victims

More than 4,800 children were sexually abused by members of the Portuguese Catholic Church, according to the commission investigating the issue.

German police were searching for a possible motive after a shooter opened fire March 9 at the place of worship, killing at least seven people, including an unborn baby.

After praying the Angelus with some 25,000 visitors gathered in St. Peter’s Square March 5, the pope prayed for the victims of a shipwreck off the coast of Cutro in Italy’s southern province of Crotone, which killed at least 70 people Feb. 26.

Minnesota law defines human trafficking as the sale of a person for the purpose of sexual acts or forced labor.

With “rivers of blood and tears” still flowing in Ukraine and with the increasing threat of the use of nuclear weapons, Pope Francis begged Russian President Vladimir Putin: “Stop this spiral of violence and death.”

The German Catholic news agency KNA said the study found that, until recently, officials had neglected to conduct adequate monitoring of clerics after they had been removed from their posts following accusations of abuse.

The commission asked public figures to submit messages encouraging victims to “give voice to their silence” and said it counted on Portuguese media to publicize its work.

The Talitha Kum international network of religious who are fighting against human trafficking will offer a virtual tour of the sisters’ work with survivors starting July 30, the World Day Against Trafficking in Persons.