IMAGE: CNS/Paul Haring By Cindy Wooden NAIROBI, Kenya (CNS) — The international community is facing a stark and serious choice, “either to improve or to destroy the environment,” Pope Francis said, referring to the Paris Climate Conference. “It would be sad, and I dare say even catastrophic, were special interests …

IMAGE: CNS/Paul Haring By Cindy Wooden NAIROBI, Kenya (CNS) — Respect, unity and service are the foundations of a strong family, a solid democracy and a healthy response to the gift of faith — any faith, Pope Francis told the people of Kenya. Meeting ecumenical and interreligious leaders, celebrating a …

IMAGE: CNS photo/Tyler Orsburn By Carol Zimmermann WASHINGTON (CNS) — Maureen Orth, a special correspondent for Vanity Fair magazine who has written about music icons, world leaders and Hollywood celebrities, tackled a completely different subject for National Geographic magazine: the Virgin Mary. For the magazine’s December cover story, “Mary the …

IMAGE: CNS photo/Georgi Licovski, EPA By Dennis Sadowski WASHINGTON (CNS) — The extensive vetting process that all refugees undergo before arriving in the United States “screens out any possible threat of terrorism,” said the executive director of the U.S. bishops’ Migration and Refugee Services. “We believe the risk is nil …

IMAGE: CNS photo/Dai Kurokawa, EPA By Cindy Wooden NAIROBI, Kenya (CNS) — With security concerns looming over his visit, Pope Francis arrived in Kenya Nov. 25 urging tolerance and respect among people of different religions and different ethnic groups. During the less than seven-hour flight, Pope Francis told reporters the …

IMAGE: CNS photo/courtesy Archdiocese o By SEOUL, South Korea (CNS) — To mark the 70th anniversary of the division of Korea and the Year of Mercy, the Archdiocese of Seoul launched a prayer movement, “North Korean Church in My Heart.” Seoul Cardinal Andrew Yeom Soo-jung, who serves as apostolic administrator …

IMAGE: CNS photo/courtesy Mission of Life, Lebanon By Doreen Abi Raad BEIRUT (CNS) — Archbishop Gabriele Caccia, the Vatican nuncio to Lebanon, visited hospitalized victims of twin suicide bombings in Beirut and said Lebanon’s “message of coexistence” needs to be preserved, despite the crises the country is enduring. The Nov. …

IMAGE: CNS photo/Sean Gallagher, The Cr By Sean Gallagher INDIANAPOLIS (CNS) — As 23,000 youths from across the country worshipped together during the closing Mass of the National Catholic Youth Conference in Indianapolis, Leanna Long felt “amazingly overwhelmed” to be in the midst of so many people who shared her …

IMAGE: CNS photo/L’Osservatore Romano via Reuters By Junno Arocho Esteves VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Italian journalists standing trial in a Vatican court defended their right to freedom of the press, while the Vatican prosecution said the way they acquired confidential information was illegal. All five people accused of involvement in …

IMAGE: CNS photo/courtesy Personal Ordi By Cindy Wooden VATICAN CITY (CNS) — After consultation with the governing council of the Personal Ordinariate of the Chair of St. Peter, Pope Francis named Msgr. Steven J. Lopes to be the first bishop of the ordinariate, which serves former Anglicans living in full …