Africa

British Archbishop Paul Gallagher, a top papal aide, traveled to South Sudan right before Christmas, meeting with top civil and ecclesial leaders in a visit that could be setting the stage for the long-awaited visit of Pope Francis.

Ethiopian bishops have focused their recent Plenary Assembly on the humanitarian crisis caused by the 13-month war in the country, calling on the faithful to pray for and foster peace.

A high-profile case involving two top executives of Swedish oil company Lundin Energy has sparked hopes that at last, companies involved in the extractive industries could be forced to respect human rights in the areas in which they operate.