By Cindy Wooden VATICAN CITY (CNS) — The Italian government granted citizenship to Alfie Evans, a seriously ill British toddler, in a last-minute effort to prevent doctors in England from withdrawing life-support. The Italian foreign ministry, in a brief note April 23, said Angelino Alfano, the foreign minister, and Marco …

IMAGE: CNS photo/Jorge Cabrera, Reuters By Junno Arocho Esteves VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Pope Francis called for an end to violence in Nicaragua after several days of protests against proposed social security legislation led to the deaths of more than two dozen people. “I express my closeness in prayer to …

IMAGE: CNS photo/DC Comics By Mark Judge NEW YORK (CNS) — Look! Up in the sky! It’s Superman! And he’s 80! The year 2018 marks eight decades since the first appearance of Superman in Action Comics No. 1. It also sees the arrival of issue 1,000 of the “Action” series. …

IMAGE: CNS photo/Marla Brose, Albuquerque Journal By Carol Zimmermann WASHINGTON (CNS) — Tributes from business leaders and politicians alike described Jennifer Riordan — the 43-year-old passenger who died April 17 from injuries suffered on Southwest Flight 1380 when its engine exploded — as a devoted mother, community leader, mentor and …

IMAGE: CNS photo/The Orchard By Mark Pattison WASHINGTON (CNS) — Sometimes the best opportunities result from a mix of asking and having things fall into your lap. So it was for William Friedkin, who directed “The Exorcist” 45 years ago and thought he was through with the subgenre he helped …

IMAGE: CNS/Paul Haring By Carol Glatz VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Begging Pope Francis to help his son, Alfie, Tom Evans met with the pontiff, pleading for “asylum” in Italy so his seriously ill son may receive care and not be euthanized in England. “If Your Holiness helps our child, Your …

By Junno Arocho Esteves WASHINGTON (CNS) — Easter is a time to remember the joy that Jesus is alive and that his resurrection can inspire hope and love in the world, said Cardinal Daniel N. DiNardo of Galveston-Houston, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. It is through the …

IMAGE: CNS photo/Paul Haring By Cindy Wooden ROME (CNS) — After circling a massive, crumbling public housing complex on the outskirts of Rome, Pope Francis had an emotional encounter with the neighborhood’s children. Question-and-answer sessions with youngsters are a standard part of Pope Francis’ parish visits. And, at St. Paul …

By Carol Glatz VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Christian freedom is being free from worldly ambition, fashion and passion and being open to God’s will, Pope Francis said. The world today “is a bit schizoid, schizophrenic, right? It shouts, ‘Freedom, freedom, freedom!’ but it is more slave, slave, slave,” he said …

By Rhina Guidos WASHINGTON (CNS) — During an April 11 homily in Washington, Salvadoran Archbishop Jose Luis Escobar Alas said the canonization of Blessed Oscar Romero will “probably” be in Rome and “probably” take place at end of October after a meeting of bishops. He hedged his statement in an …