A trio of Nigerian bishops condemned the enslavement of Nigerians who travelled to Libya for work, calling the practice a horrific abuse of human dignity. Bishop Joseph Bagobiri of Kafanchan, retired Archbishop Alaba Job of Ibadan and retired Bishop Julius Adelakun of Oyo called on the Nigerian government to act on behalf of Nigerian nationals…

Letter from Rome Italy deals Church third big political loss, this time on ‘right-to-die’, writes John L. Allen Jr.   Just days before the 11th anniversary of the death of an Italian man whose battle to be allowed to die stimulated wide debate in the country over euthanasia, the Italian senate approved a ‘living wills’ measure…

The nativity scene in St Peter’s Square is not getting rave reviews: the backdrop does not look like a stable and the characters in need – hungry, naked, dead, imprisoned – don’t exactly evoke a silent night when all was cozy, calm and bright. Franciscan Fr John Puodziunas said he didn’t like it at first.…

Young Catholics must set the world on fire with their Faith, Sydney Archbishop Anthony Fisher told about 20,000 young people gathered in a former Olympic Stadium. “You must be spiritual flamethrowers. You must have the awesomeness of an Australian bush fire, without the destruction,” he said at the opening of the Australian Catholic Youth Festival.…

A US Senator stopped short of specific legislative proposals during a Christian conference, but spoke openly of religious faith as he offered support for beleaguered Christian communities under threat from ISIS in the Middle East. Senator Marco Rubio said: “I’m a deep believer that our foreign policy should be infused with our most deeply held…

Polish 
Christmas
 tree 
in
 Vatican A Nativity scene and Christmas tree, like those displayed in St Peter’s Square, are visible reminders of God’s benevolence and closeness to all men and women, Pope Francis said. “Every year, the Christmas Nativity scene and tree speak to us through their symbolic language. They make more visible what is captured in the experience…

Seventy-eight prisoners were baptised, confirmed, and received their First Holy Communion in an Argentine prison. The inmates are entering the Catholic Church after working with the Diocese of San Isidro’s prison ministry, which operates in the greater Buenos Aires metropolitan area. The ministry has been active since 2007 in both male-only and mixed gender units…

Following days of violence and backlash after US President Donald Trump’s decision to recognise Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, the Vatican appealed for “wisdom and prudence” to prevail. The announcement sparked anti-US protests throughout Asia and the Middle East, including a four-day protest in the Palestinian territories, Reuters reported. An Israeli security guard in…

Expectations are high among refugees in makeshift camps in Cox’s Bazar days after Pope Francis met with 16 Rohingya refugees in Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh. On his way back to the Vatican, the Pontiff admitted he wept during his encounter with the Muslim refugees who have fled from religious persecution in Myanmar›s neighbouring Rakhine State. “I…