St. Sebastian Catholic Church in Sri Lanka was re-consecrated on July 21, three months after it was severely damaged by bombings on Easter Sunday.
International News
Group Hopes St. Kateri Tekakwitha Will Show U.S. Importance of Amazon Synod
Ahead of October’s upcoming Rome summit on the Amazon region, one stateside organization is hoping the legacy of a lesser-known saint – Kateri Tekakwitha – may help Catholics in the United States realize the significance of indigenous people for the Church.
Iraq Could be Francis’s Shot at ‘Most Important Papal Trip of All Time’
Within just the last few days, two senior Catholic prelates from Iraq have referred to plans for Pope Francis to visit the country next year as, essentially, a done deal.
CAR Bishop Holds the Line Against a ‘Philosophy of Vengeance’
Bishop Nestor-Desire Nongo-Aziagbia of the Central African Republic has been kidnapped on one occasion and shot at on another, yet his peaceful and calm disposition hasn’t been rattled.
Pope Writes Syrian President, Urging Him to Protect Civilians, Seek Peace
Pope Francis urged Syrian President Bashar Assad to put an end to his country’s eight-year-long conflict and seek reconciliation for the good of the nation and its vulnerable people.
Pope’s Astronomer Says Moon Landing Milestone Offers Lesson in Hope
Fifty years ago this month, millions of eyes around the world were glued to the sky as the Apollo 11 spacecraft blasted into orbit, carrying the astronauts who would become the first human beings to set foot on the moon.
Pope Appoints New Vatican Press Office Director
Pope Francis appointed Matteo Bruni to serve as director of the Vatican press office, replacing Alessandro Gisotti, who had been serving as interim director since Dec. 31.
Pelosi, Wolf Urge US to Call Out China for Religious Freedom Abuses
Democratic Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi described repression of religious minorities in China as a “challenge to the conscience of the world” Tuesday during the opening day of a high-level U.S. summit on religious freedom.
Vatican’s ’Empty Tomb’ a Challenge to Credibility When it Matters
Christianity, of course, is founded on the discovery of an empty tomb. Perhaps it’s only fitting, therefore, that Christ’s vicar on earth now has his own “empty tomb” ferment on his hands.
Empty Tomb at Vatican Raises Questions About Missing Bodies
The Vatican opened on July 11 two graves in the Teutonic Cemetery next to St. Peter’s Basilica in hopes of finding the remains of Emanuela Orlandi, the daughter of a Vatican bank employee who has been missing since 1983, and found that Orlandi’s remains weren’t there.