The Catholic Leader: World News

Bishop accuses Pakistan authorities of inaction after attack

Speaking out: Bishop Sebastian Shaw of Lahore

PAKISTAN (ACN News): Government authorities in Pakistan stand accused of failing to protect a vulnerable community who fled their Christian quarter and watched helplessly as their homes were robbed and set ablaze. (24/03/2013)

Italian cardinal sees holiness, prayer as key to vocations

VATICAN CITY (CNS): A canon lawyer and theologian, Italian Cardinal Mauro Piacenza, 68, saw greater priestly holiness and prayerful sup-port as critical to vocations. (24/03/2013)

Keep the faith in Iraq

Iraq plea: Patriarch Raphael I Sako of the Chaldean Church has called for better security for Christians in Iraq Photo: Aid to the Church in Need

IRAQ (ACN News): Iraq's most senior Catholic leader has said security is urgently needed to stem the tide of Christians continuing to flee the country. (17/03/2013)

New pope must be a teacher

Time of change: Pope Benedict XVI waves as he arrives to lead his final general audience in St Peter's Square at the Vatican on February 27 Photo: CNS/Paul Haring

VATICAN CITY (CNS): French Cardinal Jean-Louis Tauran, 69, president of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue, is the "proto-deacon" of the College of Cardinals and will be the one, at the end of the conclave, who will announce to the world, "Habemus papam" ("We have a pope"). (10/03/2013)

Vatican business is rolling on

Work to do: Vatican secretary of state Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone (right), during the time in between popes, is camerlengo or chamberlain of the Holy Roman Church which means he is charged with administering the temporal goods of the Church
File photo: CNS photo/Paul Haring

VATICAN CITY (CNS): With Pope Benedict XVI officially leaving office on February 28, most of the top-level Vatican officials lose their jobs, but that does not mean the majority of Vatican employees get a vacation. (03/03/2013)

Thousands flock to farewell Benedict XVI

Farewell: Pope Benedict XVI greets pilgrims during his general audience in Paul VI hall at the Vatican on February 13, two days after he announced he was stepping down Photo: CNS/Paul Haring

VATICAN CITY (CNS): Sad-ness and celebration marked Pope Benedict XVI's first public appearance since announcing on February 11 that he was step-ping down. (24/02/2013)

Pope's hope for youth

VATICAN CITY (CNS): Young people's essential needs, including decent work and an education, demand a serious, effective response from both the Church and the wider community, Pope Benedict XVI said. (24/02/2013)

'Prophets of doom' must be ignored

Religious hope: Pope Benedict XVI carries a candle as he arrives to celebrate Mass marking the feast of the Presentation of the Lord and World Day for Consecrated Life in St Peter's Basilica at the Vatican on February 2 Photo: CNS/Paul Haring

VATICAN CITY (CNS): Pope Benedict XVI asked nuns, brothers and priests not to listen to the "prophets of doom" who say that consecrated life has no future or that it has no meaning in today's world. (17/02/2013)

Meeting improves relations with Vietnam

Communist visit: Pope Benedict XVI greets the general secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Nguyen Phu Trong during a private audience at the Vatican on January 22 Photo: CNS/L'Osservatore Romano via Reuters

VATICAN CITY (CNS): Diplomatic relations between the Vatican and Vietnam were strengthened when Pope Benedict XVI met Nguyen Phu Trong, marking the first time a pope had met with the general secretary of the nation's Communist Party. (03/02/2013)

Priest hits out at commercial interests in sport

Confession time: Cyclist Lance Armstrong is interviewed by Oprah Winfrey in Austin, Texas, and he admits to doping Photo: CNS/George Burns, Harpo Studios via Reuters

VATICAN CITY (CNS): United States cyclist Lance Armstrong's admission to doping is just the tip of the iceberg, since high-stakes commercial interests pressure almost every professional cyclist into the illegal practice, a Vatican official said. (27/01/2013)

Catholic World News