IMAGE: CNS/Paul Haring By Junno Arocho Esteves VATICAN CITY (CNS) — The silence that precedes the opening prayer at Mass is an opportunity for Christians to commend to God the fate of the church and the world, Pope Francis said. Departing from his prepared text at his weekly general audience …

IMAGE: CNS photo/John Blaine By Mary Stadnyk and Rich Fisher HOLMDEL, N.J. (CNS) — Students at St. John Vianney High School expected their recent pep rally to be fun, colorful and filled with good-natured competition. But they were completely taken by surprise during the pre-Christmas celebration when six priests ran …

IMAGE: CNS photo/Andrew Kelly, Reuters By Rhina Guidos WASHINGTON (CNS) — As the Catholic Church in the U.S. began observing National Migration Week, a time to reflect on the circumstances confronting migrants, immigrants, refugees, and human trafficking victims, the administration of President Donald Trump announced that it would end an …

IMAGE: CNS/Paul Haring By Carol Glatz VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Because everyone has a right to life, liberty and personal security, nations must find nonviolent solutions to conflict and difficulties, Pope Francis said. A culture of peace “calls for unremitting efforts in favor of disarmament and the reduction of recourse …

By Gail Finke The Canada Summer Jobs Program (CSJ) helping small businesses and charities pay salaries for summer workers got an extra $113 million this year, but pro-life organizations and traditional Christians suspect they need not apply. New restrictions on grants require that both the jobs and the “core mandates” …

IMAGE: CNS photo/Bob Roller By Carol Zimmermann WASHINGTON (CNS) — The Federal Emergency Management Agency is revising its policies to no longer exclude houses of worship from applying for federal aid to recover from damages caused by natural disasters. The policy change was outlined in the agency’s revised 217-page manual: …

IMAGE: CNS photo/L’Osservatore Romano By FIUMICINO, Italy (CNS) — On the eve of Epiphany, when most Italian children wake up to find gifts and candy, Pope Francis visited a pediatric hospital outside Rome. The pope arrived at the Palidoro Bambino Gesu Hospital at about 3 p.m. Jan. 5 and visited …

By Gail Finke The bishops of Washington, D.C., and Arlington, Va., announced that participants in the annual March for Life can obtain a plenary indulgence this year. In a letter sent to the bishops of the United States, Cardinal Donald Wuerl, archbishop of Washington, and Arlington Bishop Michael Burbidge said …

By Rhina Guidos WASHINGTON (CNS) — Days before the U.S. Department of Homeland Security decides whether to extend or terminate a special immigration status for some 200,000 Salvadorans in the U.S., a border bishop pleaded with the Trump administration to think about the well-being of the immigrants’ children who are …

IMAGE: REUTERS By KINSHASA, Congo (CNS) — Church leaders in Congo expressed shock after security forces fired on Catholic protesters, leaving at least eight dead and 120 people detained. The Dec. 31 protest against rule by President Joseph Kabila was organized by the Kinshasa archdiocesan lay coordination committee. At least …