Vatican News
China pressures underground Catholics to join state church, rights group says
“A decade into Xi Jinping’s Sinicization campaign and nearly eight years since the 2018 Holy See-China agreement, Catholics in China face escalating repression” researcher Yalkun Uluyol said.
Bishop reminds Venezuelan people: ‘Christ’s resurrection is a source of solace and strength’
Caracas Auxiliary Bishop-elect José Gómez reminded Venezuelans that they “possess the capacity, through the grace of God and with the solidarity of their brothers and sisters, to overcome” suffering.
Young U.S. men overtake women in saying religion is ‘very important’
Numbers of U.S. young men and women who frequently attend religious services have increased, Gallup data shows.
Donald Trump on tensions with Pope Leo XIV: ‘I have nothing against the pope’
The president downplayed his public criticism of Leo while falsely claiming that the Holy Father said Iran “can have a nuclear weapon.”
PHOTOS: Highlights from Pope Leo XIV’s first full day in Cameroon
The Holy Father will ultimately spend several days in Cameroon before heading on to Angola and then Equatorial Guinea during his first apostolic journey to Africa.
Punk legend Patti Smith, Mexican architect Tatiana Bilbao to represent Vatican at Venice Biennale
The exhibition by the Dicastery for Culture and Education features the work of contemporary artists in various fields, inspired by the life and spiritual legacy of St. Hildegard of Bingen.
Police reveal bomb threat at Chicago-area home of Pope Leo XIV’s brother
The bomb threat was determined to be “unsubstantiated,” according to law enforcement.
Pope Leo XIV in Cameroon says ‘the time has come’ to rebuild peace
The pope urged Cameroonians to reject resignation and obey God over “earthly ways of thinking.”
Pope Leo XIV in Cameroon urges Christians and Muslims to heal wounds of conflict
At a peace gathering in Bamenda’s Cathedral, the pope praised interreligious solidarity and urged a “true conversion” away from war.
Pope Benedict XVI’s centenary celebrations planned across the globe in 2027
A series of events will take place in 2027 marking the centenary of the birth of the late pope, honoring his legacy and his extensive contributions to the fields of philosophy and theology.
Pope Leo XIV urges authorities in Cameroon to invest in youth
On the first day of his trip to Cameroon, the Holy Father appealed to authorities to invest in young people calling youth the nation's "greatest asset and a key to its future."
Lawmaker calls for allowing crucifix symbol on veterans’ headstones
Nearly 50 lawmakers, including Rep. Greg Steube, R-Florida, are urging the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to make the change.
PHOTOS: Pope Leo XIV continues papal trip in Algeria, Cameroon
The Holy Father spent several days touring Algeria and meeting with Catholics and religious leaders before heading south to the Cameroonian capital of Yaoundé.
Bishop Báez on Nicaragua: ‘The people’s wounds will be scars healed by the love of God’
The exiled auxiliary bishop of Managua pointed out that the wounds suffered today will be a reminder of a painful past, but like the wounds of the risen Christ will be made glorious.
Historic Wisconsin parish loses roof during severe weather outbreak
St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in East Bristol has stood in the community for over 130 years.
Nearly 500 leaders will gather in Washington, D.C., to read the entire Bible aloud
A wide array of speakers including actors, lawmakers, and advocates will read the Bible from beginning to end to celebrate American faith ahead of the nation’s 250th anniversary.
Pope Leo XIV to orphaned children in Cameroon: ‘God is present’
“Wherever there is misery, suffering, or injustice, God is present,” the pope said in a meeting with orphaned or abandoned children in Cameroon.
Bishops reaffirm just war limits amid Vance’s pushback on pope’s peace stance
President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance, a Catholic, have taken issue with the pope’s Gospel teaching on peace.
Pope in Cameroon: Peace ‘cannot be decreed: It must be embraced and lived’
The second stop on Leo’s Africa trip is Cameroon, a country marked by conflict, yet whose civil society is ready to begin again.
Knights of Columbus affirms ‘solidarity’ with Pope Leo XIV as Trump escalates criticism
Supreme Knight Patrick Kelly is asking Catholics to pray for the pope and the president, as President Trump again criticized Leo’s comments about the Iran war.
Pope Leo XIV arrives in Cameroon for second leg of Africa trip
Reflecting on the visit to Algeria, the pope described it as “a wonderful opportunity to continue building bridges and promoting dialogue.”
Filipino priests open up about addiction, burnout as cardinal warns of mental health crisis
Two priests told EWTN News how addiction and spiritual dryness nearly ended their ministries — and how they found their way back.
‘I’ve had an experience with God,’ husband tells wife before fatal diagnosis
“The peace we experienced throughout the entire process of his illness and his death was no ordinary peace,” Virginia Pérez de Santana said. “I know it because we were enveloped by God.”
Pope Leo XIV meets Augustinians in Annaba in fraternal visit
The pope shared lunch with the local Augustinian community after visiting Hippo’s ruins and a home run by the Little Sisters of the Poor.
Algerian Christians ‘encouraged’ by Pope Leo’s visit after church closures
The Algerian government has “shut down, over the course of the last nine to 10 years, almost 50 churches across the country,” Kelsey Zorzi said.
Pope Leo XIV in Africa: 8 things to know about the Catholic Church in Cameroon
After concluding the first leg of his African apostolic journey in Algeria, Pope Leo XIV travels on Wednesday to Cameroon.
Archdiocese of Dubuque halts weekend Mass at 84 Iowa parishes
As part of an ongoing reorganization due to a priest shortage and declining numbers of churchgoers, the Archdiocese of Dubuque, Iowa, announced the parishes that will no longer hold weekend Masses.
Holy See’s diplomacy stands apart from all other states, witness tells Helsinki Commission
“What is clear, is that no other state on earth is even attempting to do what the Holy See is trying to do,” Alexander John Paul Lutz, a Helsinki Commission policy fellow, testified.
Border czar Tom Homan calls for Church leaders to ‘stay out of politics’
Homan, a Catholic, commented after President Trump denounced Pope Leo XIV.
Traveling exhibit tells how serving others transforms Catholic Charities workers
The People of Hope Museum offers personal stories of Catholic Charities workers, an immersive poverty‑simulation experience, and interactive data displays.
PHOTOS: Pope Leo XIV visits Algeria during his first papal trip to Africa
The Holy Father is scheduled to visit four African countries throughout mid-April.
Catholic father whose home was raided at gunpoint wins 7-figure settlement from U.S. government
Pro-lifers call the win “a huge victory for all Americans who want our right to speak our minds peacefully in a law-abiding way without fear of our own government.”
The heroic life of papal biographer Vittorio Messori
The editor of the Spanish editions of Messori’s books shared in an interview with ACI Prensa some key insights into Messori’s work and life, including the secret behind his heroic love for the Church.
Pope Leo XIV in Algeria: Where there is conflict the Church brings reconciliation
At the Basilica of St. Augustine, the pontiff urged Christians to bear witness through “simple gestures, genuine relationships and a dialogue lived out day by day.”
Chicago priest resigns after archdiocese discovers misuse of parish funds
Father Kenneth Anderson violated “a number of core archdiocesan policies,” Cardinal Blase Cupich told parishioners.
Thousands march for life in Prague amid police restrictions and pro-abortion protests
Organizers of the annual pro-life march in the Czech capital say police blocked access to Wenceslas Square and are considering a legal complaint.
India mourns priest-physician who transformed Kerala hospital, led blood donation movement
Father Francis Alappatt, a trained doctor who later entered the seminary, helped shape one of Kerala’s largest hospitals and pioneered a statewide blood donation initiative.
Leo XIV: True power comes from virtue, not strength
The pontiff discussed the legitimate exercise of authority in a message to the Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences.
Pope Leo XIV reminds biblical scholars: Christ’s compassion toward all who suffer is ‘profound’
In a letter to the Pontifical Biblical Commission, which is meeting this week, Pope Leo XIV drew attention to Christ’s compassion for the sick and suffering.
‘It’s a special thing to be human’: Artemis II crew returns with awe, gratitude, and faith
After traveling approximately 695,000 miles over its 10-day trip around the moon, the Artemis II crew gave powerful reflections on their experience.
Pope Leo XIV calls June consistory of cardinals, says Evangelii Gaudium must be relaunched
In a letter to the College of Cardinals, the pope said the exhortation remains “a significant point of reference” and urged renewed missionary boldness across the life of the Church.
Pope Leo XIV in Algeria: God’s heart is not with the wicked or the arrogant
The pontiff stopped at a care home run by the Little Sisters of the Poor.
Catholic scholars reflect on the American experiment at 250
“Endowed by Their Creator: Catholicism, the Declaration of Independence, and the American Experiment at 250" was co-hosted by The Catholic University of America and the University of Notre Dame.
Pope Leo XIV visits ancient Hippo in return to the roots of his vocation
In Algeria, the pope visited the archaeological site of the city where St. Augustine served as bishop.
Poland prepares parishes for wartime role as fears of conflict grow
The Polish Bishops’ Conference has established a working group with government ministries to prepare the country’s more than 10,000 parishes for a potential armed conflict.
U.S. bishops launch annual Catholic Home Missions Appeal
The appeal, collected in most dioceses April 25–26, supports dioceses and eparchies that rely on outside assistance to sustain sacramental and pastoral ministry.
Vance says Trump was ‘posting a joke’ with now-deleted Jesus-like image
The vice president said Trump removed the AI-generated image because “a lot of people weren’t understanding his humor.”
Religious Liberty Commission members urge continued work as threats ‘are not disappearing’
Religious Liberty commissioners met for their final scheduled meeting.
Pope Leo XIV honors 2 Spanish nuns murdered in Algeria in 1994
The Augustinian nuns were about to enter a Catholic chapel in Algiers when they were gunned down. Pope Leo previously visited their community in 2009 when he was prior of the Order of St. Augustine.
U.S. bishops ask officials to prevent ICE detentions of pregnant women, nursing mothers
The bishops expressed concerns of reports that pregnant women in detention have miscarried and some nursing mothers have lost access to their children.