Global Catholic News

Final resting place: Vatican releases instruction on burial, cremation

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Professing belief in the resurrection of the dead and affirming that the human body is an essential part of a person's identity, the Catholic Church insists that the bodies of the deceased be treated with respect and laid to rest in a consecrated place. While the Catholic Church continues to prefer burial in the ground, it ac...

Pope Francis names 17 new cardinals, three from U.S.

Off the beaten path: Pope looks far afield for new cardinals VATICAN CITY (CNS) - Choosing new members of the College of Cardinals, Pope Francis once again looked to countries and particularly to dioceses that were not and never had been represented in the body that advises the pope and bears responsibility for electing his successor. [caption id...

Catholic Relief Services commits $5 million to Hurricane Matthew response in Haiti

BALTIMORE, MD, October 7, 2016

Pope: Church's mission is to attract people to Christ, not proselytize

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Christians are called to follow the example of St. Therese of Lisieux, who helped draw people to Jesus by way of attraction, not by proselytizing, Pope Francis said. [caption id="attachment_20578" align="alignright" width="194"] Pope Francis greets the crowd during his general audience in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican Oct...

Pope pleas on behalf of civilians in Aleppo as bombing intensifies

VATICAN CITY (CNS) - As a brief cease-fire agreement failed and Syrian government forces returned to bombing Aleppo and fighting rebels in the city streets, Pope Francis made a forceful appeal for assistance for the thousands of innocent civilians trapped in the besieged city. [caption id="attachment_20477" align="alignright" width="250"] Medics i...

Christians aren't greater than God, must forgive as he does, pope says

VATICAN CITY (CNS) - God wants people to be merciful, which means forgiving others and giving freely with love, Pope Francis said. [caption id="attachment_20403" align="alignright" width="250"] Pope Francis speaks as he leads his weekly audience Sept. 21 in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican. (CNS photo/Remo Casilli, Reuters) See POPE-AUDIENCE-JUDG...

Best way to fight terrorism is to warmly welcome refugees, pope says

[caption id="attachment_20386" align="alignright" width="250"] A volunteer from a humanitarian organization embraces refugee children during a police operation at a makeshift camp in the Greek village of Polykastro. Offering migrants and refugees truly helpful and loving hospitality is the greatest guarantee against terrorism, Pope Francis said. (C...