At Rome’s Basilica of St. Bartholomew, a shrine to modern martyrs, Pope Francis presided over an evening prayer service April 22, honoring Christians killed under Nazism, communism, dictatorships and terrorism.
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At least 12 killed overnight in Venezuela
Two days of massive protests on the streets of Caracas against the government of President Nicolas Maduro spilled into a violent night in several parts of the city, with residents in El Valle witnessing repetitive gunfire, street barricades set aflame and more than a dozen businesses looted.
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Cardinal Wuerl: Make religious persecution ‘difficult for others to ignore’
“This is not a Christian crisis of concern only to Christians,” Cardinal Wuerl said. “This is a human crisis.”
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Supreme Court bans Jehovah’s Witnesses in Russia
Russia’s Supreme Court on Thursday banned Jehovah’s Witnesses from operating anywhere in the country, accepting a request from the justice ministry that the religious organization be considered an extremist group.
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Judge John Noonan remembered for recognizing common humanity of all people
Noonan was a prolific writer, authoring books on topics of concern to the church such as contraception, abortion and religious freedom, as well as legal subjects.
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Man executed last night in Arkansas chose Communion for his last meal
Arkansas has executed an inmate for the first time in nearly a dozen years as part of its plan to execute several inmates before a drug expires April 30, despite court rulings that have already spared three men.
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Pope Francis’ goals for Egypt trip: Strengthening weary Christians and reaching out to all
Pope Francis “will affirm that there is a certain solidarity among Christians” and that “we are all related together by Jesus.”
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Bill O’Reilly meets Pope Francis. How did that happen?
Bill O’Reilly, a Catholic, who last year challenged the pope’s views on immigration and promised to convince him of the need for reform, shook hands briefly with the leader of the world’s 1.2 billion Catholics at the Vatican.
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Supreme Court seems to lean toward church in Lutheran playground case
The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops filed an amicus brief supporting the preschool.
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Pope Francis to canonize Fatima seers May 13; October date for other saints
Pope Francis will declare the sainthood of Blessed Jacinta Marto and Blessed Francisco Marto, two of the shepherd children who saw Mary in Fatima, Portugal, during his visit to the site of the apparitions May 13.