday, “we don’t want war in Europe,” but doubts remained despite Moscow announcing a partial pullback of forces near Ukraine.
Morocco Grieves As Boy Trapped In Well Dies
A nation was grieving Sunday, and many paid tributes to a five-year-old Moroccan boy who died after being trapped in a well for four days despite massive rescue efforts.
Migrants Face Uncertainty At Belarus-Polish Border
As Europe’s winter sets in, Pope Francis urged prayers for migrants fleeing war, persecution, and poverty as the European Union braced for a new influx of desperate people through Belarus and other routes. The Belarusian President, Alexander Lukashenko, offered humanitarian aid to refugees who opted to stay at the Belarusian-Polish border.
Biden Claims Pope Calls Him ‘Good Catholic’ Despite Abortion Row
U.S. President Joe Biden announced Friday that Pope Francis had called him a “good Catholic” despite the president’s support for abortion.
Commission finds 330,000 children abused in French Catholic Church
An independent commission in France has published a major report showing that over a 70 year period an estimated 330,000 children were sexually abused in the French Catholic Church, Deutche Welle (DW) reports.
Gunmen Kill Nuns In South Sudan
Pope Francis has offered condolences to victims’ families after two Catholic nuns were shot and killed along a highway in South Sudan.
Pope Francis says getting vaccinated is an ‘act of love’
Pope Francis is urging people to get vaccinated against COVID-19, calling the decision an “act of love.”
Pope Francis Criminalizes Sexual Abuse of Adults by Priests
Pope Francis has changed church law to explicitly criminalize the sexual abuse of adults by priests who abuse their authority and to say that laypeople who hold church office can be sanctioned for similar sex crimes.
Europe Facing Social Turmoil Over COVID-19 Pandemic
Pope Francis prayed for the end of the pandemic amid mounting social turmoil in Europe about COVID-19 restrictions. His prayers in St. Peter’s Basilica and call for “a horizon of hope” came as in Belgium’s capital Brussels police said they detained more than 130 people at an “illegal” party.
Pope Prays As Rescue Workers Report 130 Migrant Deaths At Sea
Pope Francis on Sunday prayed for those who looked the other way after at least 130 migrants fleeing war, persecution and poverty perished in the Mediterranean and aid workers accused states of not responding to distress calls.
Report: ‘Growing Persecution of Christians in North America, Europe’
Devoted Christians in Europe and North America are increasingly among those being persecuted for their faith in Christ, a rights report shows.
Global Concern Mount About Tensions In Eastern Ukraine
Pope Francis appealed for peace in eastern Ukraine, where growing violations of a ceasefire trigger rising tensions between Kyiv and Moscow agreed between Ukrainian government forces and Russian-backed separatists. It comes while a massive Russian military buildup is underway near Ukraine’s borders and British warships preparing to sail for the Black Sea next month in support of Ukraine.
Family, Friends ‘Celebrate Life’ Of Late Evangelist Luis Palau
An emotionally charged private memorial service was held Saturday, March 20, in honor of world-renowned evangelist Luis Palau. He passed away this month after losing his battle against lung cancer at age 86, leaving behind an evangelism legacy that impacted millions’ lives.
Catholic Church ‘cannot bless same-sex unions’
The Catholic Church does not have the power to bless same-sex unions, the Vatican office responsible for doctrine has said.
Evangelist Luis Palau Dies At 86
Luis Palau, the international evangelist who preached the Gospel of Jesus Christ to more than 1 billion people through media and evangelistic events, has died, his family confirmed. The 86-year-old preacher, a close friend of the late evangelist Billy Graham, passed away after a decision to stop all treatment for his incurable lung cancer.
Pope Prays For Iraq’s Persecuted Christians
Pope Francis has visited Iraq to reassure the nation’s dwindling Christian community of his prayers after years of Islamic attacks and persecution.
Middle East In Biblical City of Ur, Pope Urges Inter-Religious Tolerance, Fraternity
Pope Francis has addressed an interfaith gathering of Iraq’s religious and ethnic groups in Ur, said to be the birthplace of Abraham, the common patriarch for Jews, Christians and Muslims. He drove home the need for respect and unity, and he used the opportunity to condemn violent religious extremism.
Pope Prays Amid Ruins of Iraqi Churches Destroyed by IS
Pope Francis was in northern Iraq Sunday where he prayed in the ruins of churches destroyed by the Islamic state and celebrated an open-air Mass.
Iran Continues to Take Over, Manipulate Endangered Christian Communities in Iraq
Pope Francis’ perilous pilgrimage to Iraq this week, due to start on Friday, may cast light on the painful plight of Christians in their ancestral homeland, yet the most significant threat facing the community is neither Sunni terrorists nor corrupt government persecutors, but the heavy hand of neighboring Iran and the proxy militias it funds and arms.
