Two key Vatican investigators have begun an audit in Peru’s capital of a secretive Roman Catholic society with chapters across South America and in the U.S. following allegations that its founder sexually molested young recruits.
Myanmar Cardinal Charles Maung Bo spoke to a conference on Catholic social teaching, telling attendees that poverty demands a response on the scale of a "third world war."
Pope Francis has accepted the resignation of 75-year-old Peruvian Cardinal Juan Cipriani Thorne of Lima and has named a 68-year-old professor of theology to succeed him.
"My brother was murdered by a drive-by shooting at the age of 18 years old," says a young man from Chicago whose emotion-stained voice plays in a video.
Peru's bishops expressed support for an overhaul of the country's judicial system after phone-tap recordings revealing influence peddling and corruption became public.
Lima, Peru - In one of his last events of his four-day visit to the country, Francis told Peruvian bishops to speak out on behalf of their people even when it may upset the powerful.
Pope Francis exhorted Peru's political leaders Jan. 19 to fight what he termed the "social virus" of corruption in a speech at the country's executive mansion less than a month since President Pedro Kuczynski narrowly escaped impeachment.
Chile and Peru, the two countries that Pope Francis will visit Jan. 15-21, have recently received thousands of migrants seeking safety and opportunities.
Local observers say attention during the Jan. 15-21 papal trip may center on how Francis can help the Chilean church regain trustworthiness after a recent spate of cases of clergy sexual abuse.
