Pope voices ‘great concern’ over rising Cuba-U.S. tensions

Hundreds of thousands register to venerate relics of St. Francis of Assisi This will be the first public display of the beloved saint’s bodily remains. Pope voices ‘great concern’ over rising Cuba-U.S. tensions The pontiff echoed Cuban bishops’ call for “sincere and effective” talks after Washington announced new measures tightening economic pressure on the island. Christian communities in Iraq fear resurgence of ISIS-linked violence Iraq’s Christians are on edge as regional instability raises security concerns.

Eastern European leaders tackle demographic collapse after pope’s family warning Eastern European leaders and Catholic bishops warn that the continent’s collapsing birth rates reflect a cultural crisis that financial incentives alone cannot solve.