Pope, bishops urge action to save burning Amazon rainforest

VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Describing the Amazon rainforest as “vital for our planet,” Pope Francis joined the region’s bishops in praying for action to extinguish the massive fires burning there.

Throwback: Q&A with St. Teresa of Calcutta

As we celebrate the feast day of St. Teresa of Calcutta, we’d like to share with you this interview, originally published under the headline “The private woman: humor and observations” with the subhead: “Private moments reveal humor, dedication.”

Pope says family is where people learn communication

Beginning with an unborn child's relationship with his mother, the family is where members of the church and wider society learn the essential lessons of communication, Pope Francis said.

Church agencies highlight growing urgency of Europe’s refugee crisis

Catholic aid agencies have urged Europeans not to turn against migrants seeking refuge from Syria and other countries, in what media reports describe as the continent's greatest refugee movement since World War II.

Singing does good for the soul, pope tells young choristers

Choirsters from St. Bernard of Clairvaux in Scottsdale were among the 6,000 gathered. They held concerts at several churches in Rome and were scheduled to sing in St. Peter's Basilica on New Year's Day.

Maryland Catholic school grad shines in swim for gold at Paralympics

Paralympian Rebecca Meyers is majoring in history in college and made some of her own Sept. 8 at the 2016 Summer Paralympics in Rio de Janeiro: her first gold medal and a world record.

Renowned journalist Cokie Roberts, lifelong Catholic, dies at age 75

WASHINGTON (CNS) — Cokie Roberts, a broadcast journalist and political commentator who spoke publicly about her Catholic faith and her admiration for the Sacred Heart sisters who taught her, died Sept. 17 due to complications from breast cancer. She was 75.

Head of Vatican court describes ‘VatiLeaks’ as ‘most grave crimes’

CORK, Ireland (CNS) -- The head of the Vatican's highest court described the spate of leaks of confidential Vatican documents as "most grave crimes"...

Nigerian cardinal supports offer of amnesty to Boko Haram insurgents

Cardinal John Olorunfemi Onaiyekan of Abuja supported Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan's proposal to offer amnesty for any Boko Haram militants who stop fighting and embrace peace.

Pope encourages Catholics to join ecumenical prayer campaign

The Ascension-to-Pentecost campaign encourages their faithful to focus for 11 days on praying that more people would come to know Jesus.