Church of the Transfiguration

Africa's Catholic bishops have criticized the appropriation of land, natural resources and other economic assets by private companies and called on national governments to show greater concern for local community rights and needs.

Three Catholic priests in the Philippines have been permanently relieved of all priestly duties after they declared their intention to run for public office in elections next year.

The Catholic Church should take a leading role in protecting the environment and addressing climate change, said the bishop who is the commissioner for environmental and climate issues at the German bishops' conference.

One of the most important "servants of life in the world" was the late French geneticist, Jérôme Lejeune, who dedicated his "scientific genius" to serving children with Down syndrome and their families.

Meeting with Syrian Bishops in Damascus, Cardinal Leonardo Sandri announced that the Holy Father will give a contribution to their charitable work for the most needy in the country. On the first day of his visit to Syria, the Prefect of the Congregation for the Oriental Churches also presided at a Divine Liturgy with Patriarch Youssef Absi, and met 100 youths.

Pope Francis has not forgotten the Syrian people and the Christians there who continue to witness to the faith, said Cardinal Leonardo Sandri

The beauty of faith comes from opening one's heart to love and not fixating on following rules and regulations, Pope Francis said.

Europe's poorest nation is immersed in a natural gas crisis. Moldova's government says Russia threatens to take off natural gas supplies if it does not pay hundreds of millions of dollars ahead of winter. Russia has denied claims that it uses natural gas to discourage Moldova's ongoing moves toward the West.

A statement issued by the Holy See Press Office says the Pope has indicated he is willing to visit Canada on a date to be settled in due course.

Bishop Kihara of the Catholic Diocese of Marsabit says that the situation in the whole county of Marsabit is dire. There is no food and no water in the area.