International

Lawrence Chong, a Consultor of the Vatican's Dicastery for Interreligious Dialogue involved in the interfaith youth event in Singapore, highlights Pope Francis' unique ability as a religious leader to cultivate friendship and "a sense of family" among Catholics and non-Catholics alike.

In Erbil's suburb of Ankawa, Catholic, Orthodox and Assyrian Christians are jointly preparing celebrations for the Feast of Cross on 14 September, as communities rebuild lives together following violence in Iraq.

The Irish Bishops’ Conference releases a statement following the publication of a report on sexual abuse in Catholic schools, expressing their closeness to the victims and their determination to see that safeguarding measures continue to be implemented.

In a new report, the UN Human Rights Office notes ‘undue restrictions’ on religious freedoms by Ortega's government, as well as arbitrary detentions, intimidation, ill-treatment in prisons and attacks on indigenous peoples.

The 15th General Assembly of the African Union of Broadcasting (AUB), taking place in Gaborone, Botswana, under the theme, “The future of African media facing the challenges of new technologies and climate change,” has discussed the impact of Artificial Intelligence on the future of the broadcast industry and how African broadcasters can strengthen cooperation on climate-related topics.

Women of different faiths hold a meeting as part of the "Women of Faith for Peace" movement in the northern Italian city of Montagnaga, as they work to break down the walls of prejudice and hatred and find new ways to build dialogue in conflict zones.

The body of 23-year-old Hersh Goldberg is found with those of five other hostages in Gaza. His mother Rachel had sent a video message to Pope Francis and met him at the Vatican.

The sparsely populated island nations of the Pacific emit less than .02% of the world's annual greenhouse gas emissions. Yet this collection of volcanic islands and coral atolls is the first to suffer the effects of global warming. The Pope will visit the region during his 45th apostolic journey.

Nicaragua's government has withdrawn the legal status of 169 non-governmental organizations, taking the number of banned civil society groups to over 5,600.

The Taliban prohibits women from speaking and singing in public – this is the latest of a series of laws passed by the Kabul government that violates the fundamental rights of Afghan women, exactly three years after the withdrawal of US troops from the country.

Archbishop Bejoy N. D'Cruze, OMI, of Dhaka, Bangladesh, warns of the rising death toll and immense suffering following floods affecting 5 million people, and tells Vatican News about the ongoing suffering of the Rohingya, who, despite their sorrow, are grateful to the Pope for his personal closeness.

Millions are being evacuated in Japan as devastating Typhoon Shanshan, one of the worst storms to have ever hit the region, claims lives, injures many, halts production, and disrupts air traffic.

Thirty-three kitesurfing professionals of eight different nationalities participated in the second edition of the Zanzibar Cup international kitesurfing regatta, which took place in recent days in Kiwengwa, Zanzibar. Creator of the event, Italian medical Dr. Stefano Conte, underscores the positive encounter in uniting people of different cultures, what our world needs more than ever.

As Nigeria reels from violent protests against President Bola Tinubu’s economic reforms, the bishops stress the urgent need to address the issues raised by the protesters, warning that nation “is sitting on a ticking time bomb”.

A statement released by the Patriarchs and the Heads of the Churches in Jerusalem expresses grave concern for heightened tensions that place the region on the precipice of full-blown war and appeals for a negotiated agreement for peace.

As the Rimini Meeting draws to a close, Rami Elhanan, an Israeli, and Bassam Aramin, a Palestinian, share their stories of losing their daughters in the decades-long conflict in the Holy Land, calling for reconciliation to transcend the war between Israel and Hamas.

Our correspondent aboard the Mare Jonio offers a look at the planning behind the migrant search and rescue mission underway in the Mediterranean, the first of its kind to be jointly organised by the Italian Bishops and a humanitarian organisation.

As the Mare Jonio begins a migrant search and rescue mission in the Mediterranean, Pope Francis expresses his support for the first mission jointly-organised by the Italian Bishops’ Conference.

The Government of Tanzania has been advised to treat the Maasai community of Ngorongoro in the Manyara region as bonafide citizens who have dignity and are deserving of all fundamental human and democratic rights. These include the right to vote in the upcoming Local Government Elections of November 2024, and the General Elections, scheduled for next year.

Nicaragua’s parliament has approved new tax measures that will require Churches and religious organizations of all denominations to pay taxes on offerings received from the faithful.

Nicaragua’s official gazette has reported the implementation of a decision announced recently by Vice President Rosario Murillo to close 1,500 non-governmental organizations, most of which are religious organizations, stating their assets will be transferred to the state.

Two Catholic priests have been expelled from Nicaragua following their arrest last week, bringing the total of religious men and women expelled to 245 since 2018.

Bishops in Ireland express shock and dismay at the news of the multiple stabbing of a Catholic chaplain on Thursday by a teenager.

The WHO and UNICEF have requested all parties to the Gaza conflict implement humanitarian pauses for seven days to conduct two polio vaccination campaigns.

The Holy See Press Office confirms a phone call between Cardinal Matteo Zuppi, who Pope Francis sent on a 2023 peace mission to Kyiv, Moscow, Washington and Beijing, and Li Hui, Beijing's delegate for Eurasian Affairs.

Churches in Scotland are opposing a new bill presented to the Holyrood Parliament seeking to legalise assisted dying for terminally ill and mentally competent adults.

On Saturday and Sunday, authorities in Nicaragua detained two clergymen and a pastoral collaborator, just a few days after seven others were expelled and arrived in Rome.

Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin and the new President of Iran, Masoud Pezeshkian, discuss issues of common interest during a telephone call, with Cardinal Parolin expressing the Holy See's deep concern over the risk of a widening of the war in the Middle East.

As Sudan faces a serious humanitarian emergency due to the ongoing civil war and forced displacement, the country’s bishops support peace talks to mitigate the "dreadful" humanitarian consequences.

Pope Francis renews his appeal for peace in places torn by war, and prays for victims of a passenger plane crash in Brazil.