When people think of leprosy, they likely imagine an ancient disease far removed from modern life.
International News
Pope Implores ‘Healing and Consolation’ in Wake of U.S. Mass Shooting
Pope Francis has offered his prayers and support to all those who were affected by the recent mass shooting in Monterey Park, California, where 11 people were killed.
For First Blind Catholic Priest in Kenya, Ordination is a ’Dream Turned Reality’
When Father Michael Mithamo King’ori lost his sight as a deacon, he thought his dream of becoming a priest was lost. But nothing is impossible for God, and on Jan. 15, Archbishop Anthony Muheria of Nyeri ordained Father Mithamo King’ori as the first-ever blind Kenyan Catholic deacon to become a priest.
Machete-Wielding Attacker Kills Sacristan, Severely Injures Priest in Spain
A Moroccan national is under arrest after a horrific attack in several Catholic churches in the southern Spanish city of Algeciras, killing one person.
U.S. Watchdog Urges Special Attention to Anti-Christian Carnage in Nigeria
As the persecution of Christians in Nigeria continues, a member of the U.S. government’s international religious freedom watchdog has urged the State Department to designate Nigeria a “Country of Particular Concern” and recommended the appointment of a Special Envoy for Nigeria and the Lake Chad Basin.
Analysis: Running the Numbers, Africa Isn’t the Catholic Future — It’s the Present
While news agencies and Catholic social media denizens these days gorge themselves on the Vatican’s mounting “Battle of the Books,” seeing who can craft the most sensational headlines or tweets about several controversial new volumes making the rounds, other outfits are, thankfully, still concerned with things that actually matter.
Pope Francis on Critics, Health, Homosexuality, and Benedict’s Death
Public criticism by cardinals and bishops is annoying — “like a rash that bothers you a bit,” Pope Francis said — but differences need to be aired and criticism can be helpful, he told the Associated Press.
Mass Media Needs More Kindness, Truth Spoken with Charity, Pope Says
The media and the field of communications need to exercise more kindness and share the truth with charity, Pope Francis said.
Catholic Organizations Applaud, Express Concerns About New Private Sponsorship Program For Refugees
Catholic organizations applauded the announcement Jan. 19 of a new State Department program that allows groups of private individuals to directly support refugees resettling in the U.S.
Pope Prays God Will Strengthen Commitment to Defending All Human Life
As the Biden administration and state governments look at ways to expand or restrict access to abortion after the U.S. Supreme Court’s Dobbs ruling, Pope Francis prayed that God would strengthen people’s commitment to protecting human life at every stage.