IMAGE: CNS/Paul Haring By Carol Glatz VATICAN CITY (CNS) — As the U.S. president’s personal envoy to the Vatican, the U.S. ambassador to the Holy See has a unique role in building a bridge between the political center of the United States and the religious-spiritual center of the universal Catholic …

IMAGE: CNS photo/Chaz Muth By Mark Pattison WASHINGTON (CNS) — When the vice president has to cast a vote to break a tie in the Senate on whether to debate U.S. health care policy, let alone revise it — as Mike Pence did July 25 — it is obvious that …

IMAGE: CNS photo/Pascal Rossignol, Reuters By Junno Arocho Esteves VATICAN CITY (CNS) — The martyrdom of a French priest killed a year ago while celebrating Mass was an event that “has transformed me as a bishop,” Archbishop Dominique Lebrun of Rouen said. Father Jacques Hamel’s life — “simple and exemplary …

IMAGE: CNS photo/Joshua Roberts, Reuters By Carol Zimmermann WASHINGTON (CNS) — After the Senate voted July 25 to proceed with the health care debate, Bishop Frank J. Dewane of Venice, Florida, urged senators of both parties to “work together to advance changes that serve the common good.” The statement from …

IMAGE: CNS photo/Sashenka Gutierrez, EPA By David Agren MEXICO CITY (CNS) — An explosive device was detonated outside the offices of the Mexican bishops’ conference, directly across the street from the country’s most visited religious site, the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe. A statement provided to Catholic News Service …

By Junno Arocho Esteves VATICAN CITY (CNS) — While Rome reels from one of its worst droughts in decades, the Vatican is doing its part to conserve water by shutting down the city-state’s 100 fountains. The office governing Vatican City State announced July 25 that the drought has “led the …

By Patrick Downes HONOLULU (CNS) — An Oahu pro-life pregnancy resource center and a national network of pregnancy resource centers have filed a federal lawsuit to halt the enforcement of a new Hawaii law that requires such centers to “advertise” contraception and abortion “services.” Attorneys for Alliance Defending Freedom, a …

IMAGE: CNS photo/Peter Nicholls, Reuters By Simon Caldwell MANCHESTER, England (CNS) — Pope Francis is praying for the parents of Charlie Gard after a U.S. doctor told them nothing could be done to help their son. Chris Gard and Connie Yates announced in London’s High Court July 24 that they …

By Cindy Wooden VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Pope Francis called on Muslims and Jews in the Holy Land to “moderation and dialogue” as tensions continued around a key site in Jerusalem that is sacred to members of both faiths. After reciting the Angelus July 23, the pope asked people gathered …

IMAGE: CNS photo/Eugene Garcia, EPA By Carolyn Mackenzie WASHINGTON (CNS) — While Capitol Hill and much of the nation have been following the roller coaster of debate surrounding what will come of GOP efforts to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act, some are focused on what President Donald Trump’s …