Catholic News Service

Catholic Charities USA has sent $1 million in emergency aid and the Knights of Columbus is including Puerto Rico in its expanded emergency relief outreach.

St. Vincent de Paul's zeal for helping the poor was the instrument God used to bring about a "burst of generosity in the church," Pope Francis said. 

Nearly a week after the hurricane with 155 mile-an-hour winds hit the Caribbean island, much of Puerto Rico remains without power with its road and landscape devastated.

 Vatican official called on the world's governments to strive more actively to prevent wars, protect human dignity and the environment and work toward a nuclear-free world.

The president of the German bishops' conference urged "verbal disarmament" after Sept. 24 elections brought a far-right party into the parliament.

Supporting refugees and migrants can take many forms, and Pope Francis is hoping Catholics around the world will act over the next two years to encounter people on the move.

The U.S. Supreme Court Sept. 25 canceled a hearing on the constitutionality of Trump's travel ban after government officials unveiled a new version of the prohibitions.

The first person to serve as the Vatican's independent auditor said he was forced to resign after opponents of Pope Francis' financial reforms mounted a campaign against him.

Donations from Caritas chapters across Mexico started streaming into affected areas after an earthquake rocked central Mexico Sept. 19, claiming more than 300 lives and leaving thousands homeless. 

The worst sin of all is not trusting in God's infinite love and not believing that God is always waiting for his sinning children to return to him, Pope Francis said.

Every person "must do something," whether big or small, to address racism in the United States, Bishop Edward K. Braxton of Belleville, Illinois, told an audience at The Catholic University of America.

Pope Francis said he is worried that even Catholics are arguing against accepting more migrants and refugees into their communities.

 The latest version of a Republican measure in the Senate to repeal the Affordable Care Act must be amended to protect poor and vulnerable Americans, said the chairmen of four U.S. bishops' committees.

Celebrating the feast of St. Matthew, Pope Francis said it was interesting how many Catholics today seem to be scandalized when God shows mercy to someone.

Church officials fear that newly revised religious affairs regulations released by the Chinese government will be used to further suppress religious activities.

Msgr. Rene Laurentin, who spent a lifetime studying Marian apparitions, died Sept. 10 at the age of 99 in Evry, France.

Young people should love, believe and follow their dreams, never despairing because Jesus is always with them, Pope Francis said.

Mexican church leaders offered prayers and urged generosity after an earthquake struck the national capital and its environs, claiming more than 240 lives.

Myanmar's de facto leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, avoided any mention of ethnic cleansing of Muslim Rohingya while broadly condemning human rights violations.

"Compassion is an emotion that engages, it is a feeling from the heart, from the gut," affecting one's entire being, the pope said Sept. 19 during morning Mass.