Pope Leo praises ceasefire as ‘genuine hope,’ presses for dialogue, peace April 8, 2026By Josephine Peterson Catholic News Service Filed Under: Conflict in the Middle East, Feature, News, Vatican, World News Pope Leo XIV welcomed the newly announced ceasefire in the Middle East as “a sign of genuine hope” after what he described as “hours of extreme tension,” while urging a return to negotiations and calling the faithful to prayer.
‘In this dark hour of history,’ do not shy away from your mission, pope says April 2, 2026By Josephine Peterson Catholic News Service Filed Under: Easter, Feature, News, Vatican, World News Pope Leo XIV urged Catholics to reject comfort, power and domination and instead embrace a mission rooted in self-giving love, even when it requires risk, vulnerability and suffering.
All Catholics share in Church’s mission, not just clergy, pope says April 1, 2026By Josephine Peterson Catholic News Service Filed Under: Feature, News, Vatican, World News Laypeople are not passive members but active participants in the Church’s mission, called to live and spread the Gospel in everyday life, Pope Leo XIV said.
‘Lay down your weapons,” pope says in Palm Sunday call for peace March 30, 2026By Josephine Peterson Catholic News Service Filed Under: Conflict in the Middle East, News, Vatican, World News Marking the start of Holy Week, Pope Leo XIV used his first Palm Sunday Mass to issue a forceful plea for peace, urging an end to war as he reflected on Christ’s Passion.
Communion of faithful, not just clergy, shares role in safeguarding faith, pope says March 18, 2026By Josephine Peterson Catholic News Service Filed Under: News, Vatican, World News All baptized Christians share in the Church’s mission and, guided by the Holy Spirit, are fit for renewing and building up the Church, Pope Leo XIV said at his weekly general audience.
Church’s unity comes from faith in Christ and from love, pope says March 11, 2026By Josephine Peterson Catholic News Service Filed Under: Conflict in the Middle East, Feature, News, Vatican, World News The Catholic Church is made up of diverse people who are united by their faith in Christ and are called to welcome all of humanity, Pope Leo XIV said during his weekly general audience.
Visitor breath, sweat and climate change prompt work on Sistine Chapel masterpiece March 8, 2026By Josephine Peterson Catholic News Service Filed Under: Arts & Culture, News, Vatican, World News hen millions of visitors flock to the Sistine Chapel each year, their seemingly invisible breath and sweat are slowly leaving a mark on this Renaissance masterpiece, according to Vatican Museums officials.
Church is holy by Christ’s presence, not human perfection, pope says March 4, 2026By Josephine Peterson Catholic News Service Filed Under: News, Vatican, World News The Catholic Church is both a community made up of fragile and limited human beings and a divine reality, Pope Leo XIV said at his weekly general audience.
Bones of St. Francis draw hundreds of thousands of pilgrims February 27, 2026By Josephine Peterson OSV News Filed Under: Feature, News, Saints, World News Eight hundred years after his death, the bones of St. Francis of Assisi have been placed on public display for the first extended public viewing in history, drawing hundreds of thousands of pilgrims to the hilltop town.
From Foreheads to Crowns: How Ash Wednesday looks different worldwide February 17, 2026By Josephine Peterson Catholic News Service Filed Under: Lent, News, World News, Worship & Sacraments Catholics going to Mass on Ash Wednesday will leave church marked, but whether the ashes appear as a bold cross on the forehead or sprinkled atop the head depends largely on where in the world they worship.
Pope concerned about lack of progress on protecting children February 5, 2026By Josephine Peterson Catholic News Service Filed Under: Child & Youth Protection, Feature, News, Vatican, World News The world continues to fall short of protecting and caring for its children, leaving them with few opportunities to succeed and at greater risk of suffering abuse, Pope Leo XIV said in a speech Feb. 5.
Scripture is intended to speak to believers ‘in every age,’ pope says February 4, 2026By Josephine Peterson Catholic News Service Filed Under: Bible, News, Vatican, World News Pope Leo XIV said Scripture is meant to speak directly to believers in today’s world, emphasizing that the Bible is the word of God expressed through human authors during his weekly general audience.
