Jerusalem Benedictines Plan New Center Perched atop Jerusalem’s Mount Zion, just outside the walls of the Old City, the Benedictine Dormition Abbey (the mother abbey of Weston Priory in Vermont) has long been a place of informal encounters among all residents of the city. Through its concert s

Vatican Praises Galileo as a Man of Faith Sixteen years after Pope John Paul II said the Catholic Church erred when it condemned the 17th-century astronomer Galileo Galilei, the Vatican secretary of state said the astronomer was “a man of faith” who recognized God as creator of the cosmo

Congolese Bishops Denounce International Silence on Genocide A group of Congolese bishops has denounced the international community’s tolerance of increasing violence in eastern Congo, which they called a “silent genocide” against the civilian population there. “We are callin

Pope Pius XII’s Contributions ‘Overlooked’ Pope Pius XII and his teachings represent for the church an “exceptional gift for which we must all be grateful,” said Pope Benedict XVI during an audience on Nov. 8 with participants of a congress titled “The Heritage of

Pope Congratulates President-Elect Barack Obama Pope Benedict XVI sent a personal message to President-elect Barack Obama on Nov. 5, congratulating him and offering his prayers for Obama and for all the people of the United States. Federico Lombardi, S.J., the Vatican spokesman, said that because th

Report Links Religious Freedom to Democracy A nation that lacks freedom of religion is stunting its own social, economic and political development, said speakers presenting an annual report on religious freedom around the world. Religious freedom guarantees the establishment and protection of democr

Security Stepped Up for Christians in Mosul Increased security aimed at preventing further attacks on Christians in the Iraqi city of Mosul might have come too late to halt an exodus of refugees, said an Iraqi archbishop. The Iraqi government has deployed extra police on the streets of the northern

U.N. Panel Calls Religion a Force for Freedom The same unwavering, absolute commitment to faith that can make religion a source of conflict and division can also make it a powerful force for freedom, justice and liberation, panelists said at an Oct. 7 forum at the United Nations. They also said the