Unprecedented flooding around the world drew the attention of Pope Francis during his last general audience of 2015 in Rome on Dec. 30. Noting several rain-driven crises, he said, “I invite everyone to pray for the victims of the calamities which in these days have befallen the United States,

As war and violence continue to rage in Iraq and Syria, hundreds of thousands of refugees have fled their homelands to find security, regardless of what the future may hold. Refugees making their way toward Europe and the United States are seeking a better, safer life, refugee advocates said.Catholi

Pope Francis has approved a miracle attributed to the intercession of Blessed Teresa of Kolkata, thus paving the way for her canonization on Dec. 17. The postulator for her sainthood cause, the Rev. Brian Kolodiejchuk of the Missionaries of Charity, said the second miracle that was approved involved

President Zuma may still giggle in public; South Africans are not amused.

Richard J. Curry, S.J., professor of Catholic studies and theater at Georgetown University and founder of Dog Tag Bakery and the National Theatre Workshop of the Handicapped, passed away on Dec. 19 at the age of 72. • The Christmas spirit this year in Bethlehem—and the 2015 Christmas tour

Catholic leaders in the Central African Republic said Christian-Muslim ties were positively affected by Pope Francis during his visit on Nov. 29-30, 2015. “No guns or grenades sounded during the visit—and while some unfortunate incidents occurred afterward, there was no resort to open vi