Europe

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Cardinal Jean-Claude Hollerich, S.J., pictured at the Vatican on Oct. 10, 2018 (before he was named a cardinal).

Cardinal: Religious freedom will be Europe’s ‘great problem of the future’

Jun 16, 2021

By Hannah Brockhaus

‘We must be on guard,’ said Cardinal Jean-Claude Hollerich. Read more

A prayer for COVID-19 victims at Westminster Cathedral in London, England, pictured July 3, 2020. Credit: Mazur/cbcew.org.uk.

Catholic bishops across Europe join in Lent prayer for victims of coronavirus pandemic

Feb 19, 2021

Catholic bishops across Europe will join together in prayer throughout Lent for victims of the coronavirus pandemic.   Read more

Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, Secretary for Relations with States within the Holy See's Secretariat of State, at the Vatican Oct. 27, 2017.

Vatican archbishop expresses ‘grave concern’ at rise in attacks on believers at prayer

Dec 4, 2020

A Vatican archbishop expressed “grave concern” Thursday at the rise in attacks on believers praying in places of worship.  Read more

The aftermath of a fire at the Parish of St. Paul in Corbeil-Essonnes, France, July 4, 2020.

More than 500 hate crimes against Europe’s Christians recorded in 2019

Nov 17, 2020

By Courtney Mares

The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe has published data documenting more than 500 hate crimes against Christians in... Read more

Pope Francis attends the general audience in the Paul VI Audience Hall Oct. 21, 2020.

Pope Francis urges Europe’s leaders to rediscover ‘path of fraternity’

Oct 27, 2020

Pope Francis warned Europe’s leaders Tuesday that the project of European unity is at risk unless they “rediscover the path... Read more

Pope Francis meets a delegation from the project Snapshots From The Borders at the Vatican Sept. 10, 2020.

Pope Francis: borders should be ‘windows,’ not barriers of division

Sep 10, 2020

Pope Francis appealed Thursday for a fundamental change in the way the world sees migration.   Read more

The outskirts of the Moria refugee camp on the Greek island of Lesbos.

Cardinal: Europe should be ‘ashamed’ after refugee camp fire

Sep 10, 2020

A cardinal said Wednesday that Europe should be “ashamed” after a fire devastated the continent’s largest refugee camp, leaving 13,000... Read more

View of St. Peter’s Basilica from the roof of the Pontifical University of the Holy Cross April 1, 2015.

Catholic missionary: ‘Secularization’ in the Church threatens Christianity in Europe

Sep 8, 2020

By Hannah Brockhaus

According to a longtime missionary in Africa, Fr. Martin Lasarte, one of the biggest threats to Christianity in Europe is... Read more

Cardinal Jean-Claude Hollerich, Archbishop of Luxembourg, at the Vatican, Oct. 5, 2019.

Cardinal: Pandemic may have accelerated secularization of Europe by 10 years

Sep 4, 2020

A cardinal has suggested that the coronavirus pandemic may have accelerated the secularization of Europe by 10 years.   Read more

The aftermath of a fire at the Parish of St. Paul in Corbeil-Essonnes, France, July 4, 2020.

‘Will they stop at burning an empty church?’: Anti-Christian attacks rise in Europe

Jul 22, 2020

The fire that ripped through the Gothic Cathedral of St. Peter and St. Paul in Nantes July 18 was reported... Read more

Dutch burqa ban prompts concern for religion in the public square

Aug 2, 2019

A law professor at a Dutch university has noted concerns over the effects of a newly implemented law banning women... Read more

Pope Francis aboard the papal plane returning from Romania June 2, 2019.

Pope Francis says he draws strength from relationship with Benedict XVI

Jun 2, 2019

By Courtney Mares

Pope Francis said Sunday that his relationship with Benedict XVI gives him strength and reminds him of the living tradition... Read more

Cardinal Reinhard Marx.

Cardinal Marx says Church must work for greater European unity

Sep 4, 2018

Cardinal Reinhard Marx, Archbishop of Munich and Freising, has said that the Church must support social and political unity in... Read more

World Youth Day in Krakow, July 2016.

Where 'no religion' is default, a look at Europe's young Catholic minority

Mar 22, 2018

Young Catholics in Europe live in a culture where religious affiliation, church attendance, and regular prayer are generally at low... Read more

World Youth Day in Brazil, July 28, 2013.

Bishops of Africa, Europe voice hope for upcoming summit on youth

Nov 16, 2017

In preparation for the fifth summit of the African Union and the European Union, the Catholic bishops’ conference of both... Read more

Monsignor Paul Richard Gallagher, Secretary for Relations with States.

Religious freedom, not secularism, key to Europe’s future, Vatican official says

Oct 28, 2017

By Elise Harris

In 2003, British Prime Minister Tony Blair was asked about his faith during a magazine interview.  As Blair began to... Read more

EU flags.

Pope to European civil and Church leaders: men and women are different

Oct 28, 2017

By Hannah Brockhaus

In a lengthy speech to civil and ecclesiastical leaders of Europe on Saturday, Pope Francis defended the family as being... Read more

Europe's bishops appeal to continent to recall its Christian roots

Oct 2, 2017

By Andrea Gagliarducci

The annual gathering of the presidents of European episcopal conferences began Thursday with a strong appeal to the continent “not... Read more

Sagrada Familia Barcelona.

European basilicas amp up security after recent terror attacks

Aug 26, 2017

By Elise Harris

From Spain's revered Sagrada Familia basilica to Germany and even the Vatican, churches across Europe are taking measures to increase... Read more

Pope Francis addresses paralympians in the Paul VI Hall at the Vatican on Oct. 4, 2014.

Pope invited by bishops to address the future of Europe

May 19, 2017

By Andrea Gagliarducci

Pope Francis will deliver his fifth speech on the present and future of Europe during an event organized by the... Read more