The Federation of Asian Bishops Conferences is calling for the release of Indian Jesuit priest Father Stan Swamy and 15 human rights activists facing trial for alleged links with Maoist rebels.

Armenia and Azerbaijan accuse each other of violating the latest ceasefire over the disputed territory of Nagorno-Karabakh, where almost 1000 people have been killed. A historic church is among the many damaged targets.

Workers, students, pensioners, activists and other members of civil society took to the streets in Belarusian cities today calling for President Lukashenko to step down.

The Archbishop of Kigali, Rwanda, Antoine Kambanda, is one of the 13 new Cardinals announced by Pope Francis on Sunday during the Angelus prayer.

With the 50th ratification of the international treaty to ban nuclear weapons on October 24, the accord will enter into force in January.

2020 has been a year of upheaval for families with regard to their children’s education and formation. While many children continue to attend school at least partly online, some families have decided to step into full-time homeschooling, and all Christian parents have had to reckon with reduced access to local religious education programs. However, this disruption, difficult as it is, does have the potential to effect positive change, with families rediscovering the domestic church and their roles within it, and with parents recognizing new options for providing a strong education for their children. So, it is particularly good timing to see the appearance of Sally Clarkson’s newest book, Awaking Wonder: Opening Your Child’s Heart to the Beauty of Learning. Sally is the author of The Lifegiving Home and, with her husband Clay, the co-founder of Whole Heart Ministries, which focuses on encouraging Christian discipleship and formation…

Despite the raging coronavirus pandemic, polls opened Sunday for elections that could impact government leaders' future in two East European nations. In Lithuania, a parliamentary runoff is likely to change its government. And, in Ukraine, local elections are a popularity test for last year's elected former comedian-turned president.

Reaction from the clerics Pope Francis has chosen to collaborate with him as Cardinals is beginning to come in. As Vatican News becomes aware of their reactions, we will continue to post them here.

A suicide bombing at an education centre in Afghanistan has killed at least 24 people, including students.

They come from Africa, Asia (Brunei and the Philippines), North and South America and Italy. In addition, there is a particular accent on the sons of St Francis during the year in which the Encyclical "Fratelli tutti" was published. Short biographies of the 13 new Cardinals Pope Francis announced on Sunday follow.