By Catholic News Service KOLKATA, India — Sister Nirmala Joshi, who succeeded Blessed Teresa of Kolkata as superior general of the Missionaries of Charity and led the order for 12 years until retiring in 2009, died early June 23 in Kolkota at age 81. Church and political leaders paid tribute …

By Laura Ieraci Catholic News Service VATICAN CITY  — The working document, intended to guide discussions at the Synod of Bishops on the family in October, included a much wider array of issues affecting the family than were in the final document released after the extraordinary synod last year. Last …

By Karen Sampson Hoffman Catholic News Service BALTIMORE — Archbishop William E. Lori reminded those gathered for Mass June 21 at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Baltimore that when it comes to religious freedom, American Catholics and Christians worldwide are …

By Laura Ieraci Catholic News Service VATICAN CITY — It took place in silence and lasted only a few minutes, but Pope Francis’ time of prayer and contemplation before the Shroud of Turin was marked with gestures of reverence and tenderness. Revered by many as the burial cloth of Jesus, …

CNA/EWTN News Catholic leaders have been joined by Israeli leaders in their concerned reaction to Thursday’s attack on a church located on the Sea of Galilee, which has hospitalized two persons and caused extensive damage. In the early hours of June 18, the attackers started a fire at the Church …

By Dennis Sadowski Catholic News Service  WASHINGTON — Pope Francis speaks with a pastor’s voice and with deep respect for science in calling the world to address threats to all life on earth through environmental degradation and the mindset of a “throwaway culture” in his encyclical, said the president of the …

By Elise Harris CNA/EWTN News In his new encyclical on the environment, Pope Francis slams attacks against human life such as abortion, embryonic experimentation and population control – saying that respect for creation and human dignity go hand in hand. The Pope explained that “a sense of deep communion with …

By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service VATICAN CITY — In his brief pontificate, Pope Francis has coined some colorful terms to get his points across, for example, using “bat Christians” to describe those who hide their faith. While the new phrases he uses in his ecology encyclical are not as punchy, …

By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service  VATICAN CITY — The earth, which was created to support life and give praise to God, is crying out with pain because human activity is destroying it, Pope Francis says in his long-awaited encyclical, “Laudato Si’, on Care for Our Common Home.” All who believe …

By Alan Holdren CNA/EWTN News Benedict XVI’s summer is set to be the most active since he stepped down from the pontificate in 2013, with plans for participation in at least two public events and a two-week stay at the papal summer residence at Castel Gandolfo. “Pope Francis invited Benedict …