World News

Pope Leo XIV told Catholic lawmakers today that the world needs “human intelligence enlightened by wisdom, political authority guided by conscience, and technological innovation directed by charity.” ... read more

President Joseph Aoun of Lebanon called on Pope Leo XIV to press Israel to abide by a June agreement to withdraw its forces from Lebanon. The Vatican responded by stating that the Holy See has “serious concerns about the difficulties that are being encountered in implementing” the agreement and that it “assured the President of ... read more

Today the Church celebrates the Memorial of St. Pius X, Pope (1835-1914). Joseph Sarto was born in humble circumstances at Riese, a small village in Venetia, on June 2, 1835. He was successively curate, parish priest, bishop of Mantua, Patriarch of Venice -- offices to which his keen intelligence, hard work, and great piety caused ... read more

Heather Diehl Päivi Räsänen testifies at the U.S. Capitol on Feb. 4, 2026, in Washington. The hearing highlighted how European censorship laws could impact free speech in the United States. Her travel authorization to Northern Ireland was revoked in light of Finland’s Supreme Court convicting her for espousing her Christian beliefs on marriage, ... read more

In the wake of U.S. President Donald Trump’s appointment of Dr. Heidi Overton, a medical doctor with a history of fighting for life, as head of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), pro-life groups are urging her to end mail-order abortion.Since January 2025 and up until now, Overton has worked as deputy assistant to the ... read more

Commissioner appointee Heidi Overton has criticized the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s chemical abortion policies in the past. She is now poised to be in a position to change them. Food and Drug Administration sign at its headquarters in Washington, D.C. | Credit: JHVEPhoto/Shutterstock In ... read more

Our Lady of Lourdes grotto, Lourdes, France The bishop of Lourdes announced that the SSPX no longer has authorization at the shrine to celebrate the Mass or the sacraments, although individuals are free to come and pray privately. ... read more

Courtesy photos L to R: These statues of St. Florian and St. Michael will remain off the 120,000-square-foot public safety building of Quincy, Massachusetts, the state’s highest court ruled Aug. 20, 2026. The case heads back to a lower state court — and potentially to the U.S. Supreme Court. ... read more

The bishop of Tarbes and Lourdes in France, Jean-Marc Micas, has revoked the authorization for priests of the Society of St. Pius X (SSPX) to celebrate Mass or the sacraments at the Lourdes Shrine.In an Aug. 13 statement, the French prelate explained that his decision is based on the Vatican decree of excommunication declaring the ... read more

The bishop of Lourdes announced that the SSPX no longer has authorization at the shrine to celebrate the Mass or the sacraments, although individuals are free to come and pray privately. Lourdes grotto in France. | Credit: Christian Pablo Inglize/Shutterstock The bishop of Tarbes and ... read more

A bill has been introduced in the Colombian Congress to ban surrogacy, commonly referred to as "rent-a-womb,” in order to curb "the reproductive exploitation of women and prevent children from being turned into objects of a transaction."The bill’s explanatory statement notes that the initiative responds to calls from the Constitutional Court, which has urged Congress ... read more

The bill would penalize all parties involved except the woman carrying the baby, who would be considered the legal mother. Members of the Colombian Congress with activist Olivia Maurel during the filing of the bill to ban surrogacy. | Credit: Press Office of Representative Luis Miguel López Aristizábal ... read more

Titian, “The Annunciation,” ca. 1535, Scuola Grande di San Rocco, Venice, Italy COMMENTARY: The Annunciation shows us that holiness is our mission — and that the path to holiness is the path to true freedom. ... read more

HO, Ghana — The Diocese of Ho in Ghana has restored the use of holy water, handshakes during the sign of peace, and reception of Communion on the tongue. The diocese has also urged continued vigilance during liturgical celebrations.In an Aug. 17 statement, Bishop Emmanuel Kofi Fianu said the remaining restrictions introduced during the COVID-19 ... read more

Bishop Emmanuel Kofi Fianu said the remaining restrictions introduced during the COVID-19 pandemic are now lifted because health authorities have not issued new cautions. Bishop Emmanuel Kofi Fianu of the Diocese of Ho in Ghana announced Aug. 17, 2026, that the remaining COVID-19 restrictions put in place for liturgies have ... read more