Sydney Archdiocese welcomes record numbers at Rite of Election February 25, 2026By Junno Arocho Esteves OSV News Filed Under: Evangelization, News, World News The Catholic Archdiocese of Sydney said it welcomed a record number of catechumens and candidates during the annual Rite of Election at St. Mary’s Cathedral.
German bishops’ conference elects proponent of controversial Synodal Way as president February 24, 2026By Junno Arocho Esteves OSV News Filed Under: Bishops, News, World News The German bishops’ conference announced that it has elected Bishop Heiner Wilmer of Hildesheim as its next president.
At Curia retreat, Bishop Varden warns of Gospel’s use ‘as a weapon in culture wars’ February 23, 2026By Junno Arocho Esteves OSV News Filed Under: Lent, News, Vatican, World News The Lenten season is a reminder that Christians are called to bear witness to Christ through authentic witness, not self-righteous indignation, Norwegian Trappist Bishop Erik Varden told the pope and Vatican officials.
Bishops urge prudence, prayer, invoke Guadalupe’s protection as violence erupts in Mexico February 23, 2026By Junno Arocho Esteves OSV News Filed Under: News, World News Mexican bishops called on the faithful to follow safety protocols as violence broke out in several states following the military’s killing of a powerful cartel boss.
Pope to Legionaries of Christ: Authority in religious life is not ‘domination’ February 19, 2026By Junno Arocho Esteves OSV News Filed Under: Child & Youth Protection, News, Vatican, World News Pope Leo XIV reminded members of the Legionaries of Christ that exercising governance and authority is meant as a service and not as a means to control others.
U.S.-led Board of Peace a ‘colonialist operation,’ Cardinal Pizzaballa says February 17, 2026By Junno Arocho Esteves OSV News Filed Under: Conflict in the Middle East, News, Vatican, World News Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Latin patriarch of Jerusalem, strongly criticized the U.S.-led Board of Peace, an international body chaired by President Donald Trump to oversee the governance and reconstruction of Gaza.
Catechist, pregnant wife among kidnapped in latest anti-Christian attacks in Nigeria February 13, 2026By Junno Arocho Esteves OSV News Filed Under: News, Religious Freedom, World News Several gunmen abducted 32 people in Nigeria’s Kaduna state, including a catechist and his pregnant wife, in an attack that has increased fears of Christians in the country who have been targeted over several weeks.
European bishops appeal for unity, warn against ‘idolatry’ of nationalism February 13, 2026By Junno Arocho Esteves OSV News Filed Under: Bishops, News, World News The presidents of the Italian, French, German and Polish bishops’ conferences issued a joint appeal calling for European unity in the face of continued global instability and to draw from the lessons of the past to prevent future catastrophes.
Cuban bishops postpone ‘ad limina’ visit amid fuel shortage crisis February 12, 2026By Junno Arocho Esteves OSV News Filed Under: Conflict in the Caribbean, News, Vatican, World News The bishops of Cuba have postponed their planned “ad limina” visit to Rome after government authorities announced that airlines could no longer refuel due to U.S. tariff threats against countries supplying oil to the island nation.
Assisi relic arrives in Southern Arabian vicariate February 11, 2026By Junno Arocho Esteves OSV News Filed Under: News, Saints, World News A stone from the Porziuncola, the small church in Italy where St. Francis of Assisi founded the Franciscan order and where he died 800 years ago, arrived in the Arabian Peninsula.
Vatican aid a sign of Pope Leo’s closeness to suffering Ukrainians, papal almoner says February 10, 2026By Junno Arocho Esteves OSV News Filed Under: Feature, News, Vatican, War in Ukraine, World News As a relentless winter descends upon wartorn Ukraine with temperatures dropping to 5 degrees Fahrenheit, the Holy See has intensified its humanitarian response to the nation’s energy and health crises.
Jimmy Lai’s daughter hopes for ‘political solution’ after devastating sentence February 10, 2026By Junno Arocho Esteves OSV News Filed Under: Journalism, News, Religious Freedom, World News The daughter of imprisoned media entrepreneur and pro-democracy advocate Jimmy Lai said that while the 20-year sentence he was given was heartbreaking, her family, and especially her father, still trusts in “divine providence” for a solution.
