Latin American organization calls for respecting religious life in Nicaragua
(OSV News) -- The largest organization of women and men religious in Latin America called for the "respect of life" of women and men religious in Nicaragua...
Read More
CLOSE
America's oldest Catholic newspaper
World News
Help purify, restore relationships, pope tells judges at Vatican tribunal
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Concern for the salvation of souls is what guides the work of church tribunals and the implementation of reforms regarding the marriage...
Read More
Excommunicated Bishop Williamson dies at 84
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Excommunicated traditionalist Bishop Richard N. Williamson died Jan. 29 in a hospital in Margate, England, at the age of 84 after...
Read More
Vatican office clarifies rules for transferred holy days of obligation
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- When a holy day of obligation falls on a Sunday and so is transferred to another day, the Catholic faithful are encouraged to attend...
Read More
At audience, pope talks about St. Joseph, comments on world events
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- St. Joseph is the perfect model of listening to the Lord and quietly putting his word and plan into action, Pope Francis said. "Joseph...
Read More
Morality of AI depends on human choices, Vatican says in new document
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- "Technological progress is part of God's plan for creation," the Vatican said, but people must take responsibility for using technologies...
Read More
Bishops across Europe remember Holocaust victims, urge world to fight rising antisemitism
(OSV News) -- Church leaders across Europe marked the 80th anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp with calls to remember...
Read More
Amid horrors of Holocaust, Polish Franciscan mother superior saved hundreds of Jewish children
WARSAW, Poland (OSV News) -- "I will not send away any Jewish child," assured Mother Matylda Getter, superior of the Warsaw province of the Congregation...
Read More
Peruvian Cardinal Cipriani rejects abuse allegations as 'completely false,' Vatican confirms sanctions still in place
ROME (OSV News) -- Peruvian Cardinal Juan Luis Cipriani, the first cardinal of Opus Dei, said Jan. 25 that abuse accusations made against him in a Spanish...
Read More
Catholics will accept a common date for Easter in East, West, pope says
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Celebrating the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, Pope Francis reaffirmed the Catholic Church's willingness to accept a proposal...
Read More
Bishop Álvarez gives first interview since exile as Nicaragua cancels another Catholic group
BUENOS AIRES (OSV News) -- Bishop Rolando Álvarez of Matagalpa, steadfast Nicaraguan church leader, gave his first interview since being exiled to...
Read More
Palestinian statehood is 'the only solution' to conflict, pope says
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- On the day a ceasefire deal between Hamas militants and Israel went into effect, Pope Francis said he hoped all Israeli and Palestinian...
Read More
As ceasefire starts, first Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners return home
JERUSALEM (OSV News) -- Starting at 4 p.m. on Jan. 19, crowds of Israelis arrived at what has become known as Hostages Square in the center of Tel Aviv...
Read More
Be not afraid, because God is always near, pope says
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- God tells Christians not to be afraid because he is always close, accompanying the faithful throughout their lives and through all...
Read More
AI is human creation that must be controlled by humans, pope says
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Artificial intelligence or any other technology that worsens inequality around the world and increases fake news should not be embraced...
Read More
Pilgrimages are 'safe,' Holy Land church leaders say, telling pilgrims: 'We're waiting for you'
(OSV News) -- Catholic leaders in the Holy Land called on Christian pilgrims to return to the region following the implementation of the long-awaited ceasefire...
Read More
Holy Year pilgrimage is chance to begin again, pope says
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- A holy year is an opportunity to start fresh with one's relationship with God and with other people, Pope Francis told thousands...
Read More
Vatican diplomats discuss paths toward peace in Middle East
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- The Vatican's top diplomat met with papal representatives to various Middle Eastern countries to discuss possible avenues toward...
Read More
Israel, Hamas reach ceasefire, hostage agreement, as Gaza Catholics rejoice
(OSV News) -- After more than a year of war and thousands killed or wounded, negotiators representing Israel and Hamas agreed to a ceasefire deal. A six-week...
Read More
Christian persecution on the rise worldwide, new report says
MALMÖ, Sweden (OSV News) -- A new report by Open Doors International said that more than 380 million Christians faced persecution and discrimination...
Read More
Cuba to release 553 prisoners for Jubilee at pope's request
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Taking up the spirit of the recently inaugurated Holy Year 2025, the Cuban government has announced the release of 553 people currently...
Read More
Week of Prayer for Christian Unity to focus on Creed
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- As Christian churches prepare to mark the 1,700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea, the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity will...
Read More
Pope looks back on his life, urges people to look to future with hope
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- While calling himself an "old man" and saying he never expected to be pope this long, Pope Francis said he still has dreams for the...
Read More
Divest from companies that exploit children, pope says
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- People and institutions can protect children by changing what they buy and what they invest in, Pope Francis said. "Fighting exploitation,...
Read More
Kidnapped Nigerian nuns released unconditionally, congregation says
(OSV News) -- Two Nigerian women religious who were kidnapped Jan. 7 as they returned home from a meeting in Ogboji, a town in Anambra state in Nigeria,...
Read More
Sister Clare Crockett, who lived 'exceptional, holy life,' begins road to sainthood as cause opens
(OSV News) -- Her wide smile and eyes beaming with joy are a signature of Sister Clare Crockett, a 33-year-old Northern Irish nun, who tragically died...
Read More
Pope appoints three US experts, two of them women, as dicastery members
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Pope Francis has named three U.S. experts -- two women and an abbot -- to be members of the Dicastery for Divine Worship and the...
Read More
Italian bishops say don't automatically exclude gay men from seminary
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- The Italian bishops' new program of priestly formation, approved by the Vatican, repeats a prohibition against admitting to the seminary...
Read More
U.S. sister killed in the Amazon honored at Rome 'new martyrs' shrine
ROME (CNS) -- "It's quite an honor for her to be here with the likes of St. Oscar Romero," Tom Stang said after a relic of his sister was placed on an...
Read More
Best gift a child can receive is faith, pope says at baptisms
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- When children are baptized, their parents and the church are giving them the greatest gift ever: the gift of faith, Pope Francis...
Read More
Chapel onboard historic Italian naval ship designated a Jubilee church
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- The Italian naval ship "Amerigo Vespucci," currently completing its global tour, has been designated a Jubilee church for the Holy...
Read More
Bishops call for Venezuelan vote to be respected
(OSV News) -- Venezuela's bishops called for the country's electoral decision to be respected on the eve of the Jan. 10 inauguration of President Nicolás...
Read More
Pope to diplomats: Sweep away 'clouds of war,' let 'winds of peace' blow
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- During the Holy Year 2025, the international community should strive "to overcome the logic of confrontation and embrace instead...
Read More
At age 116, religious sister from Brazil is the oldest person on the planet
PORTO ALEGRE, Brazil (OSV News) -- Teresian Sister Inah Canabarro Lucas from Brazil has become the world's oldest person, reaching 116 years and 210 days. She...
Read More
Pope condemns economy that 'does not respect life,' exploits children
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- While society is increasingly focused on pushing the limits of human achievement, it must not lose sight of its duty to protect the...
Read More
Spain's famed Camino wraps up the year with a record half million pilgrims
(OSV News) -- The boom in the number of pilgrims on Spain's famous El Camino de Santiago, or the Way of St. James, hit a new record of almost half a million...
Read More
St. Peter's Holy Door sees more than half million pilgrims in two weeks
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- More than half a million pilgrims crossed the threshold of the Holy Door of St. Peter's Basilica in the first two weeks after Pope...
Read More
Christ's birth brings light to a troubled world, pope says
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- In a troubled world, the birth of Christ reveals God's unwavering determination to draw all people to himself and illuminate even...
Read More
Pope names Consolata Missionary as the first woman dicastery prefect
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Pope Francis has appointed Consolata Missionary Sister Simona Brambilla to be the first woman to lead a Vatican dicastery, naming...
Read More
Spanish public television mocks the Sacred Heart of Jesus on New Year's Eve
MADRID (OSV News) -- The president of the Spanish bishops' conference, Archbishop Luis Argüello of Valladolid, reacted to Spanish public television's...
Read More
Catholic priest in Belarus convicted of treason, sentenced to 11 years in penal colony
MINSK, Belarus (OSV News) -- Father Henrykh Akalatovich, pastor of the Catholic parish in Valožyn, was sentenced to 11 years in a penal colony in...
Read More
