Catholic representatives in Belarus said they were not invited to talks between Vatican and government officials and criticized a “lack of information” about the fate of their exiled bishops’ conference president.
International News
There Were Five Priests in Aleppo, Syria: Two Died of COVID-19
Four out of the five Franciscan friars working in the war-torn Syrian city of Aleppo tested positive for COVID-19, with two of them dying from the disease.
Life on Venus? Proof God Is Bigger Than We Think, Vatican Astronomer Says
Weighing into the discussion of the possible discovery of life on Venus, the Vatican’s top man on all things outer space has cautioned against getting too speculative, but said that if anything living exists on the planet, it doesn’t change the calculus in terms of God’s relationship with humanity.
A Christian Girl in Pakistan Pleas for Justice
Kidnapped, raped, and forced to convert to Islam while she was only 14 years old. This is the story of Maira Shahbaz, a Christian girl from Punjab, Pakistan.
Israel Signs Diplomatic Pacts With Two Arab States at White House
On Sept. 15 at the White House, Israel signed diplomatic pacts to normalize relations with the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain. While specific details of the pacts are not yet public, the three countries will open embassies and establish economic ties including tourism, technology, and energy.
Top Officials Optimistic About Renewal of Vatican-China Deal
Top officials from both China and the Vatican have given indications that the controversial agreement between the two on the appointment of bishops, which expires at the end of September, will be renewed.
Pope Francis Prays for Young People as School Year Begins Amid Pandemic
In a letter to people participating in a virtual Marian pilgrimage, Pope Francis offered words of encouragement to families struggling amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
Pope Appeals for Peaceful Protests, Says Stop the Violence and Hate
On Sept.13, Pope Francis addressed the wave of protests that have swept through the globe this summer, some of which have turned violent, issuing an appeal for peaceful demonstrations and for those fueled by hate to let go and move toward forgiveness and reconciliation.
With Pope Francis’ Okay, Cardinal Says Return to Public Mass ‘Necessary and Urgent’
Calling it “necessary and urgent” to return to public Masses as soon as anti-COVID 19 measures permit, the Vatican’s top official for liturgy has urged Catholic bishops around the world not to let religious worship be relegated to a priority level below “recreational activities” or treated as just another public gathering.
Spanish Court Convicts Ex-Salvadoran Colonel of 1989 Murders of Five Jesuits
A Spanish court has convicted a former Salvadoran colonel for the murders of five Jesuit priests in 1989 — a rare act of justice for an atrocity from El Salvador’s brutal civil war.