Innocent Europeans are paying the price for European actions in the Middle East, a Syrian archbishop has said. The attacks on Paris last November 13 and Brussels on March 22 “unfortunately” saw “innocent people reap what European powers have sown in Syria and Iraq in the last few years”, according to Archbishop Jacques Behnan Hindo,…
CAR lives in hope following papal visit
The Central African Republic is “experiencing a season of hope”, according to a Carmelite missionary based in the capital city Bangui, who believes that Pope Francis’ November visit to the country “significantly contributed” to this. Fr Federico Trinchero, whose convent Notre Dame du Mont Carmel has housed more than 5,000 displaced people since civil war…
Former students end lawsuit against diocese in England
Former students of a Catholic college in Manchester who allege they were abused by three priests based there have abandoned their lawsuit against Salford diocese. The men, one-time students at St Bede’s College, argued that the diocese had failed to protect them from sexual abuse perpetrated as far back as the 1950s by three priests,…
Vatican Roundup
Pope’s reminder of the source of salvation Only God’s infinite mercy can bring us salvation, Pope Francis said in his Easter message. Describing the world as “full of persons suffering in body and spirit”, with the daily news full of stories of brutal crimes and large-scale armed conflicts, the Pope said “the risen Christ points out paths of hope to beloved…
Francis urges Pakistan to protect its Christians
Pope Francis has appealed to Pakistan’s government to take steps to ensure the safety of the country’s Christians and other minorities. The Pope’s appeal came the day after a terrorist bombing in the Punjab provincial capital Lahore killed at least 70 people and injured more than 300 who were spending Easter afternoon in a public…
World News in Brief
Hope still for kidnapped Salesian priest The Austrian cardinal who said in an Easter Vigil homily that the kidnapped Salesian priest Fr Tom Uzhunnalil had been crucified in Yemen on Good Friday has since rowed back on his claim. After speaking to Church leaders in the region, Vienna’s Cardinal Christoph Schönborn stated that he believed “there is still hope”, and…
Great celebration for people of Burma
This Easter was a very special one for the people of Burma (Myanmar), Yangon’s Cardinal Charles Maung Bo has said in an Easter message. Celebrating the outcome of the November 2015 elections, and the election of the country’s first non-military president after 50 years of military rule, he said “Easter breaks forth like a river…
Una Healy’s husband converted to Catholicism for their wedding
The Saturdays star Una Healy has spoken about the importance of faith in her life, revealing that her husband converted to Catholicism ahead of their wedding in 2012. The Tipperary-born Voice of Ireland mentor, who is married to English rugby player Ben Foden, said her faith means a lot to her, and her two children,…
Derry youth community building up parish
Members of the Derry Youth Community – Charlotte Gormley, Andy Watts, Emmanuel Bicego and Christopher Bird – with a model of Eugene’s Cathedral built from Lego, which was presented at the Chrism Mass celebrated at the cathedral by Bishop Donal McKeown. Photo: Stephen Latimer
Precious Life welcome new abortion guidelines
Staff Reporter Pro-life campaigners in the North have welcomed the publication of new abortion guidelines which they say protect the life of both mother and baby. The guidelines, issued on the evening of Good Friday, follow years of debate on how to bring clarity to abortion practice in Northern Ireland, where unlike in Britain abortion is…









