Catholic News Service

U.S. Cardinal Edwin O'Brien, grand master of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem, celebrated his 80th birthday April 8, meaning he is no longer eligible to enter a conclave to elect a new pope.

Everyone has a direct line to Jesus, who is always nearby, ready to listen and help, Pope Francis said.

In Calais, France, migrants find a warm refuge in Caritas' day shelter. They also feel safe enough from the police who prevent them from attempting to reach the U.K. to talk about alleged police violence on the radio.

With the "ongoing political unrest, violence and shortages" in Venezuela causing millions of citizens to flee their country, the U.S. government should designate temporary protected status for that country, U.S. Catholic officials said.

A Chinese bishop, asked to step aside by the Vatican last year, said he does not think he can concelebrate the Holy Thursday chrism Mass unless he agrees to China's policy on the Catholic Church.

More than 140 religious leaders, including the chairmen of three U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops' committees, called on President Donald Trump, Vice President Mike Pence and congressional leaders to uphold principles of religious freedom following a series of attacks on people of faith, clergy and houses of worship.

A network of lawyers, politicians and human rights advocates seeking an end to the criminalization of homosexuality met with Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Vatican secretary of state.

Members of the Philippine clergy and human rights groups responded to President Rodrigo Duterte after he threatened to arrest all of his critics.

Chicago-based Catholic Extension has launched a crowdfunding campaign to raise $25,000 for a new emergency migrant shelter at the U.S.-Mexico border in Laredo, Texas.

Christians must be courageous when praying to God and not simply repeat prayers "like a parrot," Pope Francis said.

The Catholic Church in Chile must do everything possible to repair the damage caused by clergy sexual abuse and cover-up, and accept the decisions of the courts, the new apostolic administrator of the Archdiocese of Santiago said.

The Vatican's Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith has rejected an appeal by the now-former Archbishop Anthony Apuron of Agaña, Guam, upholding its judgment of finding him guilty of abuse against minors.

Presenting the Pharisees as self-righteous hypocrites concerned more with the law than with people is prejudicial, biblically inaccurate and offensive to many Jews, several scholars said.

Critics of an agreement signed between the Vatican and the Chinese government must be patient and not quick to judge a deal that is meant to protect religious freedom, the Vatican secretary of state said.

Pope Francis will celebrate the Holy Thursday Mass of the Lord's Supper with prisoners in Velletri, about 36 miles south of Rome.

Peruvian authorities are investigating the death of British De La Salle Brother Paul McAuley, whose burned body was found April 2 in a home he founded for indigenous students in Iquitos, in the northeastern Amazonian region.

South Sudan President Salva Kiir, his vice presidents and other leaders planned to attend a "spiritual retreat" together at the Vatican in early April.

In two recent actions, the U.S. Supreme Court revealed its death penalty decisions are hardly cut and dried.

Georgia has just added itself to the list of states that aim to protect unborn life once a fetal heartbeat is detected.

The marketplace, not elected officials, should decide whether a company should open an outlet in a particular location, said San Antonio Archbishop Gustavo Garcia-Siller.