The Vaticans spokesman, Federico Lombardi, S.J., said that the speech on June 4 brought an element of hope to the world.

Vatican officials met with the foreign minister to discuss ideas that came out of the Saudi-sponsored World Conference of Dialogue in Spain.

A British court ruled on June 1 that the social services agency of the Catholic Diocese of Leeds, England, could not continue as an adoption agency unless it assessed same-sex couples as potential adopters and foster parents. • Even with a proposed amendment to include public institutions, a Ne

Alleviating the "acute suffering of the poor" in North Korea must take priority over military action.

The United Nations has appealed for massive financial support to serve refugees and internally displaced people.

A pastoral letter to Chinese Catholics encourages the reconciliation of "official and unofficial" segments of the church community