Global Church News

Card Coutts: Advent, a time of prayer for peace and harmony

Dec 03, 2019

The Archbishop of Karachi urges Catholics to pay attention to the needs of the poor, care for the basic rights of others and work for the prosperity of Pakistan. He calls for vigilance as we “prepare to welcome the mystery of the birth of Jesus.”
Church seeks what is best for those who are wounded

Dec 03, 2019

The sacrament of marriage cannot be "improvised," but must be prepared for, nourished and supported throughout the couple's journey, Pope Francis said.
UN chief warns of global climate emergency at summit

Dec 03, 2019

The United Nations secretary-general has warned that global warming threatens human existence. Antonio Guterres spoke before the start of a summit in Spain, where government leaders and other delegates from nearly 200 countries discuss what they view as a climate change emergency facing the world.
Card Bo calls for peace and truth about the Rohingya

Dec 03, 2019

Myanmar will go to the International Court of Justice to rebut accusations of genocide against the Rohingya. The archbishop of Yangon calls on the government to "put away guns and violence" and on the international community “not punish the people of Myanmar as a whole”.
Pope: Reconcile Church social teaching and market laws

Dec 03, 2019

Receiving a group of young French business people, Francis pointed out the need for a "conversion" and "concrete changes of habits and style" that will “concretely effect change and, little by little, educate the world of work to a new style ”.
Burkina Faso: Attack on church is ‘anti-Christian persecution’

Dec 03, 2019

Following the murder of 14 people at a Protestant church in Burkina Faso, a local Catholic Bishop warns of an Islamist insurgency seeking to drive a wedge between Christians and Muslims where they have always lived together in peace.
Catholic-Orthodox efforts at unity must be local, too

Dec 03, 2019

The high-level commitments of the Catholic and Orthodox churches to praying and working together for the common good should be echoed on the diocesan and parish level wherever Catholics and Orthodox live side by side, Pope Francis said.
Across Latin America, Church strives for dialogue amid chaos

Dec 03, 2019

On his return from a trip to Asia last month, Pope Francis was asked about protests in Hong Kong. He answered by saying there are many places today facing social revolt, citing Chile, France, Spain, Nicaragua and “other Latin American countries.”
Australia's Bishops protest national move to force priests to reveal confessions

Dec 03, 2019

Australia’s Catholic bishops support “nationally consistent” reporting standards for the abuse of minors, but cannot support new national legal standards that would force priests to report real or suspected child abuse learned under the strict confidence of sacramental confessions, the bishops have said.
Agats marks the 50th anniversary of local diocese

Dec 03, 2019

The important anniversary is celebrated with a cultural festival, a Mass and a new radio station. Card Ignatius Suharyo Hardjoatmodjo, archbishop of Jakarta and president of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Indonesia attended the solemn Eucharistic celebration. The local bishop exalts “the great enthusiasm shown by the Asmat people”.