Religions Around The World

In the early morning hours, monks can be seen walking on their alms round in Kanchanaburi, Thailand
Showing humility and detachment from worldly goods, the monk walks slowly and only stops if he is called. Standing quietly, with his bowl open, the local Buddhists give him rice, or flowers, or an envelope containing money.  In return, the monks bless the local Buddhists and wish them a long and fruitful life.
Christians Celebrate Good Friday
Enacting the crucifixion of Jesus Christ in St. Mary's Church in Secunderabad, India. Only 2.3% of India's population is Christian. 
Ancient interior mosaic in the Church of the Holy Saviour in Chora
The Church of the Holy Saviour in Istanbul, Turkey is a medieval Byzantine Greek Orthodox church.
Dome of the Rock located in the Old City of Jerusalem
The site's great significance for Muslims derives from traditions connecting it to the creation of the world and to the belief that the Prophet Muhammad's Night Journey to heaven started from the rock at the center of the structure.
Holi Festival in Mathura, India
Holi is a Hindu festival that marks the end of winter. Also known as the “festival of colors”,  Holi is primarily observed in South Asia but has spread across the world in celebration of love and the changing of the seasons.
Jewish father and daughter pray at the Wailing Wall in Jerusalem, Israel.
Known in Hebrew as the Western Wall, it is one of the holiest sites in the world. The description, "place of weeping", originated from the Jewish practice of mourning the destruction of the Temple and praying for its rebuilding at the site of the Western Wall.
People praying in Mengjia Longshan Temple in Taipei, Taiwan
The temple is dedicated to both Taoism and Buddhism.
People praying in the Grand Mosque in Ulu Cami
This is the most important mosque in Bursa, Turkey and a landmark of early Ottoman architecture built in 1399.
Savior Transfiguration Cathedral of the Savior Monastery of St. Euthymius
Located in Suzdal, Russia, this is a church rite of sanctification of apples and grapes in honor of the Feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord.
Fushimi Inari Shrine is located in Kyoto, Japan
It is famous for its thousands of vermilion torii gates, which straddle a network of trails behind its main buildings. Fushimi Inari is the most important Shinto shrine dedicated to Inari, the Shinto god of rice.
Ladles at the purification fountain in the Hakone Shrine
Located in Hakone, Japan, this shrine is a Japanese Shinto shrine.  At the purification fountain, ritual washings are performed by individuals when they visit a shrine. This ritual symbolizes the inner purity necessary for a truly human and spiritual life.
Hanging Gardens of Haifa are garden terraces around the Shrine of the Báb on Mount Carmel in Haifa, Israel
They are one of the most visited tourist attractions in Israel. The Shrine of the Báb is where the remains of the Báb, founder of the Bábí Faith and forerunner of Bahá'u'lláh in the Bahá'í Faith, have been buried; it is considered to be the second holiest place on Earth for Bahá'ís.
Pilgrims praying at the Pool of the Nectar of Immortality and Golden Temple
Located in Amritsar, India, the Golden Temple is one of the most revered spiritual sites of Sikhism. It is a place of worship for men and women from all walks of life and all religions to worship God equally. Over 100,000 people visit the shrine daily.
Entrance gateway of Sik Sik Yuen Wong Tai Sin Temple Kowloon
Located in Hong Kong, China, the temple is dedicated to Wong Tai Sin, or the Great Immortal Wong. The Taoist temple is famed for the many prayers answered: "What you request is what you get" via a practice called kau cim.
Christian women worship at a church in Bois Neus, Haiti.
Haiti's population is 94.8 percent Christian, primarily Catholic. This makes them one of the most heavily Christian countries in the world.

World Religions News

Bishop of Graz in Austria ‘stunned and shaken’ after school shooting leaves 10 dead

Bishop Wilhelm Krautwaschl, the bishop of Graz-Seckau in Austria, expressed being “stunned and shaken” following a deadly shooting at a school in Graz on June 10, 2025. / Credit: Screenshot / YouTube / Katholische Kirche Steiermark

CNA Deutsch, Jun 11, 2025 / 13:01 pm (CNA).

The bishop of Graz-Seckau in Austria, Wilhelm Krautwaschl, expressed being “stunned and shaken” following a deadly shooting at a school in Graz that claimed 10 lives. 

On Tuesday, a 21-year-old former student of the Bundes-Oberstufenrealgymnasium Dreischützengasse killed nine people before taking his own life.

“This horrific act at a school in Graz leaves us stunned and shaken,” said Krautwaschl, speaking on behalf of himself and Auxiliary Bishop Johannes Freitag. “Our deepest sympathy goes out to the students, the teaching staff, and the families. We accompany all of them with our prayers and are here to support everyone affected to the best of our ability. At the same time, we thank all those who are offering help.”

Austrian broadcaster ORF (Austrian Broadcasting Corporation) reported: “According to the authorities, nine young people between the ages of 15 and 17 and one teacher are among the dead. Eleven injured people are being treated in hospitals.”

During his general audience on Wednesday, Pope Leo XIV prayed for the victims of the mass shooting. 

“I want to assure you of my prayers for the victims of the tragedy at the school in Graz,” the pope said. “I am close to the families, the teachers, and the classmates. May the Lord welcome these children into his peace.”

The motive of the attacker — who had left the school without graduating — remains unknown. 

Cardinal Christoph Schönborn, retired archbishop of Vienna, said on X: “Above all the shock, grief, and anxiety, there is one big question: ‘Why?’” adding that “we will probably never find a satisfactory answer.”

Regarding the police operation, ORF reported that “special units were alerted immediately after the first emergency calls came in around 10 a.m. The building was subsequently evacuated. Students were guided, together with teaching staff, to a secure meeting point.”

Bishop Georg Bätzing, chairman of the German Bishops’ Conference, expressed his “sincere condolences” and “deep sympathy” in a statement on X. 

“Many people, including students, were brutally injured and suddenly torn from life,” Bätzing wrote. “There are no adequate words for such a senseless and cruel act. Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their families, with all who had to witness this act of violence, and with the chaplains and emergency responders on the ground.”

“May God’s support bring strength, comfort, and hope to all those affected,” Bätzing continued. “We include in our prayers all those impacted by this act of violence.”

This story was based on a report published by CNA Deutsch, CNA’s German-language news partner.

Original Source:

https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/264677/austrias-bishop-of-graz-stunned-and-shaken-after-school-shooting-leaves-10-dead