world news
Pope calls world leaders to end divisions to fight climate change
The future of humanity depends on what people choose now, Pope Francis said in his message to global leaders at the World Climate Action Summit of the U.N. Climate Change Conference.
New Jersey priest’s devotion to saint helps bring her life to the big screen
For the last decade, Msgr. Paul Bochicchio of St. Francis Church in Hoboken has been advising as a spiritual consultant on the upcoming film “Cabrini,” produced by Angel Studios about the life and ministry of St. Frances Xavier Cabrini, set to debut in theaters in March 2024.
Report: Fewer states use capital punishment, but more prisoners executed in 2023
Just five states — Texas, Florida, Missouri, Oklahoma and Alabama — carried out executions in 2023, while a majority of U.S. states have banned or paused the practice by executive order, according to a new report by the Death Penalty Information Center.
Annual collection to help elderly men, women religious to be held Dec. 9-10
Most U.S. dioceses will take up an annual collection Dec. 9-10 to help approximately 24,000 elderly religious sisters, brothers and religious order priests pay for retirement necessities, including health care.
Wearing a rosary can make a Latino a target for police, historian says
Many law enforcement officers associate Catholic imagery and symbols with criminality in the U.S. Latino community, a historian researching the American Southwest said.
Mexican Catholics condemn euthanasia initiative
Catholics in Mexico have condemned an initiative to legalize euthanasia, accusing lawmakers of simply wanting to “save money,” while presenting their proposal “under the guise of false piety.”
Holy ink: Tattoo culture shows faith is not skin deep, sociologist says
The Catholic Church cannot measure people’s engagement with religion only by looking at church attendance, but also must observe how they express religious sentiments outside of church — even on their own bodies, a Jesuit priest said.
Black Catholic hero of charity, fed by the Eucharist, inspires faithful to holiness
Pierre Toussaint, declared “venerable” in 1997 by St. John Paul II, was born into slavery in St. Mark, Haiti, (then known as the French colony of Saint-Domingue) in 1766 and died a free man in New York in 1853.
Ave Maria University offers free Catholic online courses highlighting the true, good, beautiful
Ave Maria University is now offering “The Pursuit of Wisdom,” a series of free online courses presented by university faculty that provides practical wisdom and insights on interesting topics and themes to help Catholics contemplate the true, good and beautiful.
Journey toward Catholic-Orthodox unity began with an embrace, pope says
The journey of reconciliation between Catholics and Orthodox began with an embrace almost 60 years ago, a sign of how important personal contact and time spent together are in the search for Christian unity, Pope Francis said.