World News

Twice recently Pope Leo XIV has brought up a book that spells out his spiritual MO. The short book, The Practice of the Presence of God by 17th-century lay Carmelite Brother Lawrence, seems to pack a spiritual punch. ... read more

President Isaac Herzog of Israel called Pope Leo XIV on the afternoon of December 17 to extend his Christmas greetings. During the call, which took place three days after the Bondi Beach shooting, Pope Leo “reiterated the Catholic Church’s firm condemnation of all forms of antisemitism,” according to a statement from the Holy See Press ... read more

Blessed Pope Urban V Feast date: Dec 19 Blessed Pope Urban V was born Guillaume de Grimoard at Grisac in Languedoc, 1310. He studied canon law and theology in Avignon and became a Benedictine monk. He was named abbot of his monastery in 1352, and served as a papal diplomat and was ... read more

Bishop Edward Scharfenberger, the retired head of the Albany, New York diocese, has filed for personal bankruptcy, after a court decision found him personally liable for the failure of a pension fund that left more than 1,000 diocesan employees without retirement benefits. A jury verdict awarded a $54 million judgment to claimants in the case, ... read more

In the days of Herod, King of Judea,there was a priest named Zechariahof the priestly division of Abijah;his wife was from the daughters of Aaron,and her name was Elizabeth.Both were righteous in the eyes of God,observing all the commandmentsand ordinances of the Lord blamelessly.But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barrenand both were advanced ... read more

This is the business of our life: by labor and prayer to advance in the grace of God, till we come to that height of perfection in which, with clean hearts, we may behold God. — St. Augustine ... read more

One of the things I love about Christmas being celebrated for an octave (or twelve days, or right up until the February 2 Presentation of the Lord if you’re diehard) is that it takes the pressure off December 25th to be the one and only possible day to experience Christmas joy.   Pope Francis speaks ... read more

Today is the Third of the O Antiphons, O Radix Jesse (O Root of Jesse). Christ the King, the Lord! Divine Wisdom, Adonai, the powerful God, is at the same time man with flesh and blood of the house of Jesse, the father of King David. Truly, the right of kingship has now passed from ... read more

Here we have another extract from St. John Henry Newman's series of lectures which were published as The Idea of a University, the ideas for which were developed when Newman was charged with the task of establishing a Catholic university in Ireland. The book was originally a series of lectures presented in Dublin in May ... read more

Adam Gray New York Archbishop-elect Ronald Hicks and Cardinal Timothy Dolan hold a press conference at St. Patrick’s Cathedral on Dec. 18, 2025, in New York City. Bishop Hicks addressed media at St. Patrick’s Cathedral alongside outgoing Cardinal Archbishop Timothy Dolan, who turned 75 earlier this year. ... read more

Pope Leo XIV speaks to patients and caregivers at the De La Croix Hospital in Jal el Dib, Lebanon, on Dec. 2, 2025. | Credit: Vatican Media Vatican City, Dec 18, 2025 / 18:28 pm Pope Leo XIV warned against the destructive spiral fueled by the arms race and the development of autonomous weapons, and ... read more

Pope Leo XIV holds up a tennis racket given to him by children of the Pope Paul VI Pontifical School in Castel Gandolfo on Dec. 16, 2025. | Credit: Vatican Media ACI Prensa Staff, Dec 18, 2025 / 18:08 pm Pope Leo XIV enjoyed a special Christmas concert this week dedicated to him by students ... read more

Mass at Arizona State University’s Newman Center chapel. | Credit: Courtesy of Father Bill Clements, director of ASU Newman Center Washington, D.C. Newsroom, Dec 18, 2025 / 17:48 pm Encouraging participation in Mass and making the sacraments more accessible can deepen fulfillment among Catholics and therefore help to keep Catholics in the faith, experts say. ... read more

President Donald Trump signed an executive order Dec. 18, 2025, that eases federal marijuana regulations amid support from the cannabis industry but opposition from some Catholic and conservative groups. | Credit: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images Washington, D.C. Newsroom, Dec 18, 2025 / 17:18 pm President Donald Trump on Thursday signed an executive order to ease federal ... read more

The contortions that the transgender phenomenon has foisted on the medical profession’s language are myriad—and pernicious. Although 20th-century thinkers had described man as “the symbol-making animal,” we have demonstrated, in our day, that we are symbol-destroying animals as well. The way in which the medical profession has conspired to warp both language and bodies to ... read more