International News

A Catholic bishop in South Sudan appealed for peace, respect of human life and the protection of civilians in Sudan, as the town of Kalogi, South Kordofan region, reeled from the deaths of over 100 people killed in drone strikes.

Fr. Andrew Onuferko beheld the terrible sounds, sights and pervasive climate of fear of the Russo-Ukrainian war during his visit to Lviv, the largest city in the key Lviv Oblast region of western Ukraine.

Bethlehem rejoiced with the festive celebration of lighting of a 20-metre Christmas tree at the edge of Manger Square Dec. 6 for the first time since December 2022 and the start of Israel-Hamas war 10 months later.

Notre Dame de Paris celebrated the first anniversary of its reopening Dec. 7 with a major milestone: more than 11 million people have visited the iconic cathedral in the past 12 months.

Pope Leo XIV's childhood home just outside of Chicago has been declared a historic landmark.

As Russian attacks on Ukrainian civilians accompany U.S.-brokered peace talks that as of Dec. 3 produced no breakthrough, Ukraine's religious leaders warn that failure to halt Russia and hold it accountable will expand the war to Europe.

Pope Leo XIV, like his two immediate predecessors, visited the so-called Blue Mosque in Turkey's capital; he spent about 20 minutes inside but did not appear to pause for prayer as Pope Benedict XVI and Pope Francis had done.

Catholic bishops are offering prayers following the shooting of two West Virginia National Guard members in the nation's capital Nov. 26.

The Diocese of Hong Kong is calling for prayer and mourning after a devastating fire at the Wang Fuk Court apartment complex in Tai Po left at least 128 people dead and around 200 still missing.

During the Nov. 23 Angelus prayer, Pope Leo XIV appealed for the release of over 300 children and teachers abducted from a Catholic school in central Nigeria.