refugees
Christmas reminds us that Jesus was a migrant like today’s refugees, says Pope Francis
By Josephine McKenna — December 9, 2016
VATICAN CITY (RNS) The pontiff made his remarks as he officially opened this year’s Christmas Nativity scene in St. Peter’s Square.
Italian prisoners honor Pope Francis with flash mob dance
By Josephine McKenna — December 1, 2016
VATICAN CITY (RNS) The 'Pope is Pop' Zumba routine by dozens of prisoners highlighted the pontiff's calls for prison reform and greater acceptance of the world’s migrants.
Yazidis risk all to flee Islamic State
By Jerome Socolovsky — November 27, 2016
DUHOK, Iraq (Reuters) - Mass Yazidi graves have been found since Kurdish forces retook areas north of Sinjar in December 2014, and the town itself in November 2015, but Islamic State had already transferred many Yazidis to other areas, including Tal Afar.
Pope Francis denounces growing ‘demonization’ of enemies and outsiders
By David Gibson — November 19, 2016
VATICAN CITY (RNS) The pontiff’s exhortation, at a ceremony to elevate 17 new cardinals, seemed to take aim at nationalist anger roiling countries around the world, including the U.S.
Greek hospitality is put to a religious test
By Jerome Socolovsky — November 2, 2016
ATHENS, Greece (RNS) Greece has won high praise for its hospitality toward migrants who have passed through on their way to other parts of Europe. But some are putting down roots in what is one of the most homogeneous Christian nations in the world, where national identity has long been intricately linked to religion.
In Germany, Syrians find mosques too conservative
By RNS staff — October 31, 2016
COLOGNE, Germany — Arabic speaking mosques are often short of funds, or else supported by Saudi Arabia and the Gulf states. Some back ultra-conservative or highly literal interpretations of Islam, such as Wahhabism or Salafism.
World Relief scrambling to settle more refugees in US
By Lauren Markoe — October 18, 2016
(RNS) The Obama administration has raised the ceiling on the number of refugees that Americans will welcome in the coming year.
Pope urges protection of ‘invisible and voiceless’ child migrants
By Josephine McKenna — October 13, 2016
VATICAN CITY (RNS) In a strongly worded statement, Francis says immigration is 'growing into a tragic situation of global proportions' and children are being exploited by the 'unscrupulous' as they flee violence and poverty.
Who is the archbishop Pope Francis sends into the streets to help Rome’s migrants?
By Josephine McKenna — October 5, 2016
ROME (RNS) He is Konrad Krajewski, 'Don Corrado,' as he is known, and he is nothing like a typical Vatican official. But there's only so much even he, and the pontiff, can do to help these refugees.
Pope Francis warns Syria aggressors they will face divine wrath
By Josephine McKenna — September 28, 2016
VATICAN CITY (RNS) The pontiff's latest appeal came as he authorized a church charity to auction cars used during his recent trip to Poland to support those hard hit by the war.
In Assisi, Pope Francis lunches with world refugees
By Josephine McKenna — September 20, 2016
ROME (RNS) On World Day of Prayer for Peace, Francis lunched with refugees from Syria, Eritrea, Mali and Nigeria, including a 6-year-old and an 8-year-old.
Austrian cardinal clarifies: It’s not ‘Islamic conquest’ but Christian surrender
By Josephine McKenna — September 16, 2016
ROME (RNS) The archbishop of Vienna, Cardinal Christoph Schönborn, said his provocative Sept. 11 homily was not a call to bar Muslim refugees.
Pope Francis invites Syrian refugees to lunch in Vatican
By Josephine McKenna — August 11, 2016
VATICAN CITY (RNS) The pontiff's gesture was another pointed challenge to sentiment in the West against welcoming refugees from the war-torn region.
Archbishop of Canterbury to open home to Syrian refugee family next month
By RNS staff — July 6, 2016
LONDON — The welcoming of a refugee family onto the archbishop's estate comes 11 months after Prime Minister David Cameron pledged to offer asylum to 20,000 Syrians.
Evangelicals and refugees: Care first, conversion maybe later
By Adelle M. Banks — June 24, 2016
(RNS) 'We feel like as a church our first step is to serve and to do that not so that they’ll become Christians, but because we are Christians,' one pastor said.
