Pope Benedict XVI appealed for immediate and long-term relief for the world’s hungry, saying adequate nourishment is a fundamental part of the right to life.

The government stands accused of nullifying nearly 1,600 birth certificates belonging to residents of Haitian descent.

An activist on behalf of indigenous communities on Mindanao in the Philippines, the Rev.Fausto Tentorio, 59, was killed by gunfire on Oct. 17.

Condemning an attack on unarmed Christians in Egypt, Pope Benedict XVI said that all its citizens and institutions must work to guarantee the rights of minorities.

In 2010, more than 1,000 priests were victims of extortion, 162 were threatened with death and two were kidnapped and killed.

What started as a small demonstration to protest corporate influence over public policy may now be close to becoming a national movement.