After U.S. aid cuts, Middle East Caritas forced to reorganize but remains hopeful April 15, 2025By Dale Gavlak OSV News Filed Under: DOGE cuts, News, World News A prominent Catholic humanitarian agency in the Middle East has expressed concern over sudden cuts to U.S. financial assistance affecting its ministries aiding the displaced, refugees and the impoverished.
Pope orders renewal of academy that trains nuncios April 15, 2025By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service Filed Under: News, Vatican, World News Pope Francis has raised the status of the Vatican’s diplomatic academy to an institute of higher learning that will issue academic degrees while also strengthening its focus on evangelization.
Peru-based Catholic movement formally suppressed by the Vatican April 15, 2025By Justin McLellan Catholic News Service Filed Under: News, Vatican, World News Pope Francis has ordered the suppression of the Sodalitium Christianae Vitae, a Peru-based lay movement active across Latin America and the United States, and three related lay movements following decades of abuse allegations and internal investigations.
Despite improved health, pope picks cardinals to lead Holy Week liturgies April 15, 2025By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service Filed Under: Easter, Feature, News, Vatican, World News Pope Francis is going without supplemental oxygen for longer periods and is continuing therapy to recover his voice and to recover his physical strength, the Vatican press office said, but he also is increasing the number of private meetings he is holding with the heads of Vatican offices.
Catholic leaders, public officials condemn violence after attack on governor’s residence April 14, 2025By Kate Scanlon OSV News Filed Under: News, Religious Freedom, World News Catholic leaders and public officials condemned violence and called for peace after an alleged arson attack on the Pennsylvania governor’s mansion in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.
Vatican updates norms on donations for special Mass intentions April 14, 2025By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service Filed Under: News, Vatican, World News, Worship & Sacraments Catholic faithful do not “buy” Masses, but when a priest accepts an offering and promises to celebrate a Mass for that person’s loved one or other special intention he must do so, the Vatican said.
Nicaragua cracks down further on church during Holy Week April 14, 2025By David Agren OSV News Filed Under: News, Religious Freedom, World News Police and paramilitaries maintained a heavy presence outside the Nicaraguan Managua cathedral on Palm Sunday, ensuring celebrations occurred entirely on church property — and sending a not-so-subtle message of intimidation.
4,000 process in Jerusalem for Palm Sunday amid Israeli bombardment of Gaza April 14, 2025By Judith Sudilovsky OSV News Filed Under: Conflict in the Middle East, News, World News For the second year in a row, few foreign pilgrims were in attendance at the traditional Palm Sunday procession from the Mount of Olives into the Old City of Jerusalem due to the ongoing Israel-Hamas war in the Gaza Strip. But even the gray skies that threatened rain didn’t dampen the spirit of the 4,000 participants.
‘Nothing is sacred’: Religious leaders condemn Russia’s Palm Sunday attack on Ukraine April 14, 2025By Gina Christian OSV News Filed Under: Feature, News, War in Ukraine, World News Catholic and other religious leaders are condemning a Palm Sunday attack by Russia on a Ukrainian city that killed 34 — including two children — and injured 119.
Pope advances sainthood cause of famed Spanish architect, five others April 14, 2025By Carol Glatz Catholic News Service Filed Under: News, Saints, Vatican, World News Pope Francis advanced the sainthood causes of one woman and five men, including Antoni Gaudí, the Spanish architect who designed the Sagrada Familia Basilica in Barcelona, Spain.
Joyce inaugurated as Mount St. Mary’s president; promises continued faith, excellence April 14, 2025By Nolan Wilkinson Courtesy The Frederick News-Post Filed Under: Colleges, Feature, Local News, News Dr. Gerard “Jerry” Joyce was officially inaugurated as president of Mount St. Mary’s University in an April 12 ceremony to the cheers of faculty, staff and students.
‘The heart is where things are pulled together’: Bishop Flores on pope’s latest encyclical April 14, 2025By Maria Wiering OSV News Filed Under: Bishops, Feature, News, World News The heart is where a person can integrate his or her life amid a fragmented world, and the source of a heart’s mending and life is “the mystery of the heart of Christ,” said Bishop Daniel E. Flores of Brownsville, Texas, while speaking April 9 about Pope Francis’ most recent encyclical, “Dilexit Nos,” or “He loved us.”
