Anti-trafficking advocates cite aid cuts, immigration crackdowns as key challenges January 13, 2026By Gina Christian OSV News Filed Under: Child & Youth Protection, News, World News As the U.S. marked its annual observance of National Human Trafficking Awareness Day Jan. 11, anti-trafficking advocates told OSV News their work is facing challenges due to funding downturns and fears of reprisal amid the Trump administration’s immigration crackdowns.
New papal staff highlights Christ’s victory over death, papal liturgies office says January 13, 2026By Junno Arocho Esteves OSV News Filed Under: News, Vatican, World News, Worship & Sacraments While Catholics have been accustomed to the famed silver papal staff featuring the suffering of Christ crucified and used by the pontiffs for decades, a new staff, or crosier, used by Pope Leo XIV, emphasized the victory of the risen Christ over death.
Trump scheduled to meet with U.S. bishops’ president at White House January 12, 2026By Kate Scanlon OSV News Filed Under: Bishops, Feature, News, World News President Donald Trump was scheduled to meet with Archbishop Paul S. Coakley of Oklahoma City, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, Jan. 12, according to the White House schedule.
Venezuelan Nobel laureate Machado asks pope for help in freeing political prisoners January 12, 2026By Junno Arocho Esteves OSV News Filed Under: Conflict in the Caribbean, News, Vatican, World News Venezuelan opposition leader and Nobel laureate María Corina Machado asked for Pope Leo XIV’s help in securing the release of political prisoners in the country following the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.
Parents can’t wait for children to choose baptism, says pope, baptizing 20 infants in Sistine Chapel January 12, 2026By Paulina Guzik OSV News Filed Under: News, Vatican, World News, Worship & Sacraments Just as we wouldn’t leave newborns without clothes or food, we cannot leave them without faith and baptism, Pope Leo XIV told parents of children he baptized in the splendor and beauty of the Sistine Chapel Jan. 11.
Church leaders must listen to abuse victims, those who suffer, pope tells cardinals January 12, 2026By Paulina Guzik OSV News Filed Under: Child & Youth Protection, News, Vatican, World News Pope Leo XIV strongly condemned the Church’s failure to welcome survivors of sexual abuse, calling it a “scandal” that deepens their suffering, even though the issue was not a main topic at the Jan. 7-8 extraordinary consistory in Rome.
Pope embraces youth of Rome, tells them setting world ablaze requires a burning heart January 12, 2026By Paulina Guzik OSV News Filed Under: News, Vatican, World News, Youth Ministry Pope Leo XIV embraced the youth of Rome — both literally and with his words — during a Jan. 10 meeting with the young people of the Diocese of Rome, telling them to choose real relationships over digital isolation.
Catholic leaders urge pilgrimage to site of Jesus’ baptism in Jordan January 11, 2026By Dale Gavlak OSV News Filed Under: News, World News Catholic clergy representing the Latin Church as well as Greek Catholics, Maronites, Chaldeans, Syriacs and Armenians gathered, issuing a call for pilgrims worldwide to visit Jordan and experience the baptism site for themselves, as one of Christianity’s most important and revered places.
Pope embarks on synodal journey with cardinals to better listen to the world January 10, 2026By Carol Glatz Catholic News Service Filed Under: Feature, News, Vatican, World News Pope Leo XIV and members of his College of Cardinals have begun what is a kind of synodal journey together to grow in communion and discern together “what the Lord is asking of us for the good of his people.”
Trump’s order and Pope Leo’s vision for regulating AI: Can they converge? January 10, 2026By Kimberly Heatherington OSV News Filed Under: News, World News Since the explosion of generative artificial intelligence began in the 2020s — with its ability to generate human-like text, realistic images, and convincing film — users and developers of AI have warned consistent regulatory guardrails are necessary to protect against documented harms, an issue of particular concern to Pope Leo XIV.
Pope Leo XIV to visit Spain this summer, with stops in Madrid, Barcelona and the Canary Islands January 10, 2026By OSV News OSV News Filed Under: News, Vatican, World News With the jubilee year now officially ended, the pope’s travel schedule is also expected to ramp up, with one trip especially dear to the pontiff just confirmed: a June visit to Madrid, Barcelona and the Canary Islands.
Polish students refuse to remove classroom crucifix when teacher reportedly asked them to do so January 9, 2026By Katarzyna Szalajko OSV News Filed Under: News, Religious Freedom, World News An alleged desecration of a crucifix at a primary school in northern Poland has triggered nationwide outrage in the predominantly Catholic country.
