Around the world

11-year decline in worldwide priestly vocations continues

The number of major seminarians worldwide fell from 109,895 at the end of 2021 to 108,481 at the end of 2022, according to statistics published by the Fides news agency (CWN coverage). Between the end of 2020 and the end of 2021, the number of seminarians worldwide had declined from 111,855 to...

Worldwide baptisms fall over 15% in 6 years

The number of baptisms administered in the Church worldwide plunged from over 16 million in 2016 to 13,327,037 in 2022—a decline of 17% over six years, according to the appendix to statistics published by the Fides news agency (CWN coverage). There were 18.1 million baptisms in 1991,...

‘Sports are a hymn to life,’ Pope says in message 

Editor's Note: Pope Francis has sent an Italian-language message to a sports newspaper, Corriere dello Sport, as it marks its 100th anniversary.

The Pope recalled his youth, spoke of the value of sports, and paid tribute to athletic contests as a “hymn to life.” He also sounded a serious note:

The competition of sport is healthy, because it requires patience, listening to the coach, respect for opponents, for the rules and for the referees, coordination with teammates: in the world instead the aim is often to destroy the opponent, to make the rules ourselves, to reject those who want to moderate the confrontation between the parties according to international law.

 

 

Russians accused of crimes offered choice - go to war instead of court

A former Olympic athlete has been told if he fights in Ukraine a criminal case against him will be frozen.

 

Ex-British soldier fined $12,000 for praying silently outside an abortion clinic.

A British army veteran and Christian has been found guilty of praying silently outside of an abortion clinic, with the pro-life advocate facing a near-$12,000 fine over the verdict.

The Bournemouth Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday found Adam Smith-Connor guilty of silent prayer stemming from a demonstration he conducted in Bournemouth in 2022.

The court “sentenced Smith-Connor to a conditional discharge and ordered him to pay prosecution costs of £9,000” (about $11,700), Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF) International

Oh my God, I just talked to the Queen

An Australian says "you can't get any better than that" after meeting King Charles and Queen Camilla in Sydney.

In "Heaven" by Randy Alcorn he says that "We are part of God's family. Ruling the universe is the family business".