International News

JERUSALEM - Christian leaders in the Holy Land expressed deep concern over growing Israeli-Palestinian violence, as the two sides clashed in Jerusalem and Israel launched airstrikes into Gaza, responding to rocket attacks.

VATICAN CITY -- Gunmen broke into the home of the bishop-designate of Rumbek, South Sudan, shot him in both legs and fled, according to Church news reports, with three local priests among the 12 people arrested for their possible involvement in the attack April 26.

WASHINGTON -- President Joe Biden announced May 3 he was raising the historically low refugee cap of 15,000 left by the Trump administration, but he also warned that his administration may not be able to meet the new number of refugees it is seeking to resettle in what remains of the fiscal year: 62,500.

MEXICO CITY -- Mexican church leaders offered prayers for the victims of a metro line collapse that left at least 23 dead and more than 70 people injured.

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka -- Sri Lankan churches once again have halted services, church weddings and Sunday schools due to a third wave of COVID-19 infections.

DUBLIN -- The Irish government said a COVID-19-related ban on Catholics attending Mass will be lifted May 10.

WASHINGTON -- The chairman of the U.S. bishops’ pro-life committee is calling on the Biden administration to fund research “that does not rely upon body parts taken from innocent children killed through abortion.”

A Catholic bishop from eastern Ukraine said tensions remain high despite an announced withdrawal of Russian forces.

THRISSUR, India -- Catholic hospital directors in India say they do not have enough facilities to treat patients as India sets records for the number of COVID-19 deaths — numbers many people believe were underreported.

Errol Belgraves puts a mask on every morning before stepping out of the home he and his wife share in St. Vincent and the Grenadines.