The president’s address offered a sign that the administration has been listening to concerns raised by the bishops and pro-life organizations about abortion funding in any reform legislation.

For the first time in the history of the church in China, a Catholic seminary on the mainland is offering a program to train pastoral workers and catechists.

Supporters of the initiative see minarets as political symbols and signs of an increasing Islamic presence in Switzerland.

Vatican media have presented the pope as a trained diplomat who followed the international events carefully.

Leaders representing 59,000 women religious are questioning what they call a lack of full disclosure about what is motivating the Vatican’s visitation.

The new translation will serve the majority of Spanish-speaking Catholics who cannot understand current Spanish translations of the Bible.