Amid a devastating spike in Covid-19 infections, Myanmar’s Catholic bishops are appealing to Catholics and followers of other faiths to pray in order to “melt the hearts of all people, to bring healing, peace and reconciliation”.

A band of unidentified young people vandalized the residence of Kinshasa’s Archbishop, Cardinal Fridolin Ambongo, on Sunday, prompting a response from the Congolese Bishops’ conference, which described the incident “a serious attack on freedom of religion and expression, but also a violation of democracy.”

Pope Francis releases the prayer intention for the month of August, inviting everyone to work for a transformation of the Church - a work that begins with “a reform of ourselves” through an experience of prayer, charity and service, inspired by the Holy Spirit.

Following the summer break in July, Pope Francis will resume holding his weekly General Audience, beginning this Wednesday, 4 August.

Poland says it has granted a humanitarian visa to a sprinter from Belarus who refused her team's order to fly home early from the Olympics. The offer is expected to lead to asylum in the European Union nation amid growing political and social turmoil in Belarus.

In the past several months, dozens of churches throughout Canada have been the objects of attacks ranging from vandalism to arson, with at least ten churches being completely destroyed by deliberately set fires.

Pope Francis sends a message to young people gathered at Mladifest, the annual international prayer meeting being held from 1-6 August in Medjugorje, Bosnia-Herzegovina. Entrusting them to the example of Mary, the Pope invites them to believe in the fullness and true happiness giving oneself to God brings.

The Bishop of Hakha on Sunday called for their immediate release.

Professor Donna Theo Strickland, 2018 Nobel prize laureate and professor at the University of Waterloo, Canada, joins other academicians as a new member of the Pontifical Academy of Sciences.

Bishops in the US welcome government efforts to evacuate and save Afghan nationals who helped US troops during the two decades of US military campaign in Afghanistan. They insist that the sacrifices that these people have made "should not go unacknowledged."

Zambian President Edgar Chagwa Lungu Sunday ordered the deployment of the military in cities as pre electoral violence escalated ahead of presidential and parliamentary elections due on 12 August.

A group of women and children who were the families of Albanian nationals who joined Islamic extremist groups fighting in Syria and Iraq have returned to their homeland. Their arrival Sunday comes amid a debate in several other countries in Europe on what to do with fighters and supporters of groups such as the Islamic State.

The urgent need to care for the environment, in particular the ocean, coping with Covid and nurturing the faith were top priorities at the just concluded Caritas Oceania Annual Forum.

African Church leaders appeal for unity and communion in Christ who helps overcome all divisions in order to confront the many challenges facing the continent and our world.

Amidst Myanmar’s worsening situation, the United Nations has pledged its continued presence and solidarity with the people.

This week, Catholic Bishops in South Sudan paid a solidarity visit to President Salva Kiir Mayardit.

Pope Francis sent a message of condolence on the death of Jesuit Cardinal Albert Vanhoye, who died 29 July in Rome, aged 98. He had been the oldest member of the College of Cardinals. He was created Cardinal by Pope Benedict XVI, who called him “a great exegete.”

A new UN report has singled out Madagascar as one of the world's two newest "highest alert" hunger hotspots.

In a new report, FAO and WFP warn that fighting, red tape and lack of funding are blocking famine relief efforts, leading to worsening acute food insecurity in the world.

Pope Francis joins religious organizations and world leaders in calling for an end to the scourge of human trafficking on the World Day Against Trafficking in Persons.