Catholic News from Around the World

• US strikes on Iran said to be paused amid diplomatic push

  International media reports that the U.S. military has paused strikes on Iran, however the reasons remain unclear.

  

• Santa Mónica: A journey of hope for those facing addiction

  What began as a prayer group for mothers who were worried about their children became a foundation that accompanies young people and families affected by addiction in Tierra del Fuego.

  …

  
• Pope to host concert for peace with children from crisis-affected countries

  An international choir of children and young people from crisis-affected parts of the world will come together with Pope Leo XIV and Andrea Bocelli to dedicate time to praying for peace at Borgo…

  
• Synod publishes ‘Recollecting’ resource for 2027 local Church assemblies

  The General Secretariat of the Synod offers Bishops and diocesan synodal teams practical guidance for evaluation Assemblies to be held in the first half of 2027.

  
• Archbishop of Berlin condemns hate crime in German capital

  After a minivan drove at high speed into a crowd at an event in Berlin, the local Church, German leaders, and EU authorities are expressing their opposition to hatred and calling for the defense…

  
• Old age: 'not a burden to manage, but a gift to cherish'

  On the occasion of the Sixth World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly, held yesterday on the feast of 'Jesus' grandparents' Saints Joachim and Anne, Vatican News speaks with Vittorio Scelzo, h…

  
• AMECEA Bishops commit to a four-year pastoral priority plan for young people in the region

  The Bishops of the Association of Member Episcopal Conferences in Eastern Africa (AMECEA) have pledged to make young people the Church's shared pastoral priority for the next four years, while c…

  
• Pope Leo XIV prays for victims of wildfires in Europe

  Pope Leo XIV expresses closeness to those affected by wildfires in France and Spain and calls for prayers for victims and emergency responders. He also recalls the Sixth World Day for Grandparen…

  

• Catholic book clubs: Tips for building community and growing in faith

  Two leaders of Catholic book clubs share their experiences about what makes a good club.

  
• Research shows Catholic youth ministers are experiencing more complex roles

  A new report found that, overall, younger generations of pastoral leaders have greater concerns about ministry demands today.

  
• Major restoration in Minneapolis aims to renew ‘every square inch’ of country’s oldest basilica

  The massive church was dedicated in 1915 and became the first basilica in the United States when it was designated as such by Pope Pius XI in 1926.

  
• Hidden for 200 years, vast Baroque murals rediscovered in Vilnius’ St. John’s Church

  Researchers confirmed more than 2,000 square meters — around half an acre — of original 18th-century murals survive beneath later paint in the church at the heart of Vilnius University.

  
• Sedevacantist Scottish monks perform illicit consecration of bishop in spite of warnings of schism

  The Sons of the Most Holy Redeemer in May announced their rejection of the Second Vatican Council and the popes that have come since.

  
• New bill would protect mothers with surrogacy contracts from forced abortions

  Here is a roundup of recent pro-life and abortion-related news.

  
• Pope Leo XIV appoints Lebanese-born archbishop as permanent observer to United Nations

  Archbishop Christophe-Zakhia El-Kassis previously served as apostolic nuncio to the United Arab Emirates and Yemen.

  
• Catholic professor discusses Pope Leo’s peace efforts after Vatican’s nuclear weapon, AI conference

  The pope has continued to advocate for peace-building and has warned against nuclear weapons and AI being integrated into the military.

  

• Scavi Special

  Welcome to Vatican insider on a special weekend – special for me as I’m spending it in Castelgandolfo where, among other things, I intend to be at the Angelus on Sunday with Pope Leo who will b…

  
• Castelgondolfo

  I have been personally filled with joy since learning that Pope Leo will be spending some vacation time in the historic Apostolic Palace of Castelgandolfo, the beautiful building constructed many c…

  
• Best of Vatican Observatory

  Today, we revisit a piece Joan did on the Vatican Observatory. Enjoy the show!

  
• St Agnes, Palliums and Baby Lambs

  Welcome to Vatican Insider on another scorcher of a weekend in Italy and throughout Europe with temps in many places hitting triple digits. Yesterday on my blog, Joan’s Rome, I posted some links …

  
• Vatican Insider 053026 Frank and Mary Frost Teilhard de Chardin pt 1

  It was a very big and important week here, especially with the presentation on Monday May 25 of Pope Leo’s first encyclical Magnifica humanitas. I’ll look at that, of course, but now just a lin…

  
• Ashley and John Noronha pts 1 & 2

  Anyone in Rome with even a remote link to the Church – people working in the Vatican, the Roman Curia, our seminary here in Rome, etc – will have at some point crossed paths with Ashley and Joh…

  
• A SWISS GUARD, AN MBA, CATHOLIC SOCIAL TEACHING

  Welcome to Vatican Insider at an exciting time for Pope Leo as we follow him in Africa on his third international apostolic trip, traveling in Algeria, Cameroon, Angola and Equatorial Guinea. He re…

  
• A PILGRIMAGE WITH THE VIA LUCIS

  This week, in what is normally the interview segment of Vatican Insider, I bring you on a pilgrimage with the Via Lucis! After the news segment, stay tuned for the special story about the Via Lucis…

  

• Catholic book clubs: Tips for building community and growing in faith

  Two leaders of Catholic book clubs share their experiences about what makes a good club.

  
• Research shows Catholic youth ministers are experiencing more complex roles

  A new report found that, overall, younger generations of pastoral leaders have greater concerns about ministry demands today.

  
• Pope Leo XIV urges halt to Mideast attacks, return to diplomacy

  The pontiff also reflected on the kingdom of God as a treasure that enlarges life and unites people of different backgrounds in Christ.

  
• Major restoration in Minneapolis aims to renew ‘every square inch’ of country’s oldest basilica

  The massive church was dedicated in 1915 and became the first basilica in the United States when it was designated as such by Pope Pius XI in 1926.

  
• Hidden for 200 years, vast Baroque murals rediscovered in Vilnius’ St. John’s Church

  Researchers confirmed more than 2,000 square meters — around half an acre — of original 18th-century murals survive beneath later paint in the church at the heart of Vilnius University.

  
• Sedevacantist Scottish monks perform illicit consecration of bishop in spite of warnings of schism

  The Sons of the Most Holy Redeemer in May announced their rejection of the Second Vatican Council and the popes that have come since.

  
• New bill would protect mothers with surrogacy contracts from forced abortions

  Here is a roundup of recent pro-life and abortion-related news.

  
• Pope Leo XIV appoints Lebanese-born archbishop as permanent observer to United Nations

  Archbishop Christophe-Zakhia El-Kassis previously served as apostolic nuncio to the United Arab Emirates and Yemen.

  

• Martha is a saint, despite being rebuked by Jesus

  In the Gospels, Martha isn’t given the most positive profile. She does all that she can for Jesus, and somehow is “rebuked” for it? What’s really happening? First, we nee…

• The one-second gesture that defines your whole life

  He has put his seal upon us. (2 Corinthians 1:22) I make a certain mistake rather frequently. On Sundays, when I walk into church, I am easily preoccupied with final preparations for Mass. I sig…

• As Europe burns, these are the patron saints we need now

  As devastating wildfires continue to sweep across parts of Europe, hundreds of thousands of people have been forced to flee their homes, while emergency services work around the clock to contain…

• When your child dreads going back to school

  Towards the end of every summer, there comes a moment when parents tentatively begin mentioning school again. It might be while sorting through drawers to see whether last year’s uniform s…

• The five words Pope Leo wants older people to hear

  Growing older isn’t always easy to talk about. We celebrate birthdays, joke about getting older, congratulate people on retirement and then, almost without noticing, we start treating late…

• Finding freedom in a burnt Cadillac

  “Do you reject sin, so as to live in the freedom of God’s children?” asks the priest. “I do,” responds the congregation renewing their baptismal promises. “I don’t,” I said as a …

• You don’t have to be an extrovert to be likable

  I’ve been on countless youth group trips, work mixers, and group retreats in my time and can say with confidence that the part I dread is when the host inevitably instructs us to split up for …

• Can we learn to grasp what truly matters? Pope’s thoughts

  “While the consumer culture influences our tastes, constantly creating new needs only to sell us solutions that never satisfy, and that sometimes even poison the heart, we must learn to gr…

Catholic News from Around the World