Vatican says close to 3 million people saw Pope Leo at the Vatican in 2025 January 1, 2026By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service Filed Under: Feature, Jubilee 2025, News, Vatican, World News Close to 3 million pilgrims and visitors attended audiences, liturgies or meetings at the Vatican with Pope Leo XIV from the time of his election in May through December, according to the Prefecture of the Papal Household.
Most popular stories and commentaries of 2025 on CatholicReview.org January 1, 2026By Catholic Review Staff Catholic Review Filed Under: Feature, Journalism, Local News, News Check out the most-read local stories and commentaries on CatholicReview.org for 2025.
Artist’s ‘Magnificat’ has brought joy, hope to Jubilee pilgrims in Diocese of St. Cloud January 1, 2026By Dianne Towalski The Central Minnesota Catholic Filed Under: Jubilee 2025, News, World News “The Magnificat,” one of Santer’s early commissions, greets visitors to Catholic United Financial’s St. Cloud branch office as part of CUF’s sponsorship of the Diocese of St. Cloud’s “Jubilee Passport: Pilgrims of Hope” project. The painting depicts Mary holding up her infant son.
Take time to review the past year with God, pope suggests December 31, 2025By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service Filed Under: Feature, Jubilee 2025, News, Vatican, World News Before the final countdown to the New Year, Christians should take a moment to remember all God’s blessings of the past year and to reflect honestly on how they responded to those graces, Pope Leo XIV said.
Catholic governor signs historic personhood law for the unborn in Puerto Rico December 31, 2025By Marietha Góngora V. OSV News Filed Under: News, Respect Life, World News On Dec. 21, Puerto Rico’s Gov. Jenniffer González-Colón approved Law 183-2025, which amends the Civil Code of Puerto Rico and recognizes the unborn child or “nasciturus” — a Latin legal term referring to “conceived but not born” — as a natural person from conception.
Dispensation in Columbus Diocese for those who fear immigration crackdown pursuit December 31, 2025By Simone Orendain OSV News Filed Under: Immigration and Migration, News, World News Bishop Earl K. Fernandes of Columbus, Ohio, has granted a dispensation from Mass on Sundays and holy days of obligation to Catholics without authorization to stay in the United States, as well as those who “reasonably fear” being pursued in the ongoing immigration crackdown across the country.
Priest gets kidney from principal — and love, support, prayers from parishes, students December 31, 2025By Katie Zakrzewski Arkansas Catholic Filed Under: Health Care, News, World News It’s significantly more likely for family members and relatives to be a match than someone unrelated to you. A match like Father Torres and Whisnant’s match is rare but still medically possible.
India: Christmas celebrations disturbed or canceled over Hindu nationalist violence December 30, 2025By OSV News OSV News Filed Under: News, Religious Freedom, World News Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Christmas visit to a Protestant cathedral in New Delhi has drawn renewed criticism from Christian leaders, who say symbolic gestures are no substitute for action amid rising anti-Christian violence.
Walking for peace in Baltimore, naming the dead December 30, 2025By Katie V. Jones Catholic Review Filed Under: Feature, Gun Violence, Local News, News Participants gathered on a cold, windy night at St. Joseph’s Monastery Church and processed to My Brother’s Keeper, a Catholic Charities program on Frederick Avenue that provides support services for men and women. Along the route, the names – or, when identities were unknown, the sex – of Baltimore’s homicide victims were read aloud.
Vatican agency says 17 church workers murdered in 2025 December 30, 2025By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service Filed Under: Missions, News, Vatican, World News Seventeen Catholic priests, sisters, seminarians and lay workers were murdered in 2025, according to Fides, the Vatican’s missionary news agency.
U.S. bishops underscore virtue of hope as 2025 Jubilee Year closes in dioceses December 30, 2025By Maria Wiering OSV News Filed Under: Bishops, Jubilee 2025, News, World News Amid poinsettias and sparkling Christmas trees, Archbishop Bernard A. Hebda of St. Paul and Minneapolis told Catholics gathered Dec. 28 at the Cathedral of St. Paul that the promise of the 2025 Jubilee of Hope did not disappoint, as the church focused on mercy and conversion.
Political authority should embody humility, honesty, sharing, pope says December 29, 2025By Carol Glatz Catholic News Service Filed Under: News, Vatican, World News All power must be built on responsibility and service, Pope Leo XIV told local government leaders.
