communism

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Pope Francis in St. Peter's Square June 5, 2019.

'Witnesses of freedom and mercy' - Pope Francis remembers bishops martyred under Communism

Jun 5, 2019

By Courtney Mares

Pope Francis Wednesday reflected upon his recent apostolic visit to Romania, where he beatified seven Greek-Catholic bishops martyred under Soviet... Read more

Pope Francis meets with the president of Romania Klaus Iohannis in Bucharest May 31, 2019.

Pope Francis: The Catholic Church wants to contribute to Romanian society

May 31, 2019

By Hannah Brockhaus

The Catholic Church wants to continue to be an active and contributive member of Romanian society, Pope Francis told the... Read more

Six of the seven martyred bishops who will be beatified in Blaj, Romania, June 2, 2019. Courtesy photos.

Pope Francis will beatify these martyred Greek-Catholic bishops in Romania

May 30, 2019

By Hannah Brockhaus

On Sunday in Blaj, Pope Francis will beatify seven Greek-Catholic bishops of Romania who were killed by the communist regime... Read more

A Romanian stamp featuring Bishop Iuliu Hossu of the Romanian Diocese of Cluj-Gherla, who was among the seven bishops whose martyrdom was recognized by the pope March 19, 2019. Public domain.

Seven 20th-century Romanian bishops declared martyrs

Mar 19, 2019

By Hannah Brockhaus

Pope Francis declared Tuesday the martyrdom of seven Greek-Catholic bishops killed by the communist regime in Romania in the mid-20th... Read more

The flag of the People's Republic of China.

Four underground priests reportedly disappeared in China's Hebei province

Nov 8, 2018

Four priests from the underground Catholic Church in China's Hebei province have been taken into police custody for indoctrination, AsiaNews... Read more

A young woman waits with her child by the train station in Belgrade, Serbia.

US bishops conference approves project funding for Africa, Eastern Europe

Jul 18, 2018

Subcommittees at the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops have approved more than $6 million for pastoral projects in Africa and... Read more

Janos Brenner.

Beloved 1950s Hungarian priest and martyr beatified

May 1, 2018

Fr. János Brenner, a Cistercian Hungarian priest who was martyred in the 1950s, was beatified May 1. The beatification took... Read more

Chinese government official: No religion 'transcends nations'

Apr 3, 2018

A Chinese government official who oversees religious affairs said Tuesday that government restrictions on bishop appointments are not a violation... Read more

Janos Brenner, who was martyred Dec. 15, 1957.

Father Janos Brenner: Hungarian priest and martyr

Nov 11, 2017

Besides the smiling Pope, John Paul I, several other people’s causes advanced towards sainthood this week. Among them is Servant... Read more

The flag of China.

China's president seeks more control over religion

Oct 25, 2017

President Xi Jinping of China announced this week that he wants to tighten Beijing’s strict government controls on religion in... Read more

Pope Francis and Fidel Castro in a private meeting, Sept. 20, 2015. Photo courtesy of Alex Castro.

UPDATED: Fidel Castro, communist leader who met three Popes, dies at 90

Nov 26, 2016

By Elise Harris

After hearing of the death of Fidel Castro, former president and leader communist revolution in Cuba, late Friday evening, Pope... Read more

Banners of the Albanian and Vatican flags in Tirana in preparation for Pope Francis' Sept. 21, 2014 visit.

In Albania, the Church honors martyrs of the communist era

Nov 2, 2016

During 40 years of communist rule in Albania – which in 1967 declared itself the first completely atheist country in... Read more

Cathedral in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.

Amid communist rule, a Catholic university opens in Vietnam

Sep 21, 2016

After 40 years, the first Catholic Church-operated university opened in Vietnam since the advent of communism in the country.  Read more

The statue of Cardinal Aloysius Stepinac at his tomb in the Zagreb Cathedral, Croatia.

Hoax or history? The communist smearing of Cardinal Stepinac

May 17, 2016

By Kevin J. Jones

Was the controversial Cardinal Aloysius Stepinac a target of decades-long communist smears and disinformation? One researcher of the period says... Read more

Tasende theater in Camagüey, which was seized by the Cuban government from the Teresian Sisters in 1961.

To celebrate Teresa of Avila, these Cuban nuns rented their own hall

Nov 1, 2015

On May 1, 1961 Fidel Castro ordered the seizure of all private schools in Cuba and the expulsion of all... Read more

Pope Francis greets pilgrims in St. Peter's Square during the Wednesday general audience on May 28, 2014.

Pope Francis will likely meet Fidel Castro during Cuba visit

Sep 15, 2015

By Elise Harris

While Pope Francis is in Cuba next week chances are high that he will meet with former president Fidel Castro,... Read more

Bolivian president Evo Morales presents Pope Francis with a 'communist crucifix' at the presidential palace in La Paz, July 8, 2015.

Pope calls 'communist crucifix' protest art, but says he wasn't offended

Jul 13, 2015

Responding to waves of controversy after receiving a “communist crucifix” – a carving of Christ crucified on a hammer and... Read more

Ion Mihai Pacepa on Raul Castro's yacht in Cuba, 1974. Photo courtesy of Ion Mihai Pacepa.

Former Soviet spy: We created Liberation Theology

May 1, 2015

Espionage deep in the heart of Europe. Secrets in the KGB. Defection from a communist nation. Ion Mihai Pacepa has... Read more

A West German man uses a hammer and chisel to chip off a piece of the Berlin Wall as a souvenir in November 1989 (Credi: U.S. Department of Defense).

Ruins of the Berlin Wall: what they whisper 25 years later

Nov 9, 2014

By Ann Schneible

What remains of the Berlin Wall discloses a subtle yet stark reminder for civilization to not “look to walls as... Read more

   Pope Francis greets pilgrims in St. Peter's Square during the Wednesday general audience on June 4, 2014.

Pope: Fighting for the poor doesn't make me Communist – it makes me Catholic

Oct 29, 2014

By Elise Harris

Pope Francis spoke out against oppression of the poor due to greed and warned again of the growing presence of... Read more