World Mar 11 WATCH: WHO declares that COVID-19 crisis is now a pandemic Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, who heads the U.N. agency, said the WHO is “deeply concerned by the alarming levels of spread and severity” of the outbreak. He also expressed concern about “the alarming levels of inaction.”…
Health Mar 09 Prisoners in Italy riot amid virus containment, 6 die in overdose There are riots in at least two-dozen lock-ups and officials confirmed six prisoners died after they broke into an infirmary and overdosed on methadone.
Health Feb 24 Italy tries to contain virus as neighbors fear its spread Cases of the COVID-19 virus have made Italy the focal point of the outbreak in Europe and fears of its cross-border spread.
Health Feb 21 Italy’s novel coronavirus cases rise to 17 as cluster emerges The number of people in Italy infected with the new virus from China more than quadrupled Friday.
World Feb 12 Pope does not approve ordination of married men in the Amazon In an eagerly-awaited document, Francis didn’t even refer to recommendations by Amazonian bishops to consider the ordination of married men and women deacons. Rather, he urged bishops to pray for more priestly vocations and send missionaries to the region.
Nation Jan 23 Cleveland bishop Nelson Perez to become first Hispanic archbishop of Philadelphia The next Roman Catholic archbishop of Philadelphia says it's “awesome" to be back in the city where his pastoral career began. The Vatican on Thursday announced the appointment of Nelson Perez, currently the bishop of Cleveland.
World Jan 13 Vatican tamps down clamor over Benedict’s new celibacy book The French daily Le Figaro late Sunday published excerpts of the book “From the Depths of Our Hearts: Priesthood, Celibacy and the Crisis of the Catholic Church," co-authored with conservative Cardinal Robert Sarah.
World Dec 17 Pope removes shroud of secrecy from clergy sex abuse cases The pope abolished the use of the Vatican's highest level of secrecy in clergy sexual abuse cases Tuesday.
World Nov 23 Pope denounces ‘evil’ of nukes as he fulfills Japan dream Pope Francis denounced the “evil” of nuclear weapons on Saturday as he began a three-day visit to Japan and fulfilled a dream to be a missionary in a land with a rich but bloody Christian past.
World Oct 07 Pope seeks ‘courageous’ debate over Amazon priest shortage VATICAN CITY (AP) — Pope Francis urged South American bishops on Monday to speak “courageously” at a high-profile meeting on the Amazon, where the shortage of priests is so acute that the Vatican is considering ordaining married men and…