By Ngala Killian Chimtom Catholic News Service YAOUNDÉ, Cameroon — Catholic bishops in Cameroon’s war-torn English-speaking regions said they were left in “shock and utter horror” following the burning of a church and the kidnapping of five priests, a nun and at least two laypeople. The incident occurred Sept. 16 at the St. Mary’s Catholic […]
Francis apologizes for postponing July trip to Africa
By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service VATICAN CITY — Pope Francis apologized to the people of Congo and South Sudan for postponing his planned trip to their countries July 2-7. “Dear friends, with great regret, due to problems with my leg, I have had to postpone my visit to your countries,” the pope said June […]
Victims of religious repression give horrific testimony
By Mark Pattison Catholic News Service WASHINGTON — Many people may not think about religious repression since it doesn’t happen in the United States. For those who may argue that it does, then it doesn’t happen on the scale and terror of those living in countries with authoritarian regimes. Testimony from survivors of religious repression […]
Freed missionary priest recounts harrowing tale of kidnapping
By Junno Arocho Esteves Catholic News Service VATICAN CITY — With his feet chained during two years of captivity somewhere near the Sahara Desert, Father Pierluigi Maccalli said he found new hope on Pentecost Sunday as he huddled near a shortwave radio to listen to Mass celebrated by Pope Francis. In an interview Oct. 15 […]
Thousands in Mozambique, Madagascar and Mauritius gather to hear Pope Francis apply the message of the Gospel to their lives
Nitty-gritty ministry By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service VATICAN CITY — While Pope Francis’ comments on U.S. criticism of his papacy drew the biggest headlines during his visit to Africa, the Masses he celebrated in Mozambique, Madagascar and Mauritius drew the biggest crowds. Dignitaries were chauffeured to the outdoor Mass sites, but most of the […]
Pontiff says he is honored by attacks on his ministry
By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service ABOARD THE PAPAL FLIGHT TO MOZAMBIQUE — Pope Francis told a reporter that it is “an honor when Americans attack me.” The pope made his comments to Nicolas Seneze, a reporter from La Croix, the French Catholic daily newspaper, during the flight Sept. 4 from Rome to Maputo, Mozambique. […]
Girl’s science project started the water flowing for town in Kenya
By Elizabeth Bachmann Catholic News Service WASHINGTON — In 2014 a science project sparked the compassion of a 10-year-old girl from Colorado. So, she set out on a walk that would change the lives of an entire town of people in Kenya. From that auspicious day in 2014 to the present, Jennifer Stuckenschneider, partnering with […]
Four Catholics die in latest Burkina Faso church attack
The persecuted church By Catholic News Service OUAGADOUGOU, Burkina Faso — Suspected Muslim extremists attacked another Catholic church in Burkina Faso, killing four people and raising the death toll among Christians to 20 in a wave of violence in the West Africa nation. The worshippers were killed when armed assailants broke into Our Lady of […]
Simple Christians: Ordinary Trappist martyrs gave extraordinary witness
By Junno Arocho Esteves Catholic News Service VATICAN CITY — After Islamic terrorists stormed the Algerian monastery he called home, Trappist Father Christian de Cherge felt compelled to put pen to paper and write down his testament. Father de Cherge, prior of the Monastery of Notre Dame de l’Atlas, said he held no ill will […]
St. Marianne’s Nigerian connection
Visiting African archbishop hopes a relic of the Molokai saint will inspire healing in his violence-stricken country By Anna Weaver Hawaii Catholic Herald For the first time, a relic of St. Marianne has been given to a diocese outside of the U.S. That diocese is Kaduna, in north-central Nigeria, and its leader hopes that sharing […]
