Europe

A group of women looking for sons and daughters who were never heard from again after migrating to the U.S. traveled in mid- to late October throughout the country to plead for better immigration laws.

Pope Francis said he hopes to continue traveling next year, including making visits to countries in Oceania and Southeast Asia.

The recognition is the highest honor given by the center to those who risked their lives to rescue Jews from the Nazis during World War II.

Even though Pope Francis will not attend the 26th U.N. Climate Change Conference in Glasgow in person, the Vatican delegation and the Catholic Church will be "everywhere" during the two-week summit -- from the highest-level private negotiations to the sidelines with grassroots "social action" and community-led events, said two delegates.

Leaders of Ireland's Christian churches vowed to face "difficult truth" and work closer together to ensure that the fragile peace process in Northern Ireland leaves a lasting legacy of reconciliation.

The 49th Social Week of Italian Catholics kicks off in the southern city of Taranto on 21 October dedicated to the theme: "The planet we hope for - environment, work, future. #tuttoèconnesso (everything is linked)”. Drawing inspiration from Pope Francis' encyclical Laudato si', discussions will also focus on virtuous realities that adopt a vision for an integral ecology in entrepreneurial, administrative, community and personal realms.

Cardinal Vincent Nichols of Westminster and Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby, head of the Anglican Communion, have joined politicians from across the political spectrum and other world leaders expressing shock and sorrow at the news.

The Vatican Secretary for Relations with States was among the speakers at the opening of the event, hosted by the Pontifical Lateran University in Rome.

Pope Francis remembered the victims of violence over the past week in attacks taking place in Norway, Afghanistan, and the UK. He also recalled the beatification of Fr. Juan Elías Medina and 126 companions martyred in Spain in the 1930s.

Marking 100 years since the re-establishment of diplomatic relations between France and the Holy See, the French Prime Minister and the Secretary of State of the Holy See meet for a roundtable discussion, in which they emphasise the good relations between Paris and the Vatican despite the crises and misunderstandings that have marked their history, not only during the last century, but also, and above all, before.

In the Pastoral Letter, Archbishop of Armagh, Eamon Martin and Bishop Michael Router emphasize that Pope Francis is inviting the faithful all over the world to come with him “on a journey” as a “Synodal Church”. 

“Emerging from Covid for the better” framed a 2-day conference for people responsible for the ongoing formation of priests in England and Wales.

The Commission of the Bishops’ Conferences of the European Union (COMECE) is asking the EU to intensify its fight against poverty in the aftermath of the COVID-19 crisis.

Bishop Georg Bätzing, president of the German bishops' conference, praised outgoing Chancellor Angela Merkel for her 16 years in office and thanked her for her "tireless service" as Germany's chancellor.

Church and government leaders in France are at odds over whether priests should be required to report the abuse of minors if they learn about it in the sacrament of confession.

Religious and lay women on the front lines against human trafficking said that greater awareness and education are needed about the reality of modern slavery in the world, especially among young people.

With the news that Pope John Paul I would soon be beatified, Twitter and other social media were filled -- again -- with the question: Has being pope become a shortcut to canonization?