Click to visit Catholic News Service for the top national and world news stories. CNS is the oldest and largest religious news service in the world, is a leading source of news for Catholic print and electronic media across the globe. With bureaus in Washington and Rome, as well as a global correspondent network, CNS since 1920 has set the standard in Catholic journalism.

Top National and World Stories

For more national, world and Vatican stories, visit Catholic News Service

Vatican pharmacy does booming business

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Serving an average of more than 2,000 clients a day, the Vatican pharmacy may be one of the world's busiest in-person dispensaries of pharmaceuticals, over-the-counter medicines, soaps, ointments and elixirs.

Catholic leaders urge prayers, unity after attacks in Spain

OXFORD, England (CNS) -- Spanish church leaders urged prayers and national unity after two terrorist attacks left at least 19 people dead.

Pope offers prayers for victims of terrorist attack in Barcelona

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Pope Francis offered prayers for the victims of a terrorist attack in Barcelona, Spain, that left at least 12 people dead and injured dozens of others.

Being legally blind doesn't hinder Catholic priest in serving his flock

EASTON, Pa. (CNS) -- A visitor attending Mass at St. Jane Frances de Chantal Church might not notice anything unusual about the celebrant.

U.S. Catholic parishes, schools happy to be in path of solar eclipse

WASHINGTON (CNS) -- U.S. Catholic parishes and schools located in the 70-mile-wide path of the total solar eclipse Aug. 21 plan to take part in this rare event with everything from providing parking spaces or viewing sites to offering overnight retreats or all-day events with family activities or scientific lectures.

Kosovo to dedicate cathedral named for Mother Teresa

WARSAW, Poland (CNS) -- A cathedral named for St. Teresa of Kolkata is scheduled to be dedicated in Kosovo on the 20th anniversary of her death.

Congregation centennial: Supporting Eastern Catholics against all odds

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- The Vatican is celebrating the 100th anniversary of the establishment of the Congregation for Eastern Churches, an office that supports the Eastern Catholic churches and strives to ensure that the universal Catholic Church treasures its diversity, including in liturgy, spirituality and even canon law.

Pope prays for victims of 'devastating' mudslide in Sierra Leone

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Pope Francis offered his condolences and his prayers to the people of Sierra Leone after flooding and a major mudslide Aug. 14 led to the deaths of hundreds of people and displaced thousands.

Ohio community cafe responds to hunger while building a following

PORT CLINTON, Ohio (CNS) -- Bow tie pasta with Chardonnay cheese sauce, fresh focaccia topped with herbs, a salad of fresh locally grown greens and made-from-scratch bread pudding aren't the usual fare for people in need of a free meal.

Papal envoy calls Blessed Romero 'martyr of hope'

SAN SALVADOR, El Salvador (CNS) -- Blessed Oscar Romero, the murdered archbishop of San Salvador, is a martyr of hope, said Chilean Cardinal Ricardo Ezzati, Pope Francis' envoy to the celebration of the centennial of the archbishop's birth.

Genocide of Christians continues in Middle East, says new U.S. report

WASHINGTON (CNS) -- The Trump administration renews its commitment to the protection of religious minority groups threatened by the Islamic State in the Middle East, according to Secretary of State Rex Tillerson in the preface of the annual State Department report on international religious freedom, released Aug. 15.

Bishops ask for peace after white nationalist rally turns deadly

WASHINGTON (CNS) -- In the aftermath of a chaos- and hate-filled weekend in Virginia, Catholic bishops and groups throughout the nation called for peace after three people died and several others were injured following clashes between pacifists, protesters and white supremacists in Charlottesville, Virginia, Aug. 11 and 12.