Vatican to start monthly newspaper by and with the poor

ROME (AP) — The Vatican newspaper is starting a new monthly edition dedicated to the poor and people on the margins, aimed at not only telling their stories but involving them in the paper's production and distribution, the Vatican said Friday. The first edition of L’Osservatore...

Vatican releases pope's Canada itinerary, a sign trip is on

ROME (AP) — The Vatican on Thursday released the itinerary for Pope Francis’ July 24-30 visit to Canada, providing a sign he intends to go ahead with the trip despite knee problems that forced him to cancel a six-day visit to Africa also planned for next month. Francis is due to...

Pope orders online release of WWII-era Pius XII Jewish files

ROME (AP) — Pope Francis has ordered the online publication of 170 volumes of its Jewish files from the recently opened Pope Pius XII archives, the Vatican announced Thursday, amid renewed debate about the legacy of its World War II-era pope. The documentation contains 2,700 files...

Vatican releases itinerary for Pope Francis' July 24-30 trip to Canada in sign he can travel despite knee problems

2 priests killed in Mexico devoted decades to remote region

MEXICO CITY (AP) — Well before many roads were paved in Mexico’s remote Tarahumara mountains, Jesuit priest Javier Campos crisscrossed the area on a motorcycle. During five decades ministering to its impoverished communities, his familiar imitation of a rooster and love of singing earned him...

Families, from Ukraine, elsewhere, tell pope of woes, joys

VATICAN CITY (AP) — Families from many places, including war-ravaged Ukraine, told Pope Francis their stories of joys, sorrows and hopes at an event on a stage at the Vatican Wednesday evening. The occasion at the Vatican’s auditorium was part of events this week for the World...

Pope blasts violence in Mexico as he mourns 2 slain Jesuits

VATICAN CITY (AP) — Pope Francis on Wednesday blasted the violence that plagues Mexico as he mourned the slayings of two of his “brother” Jesuits who were gunned down in a remote Mexican church by apparent drug gang members. Francis, an Argentine Jesuit, offered prayers to the...

South Sudan fights child marriage where girls sold for cows

JUBA, South Sudan (AP) — Some young girls are still auctioned off into marriage for cows in South Sudan — one of the social challenges that activists had hoped to highlight during Pope Francis’ now-postponed visit. The price of a daughter, determined in negotiations between her...

NBA's Biyombo brings Congo to the pope after trip canceled

VATICAN CITY (AP) — Pope Francis may have canceled his planned trip to Congo because of his bad knee, but he had a visit Tuesday from one of Congo’s brightest basketball stars who briefed him on his humanitarian efforts back home. The Phoenix Suns’ Bismack Biyombo had a private...

Belgian bishop declines cardinal honor over abuse record

ROME (AP) — One of Pope Francis’ proposed new cardinals, the retired bishop of Ghent, Belgium, has bowed out of accepting the honor over his own insufficient response to cases of clergy sexual abuse, the Belgian bishops' conference said. Ghent Bishop Luc Van Looy's decision...