World News

Actions to safeguard voting are "rooted in the belief that everyone who can vote should feel safe to do so, and that every vote should count, because we believe that democracy is sacred," said one advocate. ... read more

President Donald Trump’s approval rating has dropped to 30% among Catholic voters, according to a new Pew Research Center survey—down from 47% at the beginning of his second term. President Trump’s approval rating among white Catholics has dropped from 58% to 39%. His approval rating among Hispanic Catholics has dropped from 31% to 18%. ... read more

The Philippine bishops’ Commission for Indigenous Peoples condemned the prospective displacement of indigenous peoples because of “green” energy projects. “A greener future cannot be built on injustice,” the commission stated. “The growing demand for critical minerals must not be used to justify forced displacement.” AsiaNews, the news agency of the Pontifical Institute for ... read more

In a newly published article (“Advance Medical Directives: Planning for Your Future”), the U.S. bishops’ Secretariat of Pro-Life Activities said that “some states and healthcare systems have been implementing a troubling document known as a ‘Physician Order for Life-Sustaining Treatment,’ also called by a confusing array of acronyms (POLST, MOST, MOLST, or POST).” “The ... read more

Armed men from Al-Qalaa, a predominantly Sunni Muslim village in western Syria, entered a predominantly Christian village on October 3, damaged property, and fired at houses. An Orthodox priest narrowly missed being shot. Local sources told Aid to the Church in Need that the attack on Al-Suqaylabiyah began with an altercation between Christian and ... read more

The head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church revealed that he discussed the plight of families in war at the recent Vatican meeting on the tenth anniversary of Amoris Laetitia. Major Archbishop Sviatoslav Shevchuk said that “It was particularly moving for everyone to hear the voice of Ukraine.” “We had the ... read more

A 19-year-old man was arrested in connection with an attempted arson attack on the cathedral in the French town of Die. The young man “was seen by a witness to be busy lighting a fire in the middle of the cathedral using matches and a candle,” the Observatory on Intolerance and Discrimination against Christians ... read more

The bishop of Miao, India, led an online Rosary for peace in the strife-torn northeastern Indian state of Manipur. “The Rosary is our powerful weapon against the forces of evil,” Bishop George Pallipparambil, S.D.B., said on October 7, the memorial of Our Lady of the Rosary. “We do not pray the Rosary ... read more

A Vatican diplomat emphasized the importance of international cooperation in combating organized crime. Addressing a conference of the Organization of American States (OAS), Msgr. Juan Antonio Cruz Serrano, Permanent Observer of the Holy See to the OAS, also emphasized the importance of “placing the human person at the center of security strategies” and “investing ... read more

President Luis Abinader of the Dominican Republic met on October 15 with Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Secretary of State of His Holiness, and Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, the Secretary for Relations with States and International Organizations. According to a Vatican statement, the parties discussed Church-state relations and “the regional situation, with particular attention ... read more

In an unusual arrangement, the head of the Romanian Greek Catholic Church (CNEWA profile) assumed governance of a second eparchy. As head of the Romanian Greek Catholic Church, Major Archbishop Claudiu-Lucian Pop is the ex officio head of the Archeparchy of Făgăraș and Alba Iulia. With the consent of the church’s Synod of Bishops, ... read more

The National Council of Churches—a fellowship of 37 Protestant communities and separated Eastern churches—is holding its annual Christian Unity Gathering in Philadelphia. The theme of the gathering, which concludes today, is “Freedom to worship, freedom from fear.” The session on freedom from fear addressed “the fear created by religious hatred, racial violence, political ... read more

The Holy See Press Office announced that Father Ignatius Ding Zuyao, 40, was consecrated bishop of Haimen, China, on October 15. Typically, the Holy See Press Office announces a bishop’s appointment, rather than his consecration. In announcing the prelate’s consecration, the press office stated that Pope Leo, “having approved his candidacy within the ... read more

A leading Vatican diplomat called upon the international community to grant countries in “special situations”—the least developed countries (LDCs), landlocked developing countries (LLDCs), and small island developing States (SIDS)—greater access to finance and technology. Addressing a UN committee meeting, Archbishop Christophe-Zakhia El-Kassis, apostolic nuncio and Permanent Observer of the Holy See to the ... read more

What a weakness it is to love Jesus only when he caresses us, and to be cold immediately once he afflicts us. This is not true love. Those who love thus love themselves too much to love God with all their heart — St. Margaret Mary Alacoque ... read more