Pope Francis joined Archbishop Konrad Krajewski, the papal almoner and Adolfo Nicolas, S.J., superior general of the Society of Jesus, in a visit to a new homeless shelter for men in Rome on Oct. 15. • In 2014, a recent high of 1,400 cases of blasphemy were registered in Pakistan, while its cou

This violence goes against Jerusalem’s vocation as a holy city, which should be open to all people of faith, he said. “We are shocked at what is happening,” Bishop Shomali said in mid-October, after two weeks of unrest. “Violence does not help. We do not accept violence by an

Inside this monument a rainit doesn’t want, coming bywith winds and the flag  this way and that reaching outas if the war endedsmelling from all your letters home  wet—they had to be wet, scentedwith thunder and kissesleft on the ground, already  this harves

The Humble TruthRe “Doctrinal Challenges,” by Peter Folan, S.J. (10/12): I find it interesting that Jesus was able to launch all of Christianity in just a few years, an achievement beyond comparison in the Western world, without much if any reference to sophisticated intellectual theolog

During a press briefing after the report’s release on Oct. 14, Secretary of State John Kerry said these non-state actors “are now the principal persecutors and preventers of religious tolerance and practice.”“Most prominent, and most harmful, obviously, has been the rise of i

Democracy seems to be very popular; the work of democracy, perhaps not so much

Greece is bracing for thousands more Syrians and other people to land on Lesbos and other key island crossings from Turkey, as those fleeing conflict remain undeterred by the worsening weather and colder autumn temperatures. “The waves were rolling fiercely with the salt water nearly choking u

A seminarian reflects on Pope Francis’ bold vision

The decision of the ruling African National Congress to withdraw South Africa from membership of the International Criminal Court has drawn fierce criticism.

The month of November opens with two feast days that have shaped my experience of celebrating and mourning life and death.

Three years after Paul Ryan and Joseph R. Biden debated as vice presidential candidates, Washington is anxiously waiting for them to make anguishing choices about their futures—whether Mr. Ryan will answer his fractured party’s pleas to serve as speaker and whether Mr. Biden has the emot

8 ways the U.S. church could be strengthened right now

Reflecting the light of God through our imperfections

One need not be a Christian or a believer to see the serious problems with laws that legalize a “right to die.”

That Pope Francis would elect to simply have lunch with just the supporting cast, without any “important” people, reflects the unusual priorities of this bishop of Rome.

One cannot claim to believe in reincarnation without compromising key tenets of Christian faith.

Erasmo Levia-Merikakis’s three-volume meditation on the gospel of Matthew is an immense resource that has enriched my prayer, my retreat talks and, now, my preaching.

Among practicing Catholics, 90 percent now say they view Pope Francis favorably, up from 83 percent in August, one month before his visit. Among all Americans, the pope's numbers jumped from 58 percent to 74 percent.

If you want to know what it’s like to be a player at the Synod of Bishops and in the extracurricular socializing where much of the work is done, you have to read the blog of Australian Archbishop Mark Coleridge.