World News

Archbishop William Lori of Baltimore, the first diocese established in the United States (1789), has issued a pastoral letter, “In Charity & Truth: Toward a Renewed Political Culture,” for the nation’s 250th anniversary. The 29-page letter has 22 sections, including “Charity, Unity, and Patriotism – The Witness of Blessed Michael McGivney” and “The ... read more

In a February 13 chirograph, Pope Leo XIV abolished the Pontifical Committee for World Children’s Day, established by Pope Francis in November 2024, with Father Enzo Fortunato, OFM Conv, as chairman. Pope Leo transferred the committee’s functions to the Dicastery for the Laity, Family and Life. ... read more

L’Osservatore Romano devoted prominent front-page coverage in its February 13 edition to the plight of the victims of environmental redevelopment projects in Nairobi, Kenya’s capital. Father Ettore Marangi, who ministers in a Nairobi slum, spoke with the Vatican newspaper about the government’s destruction of makeshift shacks of at least 40,000 slum inhabitants. ... read more

Pope Leo XIV encouraged members of Rome’s Carabinieri (military police) to “rediscover the essence of the Christian message and the style of the early Church, in order to embody them in our very different, and much more complex world.” “I think of the dawn of Christianity in this city, when the Good News ... read more

U.S. Catholic clergy are bringing the sacraments to the nation’s immigrant detention centers, celebrating Masses and urging humane treatment for those held inside. As part of this effort, pastoral visits are aimed at ensuring detainees can access the Eucharist and receive spiritual support.In California, Bishop Joseph Brennan of the Diocese of Fresno is set to ... read more

Archbishop Alexander Sample issued a statement stressing the Church’s duty to safeguard detainees’ access to the sacraments. A woman in front of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement headquarters holds a sign at prayer vigil that was organized by the Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns in Washington, D.C. Feb. 11, 2026. ... read more

The Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility in Broadview, Illinois, must accommodate Catholic clergy who wish to provide detainees with ashes and Communion on Ash Wednesday, Feb. 18, according to a federal court ruling.Judge Robert W. Gettleman issued the Feb. 12 order in favor of the Coalition for Spiritual and Public Leadership (CSPL), a nonprofit ... read more

Clergy had argued they “have lost their own religious freedom, by blanket denial of any opportunity to provide spiritual consolation.” Felician Sister Jeremy Marie Midura, left, and Father Dennis Berry, center, talk to a Department of Homeland Security official outside the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Chicago field office on ... read more

The measure was an initiative of Puerto Rico Gov. Jenniffer Gonzalez-Colón, a Republican, shown here with her 1-year-old son, José. Puerto Rico Gov. Jenniffer Gonzalez-Colón signed into law on Feb. 12 a bill amending the penal code to recognize unborn babies as human beings at ‘any stage of gestation.’ ... read more

The Archdiocese of Liverpool says it’s ditching X, kidnappings continue in Nigeria, and World Youth Day preparations are in full swing. All this and more in this week’s world news roundup. Credit: JarTee/Shutterstock Here is a roundup of world news you might have missed this ... read more

Here is a roundup of world news you might have missed this past week:Major British archdiocese announces exit from social media platformThe Archdiocese of Liverpool announced this week that it would no longer post on X “due to ethical and moral reasons.”In the Feb. 6 post, the archdiocese said it would remain on Facebook, Instagram, ... read more

‘The Church manifests her particular spiritual closeness to all those who have built their family on the sacrament of Matrimony,’ Pope Benedict XIV said. As Pope Benedict XIV reminded us: ‘The Eucharist inexhaustibly strengthens the indissoluble unity and love of every Christian marriage.’ ... read more

The University of Notre Dame is signaling that it will stick by its appointment of an outspoken pro-abortion advocate to lead a university institute even after bishops from around the U.S. have criticized the decision and urged the school to change course.Multiple bishops have lamented the school’s decision to appoint global affairs Professor Susan Ostermann ... read more

Multiple U.S. bishops have criticized the school’s decision and urged it to rescind the appointment. The Golden Dome and Washington Hall sit on the campus of the University of Notre Dame. | Credit: RebeccaDLev/Shutterstock The University of Notre Dame is signaling that it will stick ... read more

University of Notre Dame (Peter Zelasko/CNA) The University of Notre Dame is signaling that it will stick by its appointment of an outspoken pro-abortion advocate to lead a university institute even after bishops from around the U.S. have criticized the decision and urged the school to change course. Multiple bishops have lamented ... read more