NATION/WORLD

A new 13-episode series featuring Catholics across the United States and Canada who have returned or converted to the Catholic Church has connections to the Diocese of Phoenix.

WASHINGTON (CNS) — The three top leaders of the international Catholic peace organization also called upon the world, particularly the United Nations, to work together to seek nonviolent alternatives to stop the Islamic State's expansion and influence in Iraq and Syria.

VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Pope Francis called for prayers and concrete help for the thousands of people affected by the deadly Ebola virus. It was the second time in the past 24 hours that the pope spoke about the outbreak.

WASHINGTON (CNS) — Study after study has confirmed that those who are involved in religion and those who are married are healthier, physically and mentally happier and live longer than those who are not.

For many Catholic married couples, the training they received for their vocation started and ended with the required marriage preparation classes they took as engaged couples.

TIRANA, Albania (CNS) — Two survivors of Albania's communist crackdown against the church brought Pope Francis tears with their stories during a vespers service in Tirana's cathedral Sept. 21. "To hear a martyr talk about his own martyrdom is intense," the pope told journalists on the papal plane back to Rome the same evening.

Pope Francis has named Bishop Blase J. Cupich of Spokane, Washington, as archbishop of Chicago, succeeding Cardinal Francis E. George, who has headed the archdiocese since 1997.

Bishop Michael C. Barber was able to do what general manager Billy Beane could not: Call Grant Desme to Oakland.

JERUSALEM (CNS) — Several U.S. Catholic bishops are returning from a nine-day pilgrimage to the Holy Land where they met with Israeli and Palestinian religious and political leaders, spent time meeting local residents and prayed at holy sites. One of them never expected to see such destruction and suffering.

Catholics around the country as well as in the Diocese of Phoenix will attend holy hours of reparation prior to a Sept. 21 black mass in Oklahoma City.