By Francis X. Rocca Catholic News Service SEOUL, South Korea — Starting his first visit to Asia, Pope Francis urged South Korean political and civic leaders to seek peace on their divided peninsula and strengthen their nation’s commitment to democracy and social justice. “Peace is not simply the absence of …

By Francis X. Rocca Catholic News Service  VATICAN CITY — The Vatican called on Muslim leaders to condemn the “barbarity” and “unspeakable criminal acts” of Islamic State militants in Iraq, saying a failure to do so would jeopardize the future of interreligious dialogue.

By Doreen Abi Raad Catholic News Service  BEIRUT — Mideast Catholic and Orthodox patriarchs denounced the “total international silence” on the persecution of Christians in the Middle East and called for Muslim religious authorities to issue fatwas, or legal edicts, banning attacks against Christians and “other innocents.”

By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service VATICAN CITY — Given the “grave situation in Iraq,” Pope Francis has asked Cardinal Fernando Filoni to travel to the region to meet church and government officials, but especially to meet Christians chased from their homes by militants of the Islamic State.

By Elizabeth Wong Barnstead Catholic News Service  NORTHVILLE, Mich. — When St. John Paul II canonized 103 Korean martyrs in 1984 in Seoul, South Korea, Dr. Alexius Hong was there to attend the canonization Mass. “This will be the second pope who visits Korea,” said Hong of Pope Francis’ plans …

By Catholic News Service  WASHINGTON — Pope Francis has appointed Father Bohdan J. Danylo, a seminary rector in Connecticut, to head the Ukrainian Eparchy of St. Josaphat in Parma, Ohio.

By Patrick Downes Catholic News Service  HONOLULU — The Vatican has designated Honolulu’s Cathedral of Our Lady of Peace as a minor basilica in recognition of its historic and spiritual significance.

By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service VATICAN CITY — The sign of peace at Mass has not always led to serenity among liturgists or within the congregations gathered each Sunday in Catholic churches around the world.

College can mark the first taste independence for young people, and with that come many challenges and opportunities.

By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service VATICAN CITY — Pope Francis and his international Council of Cardinals continue to study the most effective and efficient way to organize the Roman Curia, a large bureaucracy with a long history of expansions and a few, short-term, attempts at consolidation.