Catholic leaders appeal to end Russia’s religious persecution in Ukraine April 15, 2026By Gina Christian OSV News Filed Under: Feature, News, Religious Freedom, War in Ukraine, World News Several prominent American Catholics have launched a petition calling for the end of Russia’s religious persecution in occupied areas of Ukraine.
Minnesota butter sculptor brings skills to NCEA convention, enshrines pope in the dairy staple April 14, 2026By Dianne Towalski OSV News Filed Under: Feature, News, Schools, World News Since 2020, Gerry Kulzer has created the butter sculptures of the Minnesota State Fair dairy princesses that Minnesotans are so familiar with. Hundreds of people line up to watch him create his masterpieces live during the fair.
Religious Liberty Commission holds final hearing in shadow of Christian backlash to Trump posts April 14, 2026By Kate Scanlon OSV News Filed Under: Feature, News, Religious Freedom, World News At the capstone hearing of the Department of Justice’s Religious Liberty Commission April 13, commissioners considered testimony from their seven hearings, signaling several areas for potential policy recommendations that they may include in their report to the president.
New Chaldean patriarch elected for Iraq amid pope’s calls he ‘should be’ a ‘father in faith’ April 14, 2026By Junno Arocho Esteves OSV News Filed Under: Feature, News, Vatican, World News Iraqi Archbishop Amel Shamon Nona, who until now led the Chaldean Eparchy of St. Thomas the Apostle of Australia and New Zealand, was elected patriarch of the Chaldean Catholic Church, succeeding Cardinal Louis Sako.
Trump draws backlash over Pope Leo rant, ‘deeply offensive’ image of him looking like Christ April 14, 2026By Gina Christian OSV News Filed Under: Feature, News, Vatican, World News Catholic bishops and lay leaders across the political spectrum are expressing their shock and disapproval following President Donald Trump’s online screed against Pope Leo XIV.
Need a guide for deeper prayer? Pope Leo recommends a letter by St. Augustine April 14, 2026By Courtney Mares OSV News Filed Under: Feature, News, Vatican, World News Pope Leo XIV shared some of his favorite spiritual reading recommendations on the papal flight to Algeria, pointing to a particular letter by St. Augustine that he said provides wonderful tips for how to deepen prayer.
Lebanese Christians mourn rising death toll as war shatters communities, hope April 13, 2026By Dale Gavlak OSV News Filed Under: Conflict in the Middle East, Feature, News, World News Lebanese Christians are reeling from the death and destruction wrought on their community, caught in the crossfire between Israel and Lebanon’s Iran-backed Hezbollah militia, a deadly side conflict in the U.S. and Israel-Iran war.
Pope Leo praises witness of Algeria’s Christian martyrs at meeting with local Catholics April 13, 2026By Courtney Mares OSV News Filed Under: Feature, News, Vatican, World News Pope Leo XIV honored the memory of Algeria’s Christian martyrs Monday evening, telling the country’s tiny Catholic community that the blood of those who died for their faith remains “a living seed that never ceases to bear fruit.”
Pope Leo responds to Trump: ‘Blessed are the peacemakers’ April 13, 2026By Courtney Mares OSV News Filed Under: Conflict in the Middle East, Feature, News, Vatican, World News Pope Leo XIV said April 13 he has “no fear” of President Donald Trump’s administration and responded to Trump’s criticism by telling journalists that his message to the U.S. president is “the message of the Gospel: Blessed are the peacemakers.”
US cardinals speak out against Iran war, mass deportations in 60 Minutes appearance April 13, 2026By Lauretta Brown OSV News Filed Under: Conflict in the Middle East, Feature, Immigration and Migration, News, Vatican, World News Three American cardinals voiced their concerns over the Iran war, mass deportations and more in an interview that aired April 12 on CBS’s “60 Minutes.”
Pope Leo arrives in Algeria on first-ever papal visit to the country April 13, 2026By Courtney Mares OSV News Filed Under: Feature, News, Vatican, World News Pope Leo XIV arrived in Algeria on the morning of April 13, becoming the first pope to make an apostolic journey to the North Africa nation, the first stop of the pope’s 11-day, four-country tour of Africa.
Trump lashes out at Pope Leo amid Iran war rebuke April 13, 2026By Kate Scanlon OSV News Filed Under: Conflict in the Middle East, Feature, News, Vatican, World News President Donald Trump lashed out at Pope Leo XIV on social media and in verbal remarks April 12, calling him “weak on crime” and “terrible for foreign policy,” as tensions escalate in the Mideast.
