News

Mother Teresa’s Canonization to Be Sept. 4 in Rome

Decree of 5 Future Canonized Saints Signed at Ordinary Public Consistory This Morning, Including Mexican Child Martyr - Mother Teresa will become a canonized saint Sept. 4 in Rome.

This morning this became official when Pope Francis signed the decree for the canonization of Blessed Mother Teresa of Kolkata, formerly Calcutta, and announced the date and venue of the ceremony for her and four others.

His Holiness Aram I meets with the Representatives of the United Nation for Syria

On Friday evening, His Holiness Aram I met Nicolas Michel, the senior advisor to Staffan de Mistura, special envoy of the United Nations Secretary-General Ban-Ki-moon for Syria.

During the two-hour meeting, Mr Michel briefed Catholicos Aram I on possible solutions to the conflict and processes leading to peace, and then asked the Catholicos to share his views on the participation of the Christian communities in the peace process. His Holiness insisted that any peace process should include all communities of Syria, including the Christians because they are all equal citizens of Syria with equal rights and obligations. After a brief exchange of views, Mr Michel thanked His Holiness for his suggestions and said that he would stay in contact and continue to consult on these matters.

Elderly Pair Arrested for Stealing More Than 3,000 Religious Icons from Churches

Two people have been arrested in France for stealing more than 3,000 religious icons from churches.

Christian Today reports that one of the thieves is an 80-year-old man and the other is a 60-year-old woman.

Police found over 3,000 stolen items in their homes, ranging from cheap candles to crucifixes to valuable ancient Russian icons.

The thieves were caught when a parish priest, Father Ludovic Serre, noticed a pattern to their raids and alerted police.

Archaeology Discovery: 4,200-Y-O Canaanite Burial Ground Found Near Bethlehem

Archaeologists have confirmed the discovery of a 4,200-year-old necropolis dating back to pre-historic times in Bethlehem.

A team of Palestinian and Italian archaeologists recently uncovered the large cemetery, complete with over 100 tombs dating back to 2200 BCE to 650 BCE, at the site of Khalet al-Jam'a, located near Bethlehem.

Pope says slain nuns are modern-day martyrs

Pope Francis says that the four nuns who were killed in Yemen are modern-day martyrs and victims of indifference.

During his address to the faithful gathered in St. Peter’s Square after the Angelus prayer, the Pope prayed for the slain nuns who belonged to Mother Teresa’s “Missionaries of Charity” and who were serving in a home for the elderly which was attacked on Friday by gunmen in the city of Aden.

Archaeology Discovery: Rare Artifacts From Jesus' Time Found at Orphanage in Jerusalem

Archaeologists in Israel are "astonished and surprised" after finding artifacts dating back to Jesus' time at a local orphanage and military complex in Jerusalem.

The Israel Antiquities Authority said this week that it has found numerous rare and important artifacts, some dating back to the Second Temple period, buried deep beneath the Schneller compound in Jerusalem, which had previously served as a orphanage and later an Israeli army base.