Catholic church
Pope Leo XIV challenges Illinois governor over end-of-life legislation
The Illinois bill, which takes effect next September, gives terminally ill adults with a prognosis of six months or less the option to request a medical prescription to end their lives.
Israel's Herzog, Pope Leo discuss rise in worldwide antisemitism ahead of Christmas
Pope Leo decries leaders who invoke religion for violence and nationalism
New York Catholic Church agrees to mediation for 1,300 sexual abuse claims
Widespread child abuse by Catholic Church members in Portugal is tip of iceberg - report
77% of the perpetrators were priests and most of the victims were boys.
Pope says Church conservatives exploited death of ex-pope Benedict
Francis also rejected claims by some conservatives that Benedict, who died on Aug. 31, was embittered by some of the current pope's decisions.
Catholic priest burned to death, another shot in north Nigeria
A Nigerian gunman, with a history of targeting Catholic priests, has burnt a priest to death and shot another.
Benedict funeral to be similar to that of reigning popes
The retired former pope has been laying in state without the papal regalia, but will be buried in the traditional three coffins in the Vatican.
Former Pope Benedict dies at age 95
The Vatican had said in a statement on Wednesday that the former Pope had suffered a sudden "worsening" of his health.
Pope Francis says ex-pope Benedict is 'very sick', asks for prayers
Benedict, 95, in 2013 became the first pope in some 600 years to resign. He has been living in the Vatican since then.
Vatican dismisses Trump-supporting, anti-abortion leader from priesthood
The Vatican defrocked Father Frank Pavone in November, according to a letter sent to US bishops from its ambassador to Washington.
Churches urged to act against antisemitism
Published during Advent, the season of preparation ahead of Christmas, the statement opens by declaring that “the United States is facing the greatest crisis of public antisemitism in a century.”
Pope compares Ukrainian suffering to WWII Nazi death operation
Since the invasion began in February, Francis has been increasingly forceful in his condemnation of Russia's actions.
Catholic Church can curb carbon emissions by returning to meat-free Fridays, study suggests
The practice dates back to the first century CE, when Pope Nicholas I declared that Catholics were required to abstain from eating meat on Fridays in memory of the death and crucifixion of Christ.
