Placing flowers, lighting a candle and praying at the site where Coptic Orthodox Christians were killed by an Islamic State militant last year, Pope Francis and Coptic Orthodox Pope Tawadros II paid homage to those killed for their faith.
International News
Unmask Violence Posing as Holy, Pope Tells Religious Leaders in Egypt
Calling his visit to Egypt a journey of “unity and fraternity,” Pope Francis launched a powerful call to the nation’s religious leaders to expose violence masquerading as holy and condemn religiously inspired hatred as an idolatrous caricature of God.
Bishop Retires Early to Return to Missions
Pope Francis accepted the early retirement request of Italian Bishop Gianfranco Todisco, who begged to be allowed to return to missionary work or to be sent “to the farthest, most disadvantaged” diocese.
O’Reilly Meets the Pope
Pope Francis shakes hands with Fox News television host Bill O’Reilly during his general audience in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican April 19.
Tight Security for Pope in Egypt
Despite the ongoing risk of terrorism, Pope Francis planned to travel to Egypt as a sign of being close to the people there, said Greg Burke, Vatican spokesman.
Benedict Celebrates 90th Birthday with Bavarian Beer
A bit of Bavaria, including German beer and pretzels, came to the Vatican to help celebrate retired Pope Benedict XVI’s 90th birthday.
Churches Around Globe Urged to Offer Masses on Archbishop Sheen’s Birthday
A grass-roots effort calling on Catholic churches around the world to celebrate a special Mass on the May 8 birthday of the late Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen could see its goal of 1,000 Masses soon reached.
Pope Walks Holy Week Path to Resurrection
With tens of thousands of people gathered in St. Peter’s Square April 16, Pope Francis called on Christians to be instruments of Christ’s outreach to refugees and migrants, victims of war and exploitation, famine and loneliness.
Pope Will Formally Approve Canonization Of Two Fatima Children, Groups of Martyrs
Pope Francis and cardinals present in Rome will formally approve the canonizations of two of the children who saw Mary in Fatima, a large group of Brazilian martyrs, three child martyrs from Mexico and two priests.
Palm Sunday Around the World
Catholics in Indionesia, Jerusalem, the Vatican and the Philippines all wield palms a week before Easter.