Europe
Pope Francis faces up to his followers’ fears
By Josephine McKenna — July 27, 2016
VATICAN CITY (RNS) Pope Francis has a tough act to follow in the footsteps of his Polish predecessor as he visits Poland. His concern about the poor and the homeless sits in stark contrast to the Polish church’s conservative approaches.
Pope Francis condemns slaying of French priest
By Josephine McKenna — July 26, 2016
VATICAN CITY (RNS) The pope expressed his “pain and horror over this absurd violence" as armed men burst into the church in a small town in Normandy and slit the throat of the Rev. Jacques Hamel.
Bastille Day attack reignites terrorism and religion debate
By Jerome Socolovsky — July 15, 2016
VATICAN CITY (RNS) Pope Francis and other religious leaders condemn terrorism and expressed solidarity with France but some political leaders' responses are criticized.
Anti-Semitism among refugees a quandary for Germany
By guest — June 3, 2016
(RNS) Anti-Semitism among refugees from Arab Middle Eastern countries is growing, in a nation that is acutely aware of the memory of the Holocaust.
Far-right parties winning over some Jewish voters, top rabbi warns
By David Gibson — June 1, 2016
(Reuters) "When God gave out intelligence, not everybody stood in line," said Rabbi Pinchas Goldschmidt, head of the Conference of European Rabbis.
Pope Francis tells Europe to ‘tear down walls’
By Jerome Socolovsky — May 6, 2016
VATICAN CITY (RNS) The Argentine pontiff made the comments as he received an award for work done in the service of European integration.
German cardinal tarred as ‘Antichrist’ for defending Muslims
By Jerome Socolovsky — April 28, 2016
(RNS) Support for far-right politicians who espouse anti-Muslim views has grown amid the influx of over 1 million immigrants to Germany last year.
America’s greatest weapon against terrorism? The hyphen (COMMENTARY)
By Mustafa Tameez — April 14, 2016
(RNS) Reconciling the different facets of personal identity is what allows people to integrate, to acculturate, to cease being “The Other.”
Pope to make lightning trip to migrant island in Aegean Sea
By Reuters — April 7, 2016
VATICAN CITY -- Hundreds of thousands of refugees, many fleeing war in Syria, have poured onto the Greek island of Lesbos over the past year, triggering Europe's biggest humanitarian crisis in generations.
Belgian religious groups condemn Brussels attacks
By Jerome Socolovsky — March 22, 2016
(RNS) "Muslims are also affected by these terrible acts," said the head of a Belgian Muslim umbrella organization.
Dutch far-right leader Wilders on trial
By Reuters — March 18, 2016
AMSTERDAM -- Like other populist figures including Donald Trump in the U.S. and Marine le Pen in France, Geert Wilders has won support by calling for a ban on Muslim immigration.
Congo-born priest resigns from German parish after racist threats
By Rosie Scammell — March 8, 2016
(RNS) Olivier Ndjimbi-Tshiende was harassed after he criticized a local politician who talked about an “invasion” of Eritrean refugees.
Anti-Islam movement stages protests across Europe
By Reuters — February 7, 2016
DRESDEN, Germany - After almost fizzling out early last year, the movement has regained momentum amid deepening unease over the migrant crisis.
Should refugees be vetted on the basis of religion?
By Rosie Scammell — November 18, 2015
ROME (RNS) The slaughter in Paris of 129 people and injuring of hundreds has intensified the debate in Europe about whether Syrian refugees pose a threat. The debate has spilled across the Atlantic.
At a castle in Austria, villagers and refugees celebrate Eid al-Adha
By Reuters — September 25, 2015
(Reuters) An ancient castle in an Austrian village somewhere between Vienna and Hungary is not where you might expect to see an Islamic celebration.
