International »
Bishops dedicate Americas to Our Lady of Guadalupe during COVID-19 pandemic
MEXICO CITY -- Latin American and Caribbean bishops have dedicated the Americas to the care of Our Lady of Guadalupe, praying for her "maternal protection" during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Published in International
Liberation theology co-founder supports declaring St. Romero 'doctor of the church'
WASHINGTON – One of the founders of liberation theology in Latin America said he supports an effort to declare St. Oscar Romero a doctor of the Catholic Church.
Published in Faith
How the Church in Chile is helping women victims of domestic violence
SANTIAGO, Chile – The Vicariate for Social Pastoral Care of Caritas in the Archdiocese of Santiago takes in every year hundreds of women and their children, victims of domestic violence who find in their shelters comprehensive care to be able to get on with their lives.
Service, not party affiliation makes a politician Catholic, Pope Francis says
VATICAN – What makes a politician "Catholic" is not party affiliation, but dedication to promoting the common good, particularly through listening to and empowering people who often are overlooked, Pope Francis said.
Millions of Venezuelan refugees are in the fight of their lives amidst social, political upheaval
BOA VISTA, Brazil – As soon as she fills another suitcase with food, Margaret Infante will join other refugees who cross back and forth at the border from Brazil to Venezuela to help feed starving family members.
Clericalism, abuse of power, at heart of sex abuse crisis, Colombian cardinal says
VATICAN – The abuse crisis in the Catholic Church is a call for bishops to unmask the deep-seated clericalism that placed protection of the institution of the church above the sufferings of victims, said the head of the council of Latin American bishops.
Pope Francis lifts suspension imposed on Nicaraguan priest 34 years ago
VATICAN – Pope Francis has lifted the canonical penalties imposed 34 years ago on Father Ernesto Cardenal, 94, the Nicaraguan poet and former member of the Sandinista government.
What Indigenous People of the Amazon want the Church to know
LETICIA, Colombia – Rafael Noteno Capinoa, a Kichwa Indian, worries about what could happen to the forest around his village on Peru's Napo River if an oil company begins drilling in the area.
Bishop downplays idea that Amazon synod will criticize Brazil's policies
SAO PAOLO – Responding to news reports that the Brazilian intelligence agency was monitoring the Catholic Church, the secretary-general of the bishops' conference downplayed the idea that prelates would use the October Synod of Bishops on the Amazon to criticize their government's policies.
Caritas members in Latin America look for ways to apply wisdom of Indigenous peoples, 'Laudato Si''
Catholic representatives from Latin America and the Caribbean, defining work for the next four years, looked for ways to build on the foundations of Pope Francis' encyclical "Laudato Si'" so it is taken into account by all nations.
Juan Guaido delegation says Vatican supports new elections in Venezuela
ROME – Although it has publicly taken a neutral stance in the current political crisis in Venezuela, the Vatican has expressed its support for new elections in the country within the year, said a member of a delegation representing opposition leader Juan Guaido.
Churches at Colombian border work to help Venezuelan refugees
CUCUTA, Colombia – Lunch started early at the Divine Providence House, a church-run soup kitchen located just a few hundred feet away from the Venezuelan border.
Maduro's call for Vatican mediation rejected by Venezuelan cardinal
MERIDA, Venezuela – The Archbishop of Merida has ruled out Vatican mediation of the Venezuelan crisis after president Nicolas Maduro made public a letter to Pope Francis requesting intervention.
Jean Ko Din in Panama: WYD leaves behind a wealth of memories
Packing up after a pilgrimage, you sort through the souvenirs you'll bring home. They are reminders of friends made, marvels witnessed and lessons discovered along the way.
Published in World Youth Day 2019
Venezuelan Army besieged hundreds of Maduro protesters in Maturin cathedral
MATURIN, Venezuela – As opposition marches were held across Venezuela Wednesday, at least 700 opposition supporters were trapped in Maturin's Cathedral of Our Lady of Mount Carmel for several hours, besieged by the Venezuelan Army.