IMAGE: CNS photo/Debbie Hill By Judith Sudilovsky BEIT JALLA, West Bank (CNS) — A U.S. bishop visiting the Holy Land for the second year in a row said Palestinians whose land has been divided by the Israeli separation barrier “have lost hope.” “It was very sad to see the present …

IMAGE: CNS photo/Alessandro Bianchi, Reuters By Junno Arocho Esteves VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Cold indifference to migrants, the poor, the hungry and the persecuted must be overcome through the warmth of mercy, which can transform people into artisans of peace, Pope Francis said. In a lengthy speech Jan. 11 to …

IMAGE: CNS/Gruppo Mondadori By Cindy Wooden VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Being ministers of God’s mercy, church members overcome “prejudice and rigidity,” taking risks like Jesus did in order to heal and to save, Pope Francis said. In Jesus’ day, lepers were cast out of the community “to avoid contamination: the …

IMAGE: CNS photo/Kevin Lamarque, Reuters By Mark Pattison WASHINGTON (CNS) — When President Barack Obama unveiled a series of executive orders Jan. 5 intended to make a dent in gun violence in the United States, people reacted. And how. “Thank God that someone finally has the courage to close the …

IMAGE: CNS photo/James Martone By James Martone PARIS (CNS) — Mohammed Chirani was pursuing a midlife career change in the United Kingdom when news erupted out of his native France that Muslim extremists had attacked the Paris headquarters of a satirical magazine, Charlie Hebdo, killing 12 people, including eight of …

IMAGE: CNS photo/Lucie Parsaghian, EPA By Doreen Abi Raad BEIRUT (CNS) — While the flow of migrants into Europe and the West has sparked controversy, Lebanon continues to bear the brunt of absorbing massive numbers of refugees. A commonly cited figure is that one in four people in Lebanon is …

By Junno Arocho Esteves VATICAN CITY (CNS) — In his first video prayer message of the year, Pope Francis asked people to join him in praying that interreligious dialogue lead to “peace and justice.” The video message was part of a prayer initiative coordinated by the international Apostleship of Prayer, …

IMAGE: CNS photo/Rhina Guidos By Rhina Guidos WASHINGTON (CNS) — The fragrance of the cake is like no other. For Spaniards and some Latin Americans who grew up with it, the aromatic smell of the roscon de reyes is one of the most treasured of childhood food memories surrounding the …

IMAGE: CNS photo/Eric Gaillard, Reuters By Carol Glatz VATICAN CITY (CNS) — A world that carefully adheres to the dictates of being “politically correct” yet refuses to respect people’s faith in God is a “sad paradox,” the Vatican newspaper said. The Jan. 6 article, headlined “The Charlie Hebdo question: Manipulated …

IMAGE: CNS/Paul Haring By Carol Glatz VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Go out and seek the signs God is offering everyone today that will lead to Christ, Pope Francis said. The thirst for God is present in everyone, and it’s the church’s task to help those with “a restless heart” by …