Religion

People read cards left with flowers in memory of Anglican Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu at the St. George's Cathedral.

South Africans line up to pay their last respects to Desmond Tutu

11:53am December 31, 2021

by The Associated Press

South Africans from all corners of retired Archbishop Desmond Tutu's "rainbow nation" filed past his pine casket in Cape Town. The viewing line at St. George's Cathedral stretched for nearly a mile.

Homeless people gather beside a portrait of Saint Teresa, the founder of the Missionaries of Charity, to collect free food outside the order's headquarters in Kolkata, India, in August.

India blocks foreign funding for Mother Teresa's charity

1:11pm December 28, 2021

by Lauren Frayer

The Indian government says it has refused to renew a permit that allows the Missionaries of Charity to use foreign funds to operate orphanages and hospices across the country.

Remembering the legacy of Archbishop Desmond Tutu

5:07pm December 26, 2021

Journalist Kate Bartlett speaks with Elissa Nadworny about what Desmond Tutu meant to the people of South Africa and the fight for social justice more broadly.

South African activist and Nobel Peace Prize and Anglican Archbishop Desmond Tutu holds a press conference in 1986 at St Alban's Anglican Mission Church in Johannesburg.

Desmond Tutu's laugh was contagious. His fight for freedom was deadly serious

2:12pm December 26, 2021

by Greg Myre

Desmond Tutu will be remembered for helping end apartheid. But also for his memorable laugh, an infectious, cackling howl employed in the service of easing tensions in a very tense nation.

Pope Francis gives an early Christmas Eve homily with a pointed message on humility

9:04am December 25, 2021

by Sylvia Poggioli

Pope Francis celebrated Christmas Eve Mass in St. Peter's Basilica as COVID-19 infections surge in Italy.

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Religion

For some secular Jews, their pandemic hobby has been learning Yiddish

9:04am December 25, 2021

by Deena Prichep

During the pandemic, some secular Jews have taken up learning Yiddish to reconnect to their heritage.

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Chaplain David Sparks has provided comfort at Dover Air Force Base for 40 years

8:35am December 25, 2021

by Scott Simon

Scott Simon talks with Chaplain David Sparks, who comforted the families of fallen service members at Dover Air Force Base for more than 40 years.

Pope Francis unveils a statue of Baby Jesus as he celebrates Christmas Eve Mass at St. Peter's Basilica, at the Vatican, on Friday.

Pope Francis celebrates Christmas Eve Mass as Italy sets pandemic record of new cases

10:01pm December 24, 2021

by The Associated Press

Pope Francis celebrated Christmas Eve Mass before an estimated 2,000 people in St. Peter's Basilica, going ahead with the service despite the resurgence in COVID-19 cases.

Palestinian scout bands parade through Manger Square at the Church of the Nativity, traditionally believed to be the birthplace of Jesus Christ, during Christmas celebrations, in the West Bank town of Bethlehem on Friday.

Once again, COVID means scaled-back Christmas celebrations around the world

9:57pm December 24, 2021

by The Associated Press

From Bethlehem and Frankfurt to Boston, the surging coronavirus put a damper on Christmas Eve for a second year, forcing churches to cancel or scale back services and disrupting travel plans.

Thousands of pilgrims and tourists weren't in Bethlehem on Christmas eve due to COVID

4:54pm December 24, 2021

by Daniel Estrin

For the second year, the Christmas eve celebration in the Palestinian city of Bethlehem was muted by the pandemic precautions.