A Church at a crossroads: Spain’s Catholics look to Pope Leo for encouragement June 2, 2026By Paulina Guzik OSV News Filed Under: Feature, News, Vatican, World News As Pope Leo XIV prepares for his June 6-12 apostolic visit to Spain, Church leaders say he will encounter a Catholic community at a pivotal moment. While the number of Spaniards identifying as Catholic has declined in recent decades, many observers point to signs of renewed interest among young people.
First stop for Pope Leo in Spain will be center that gives royal treatment to homeless June 1, 2026By Paulina Guzik OSV News Filed Under: Feature, News, Vatican, World News A Caritas center called CEDIA 24 Horas Social Project is part of the social ministry of the Church of Madrid for those who are homeless and that’s where Pope Leo will head right after the meeting with the royals, diplomats and Spanish authorities — sending a clear message of priorities to Spanish society and the country’s politicians.
Pope Leo calls for ‘educational alliance’ on AI: Here are takeaways for parents, teachers May 26, 2026By Paulina Guzik OSV News Filed Under: AI, Feature, News, Vatican, World News Amid the rapid expansion of artificial intelligence and digital media, Pope Leo XIV is calling on families, schools and policymakers to forge an “educational alliance for the digital age” to protect the dignity and intellectual development of young people.
Catholics await word on Jimmy Lai as Trump meets Xi in Beijing May 14, 2026By Paulina Guzik OSV News Filed Under: Feature, News, Religious Freedom, World News While global issues of Iran, Taiwan, trade and AI are major topics dominating talks between U.S. President Donald Trump and his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping, at a two-day summit, Catholics around the world hope a major human rights issue is on the table — the freedom of Jimmy Lai, Catholic media entrepreneur and activist who has spent over 1,900 days in prison.
Israeli soldiers punished after desecration of Virgin Mary statue in Lebanon May 12, 2026By Paulina Guzik OSV News Filed Under: Conflict in the Middle East, Feature, News, World News An Israeli soldier has been sentenced to 21 days of military detention for placing a cigarette in the mouth of a statue of the Virgin Mary in southern Lebanon, while another soldier who photographed the act received a 14-day sentence, the Israeli army said May 11.
Leo XIV: A pope of order for chaotic times May 8, 2026By Paulina Guzik OSV News Filed Under: Feature, News, Vatican, World News Today, we know a lot more about Cardinal Robert Prevost turned Pope Leo XIV. A year after his first words to the world were “Peace be with you all,” he has emerged as a pope of order for times of global chaos.
Christian sites under attack in Holy Land as violence and displacement intensify May 4, 2026By Paulina Guzik OSV News Filed Under: Conflict in the Middle East, Feature, News, World News After May 2 news reports that Israeli bulldozers demolished Holy Savior Christian school in the village of Yaroun, in southern Lebanon, the Israeli Defense Forces said that while some damage was caused, they denied “demolishing” the site with bulldozers.
Jerusalem’s Holy Week embraced with silent prayer, intimate liturgies as war continues to escalate April 3, 2026By Paulina Guzik OSV News Filed Under: Conflict in the Middle East, Feature, News, World News Holy Week in the Holy Land is unfolding in unprecedented silence, as war-related restrictions have left sacred sites largely without the faithful.
Jerusalem Church leaders decry escalating war, urge peace efforts amid ‘deep darkness’ March 30, 2026By Paulina Guzik OSV News Filed Under: Conflict in the Middle East, News, World News On the threshold of Holy Week and amid the U.S. and Israel-Iran war gaining new fronts, and harvesting new victims daily, the Patriarchs and Heads of the Churches in Jerusalem issued an annual Easter message, calling the war an “expanding wreckage” and its timing a “deep darkness.”
Report shows Cardinal Wojtyla’s actions were ‘exemplary’ in abuse cases, refuting previous claims March 23, 2026By Paulina Guzik OSV News Filed Under: Child & Youth Protection, News, World News “Our research shows that Cardinal Karol Wojtyla did not transfer priests from parish to parish when he learned of their criminal activities, but he took quick action, and some of his decisions were above-standard for the time,” the March 13 report’s lead said.
Pope Leo: Death and pain caused by wars a scandal for entire human family March 23, 2026By Paulina Guzik OSV News Filed Under: Conflict in the Middle East, Feature, News, Vatican, World News As the U.S. and Israel-Iran war enters its fourth week, and amid a deep humanitarian crisis throughout the region, Pope Leo XIV appealed during his Sunday Angelus prayer March 22: “Persevere in prayer, so that hostilities may cease and paths of peace may finally open up, based on sincere dialogue and respect for the dignity of every human person.”
Custody of the Holy Land: Prayer continues at Holy Sepulchre amid ‘time of trial,’ restricted access March 23, 2026By Paulina Guzik OSV News Filed Under: Conflict in the Middle East, Easter, News, World News The Church of the Holy Sepulcher remains a place of continuous prayer despite restricted access to the faithful, according to a statement released March 21 by the Custody of the Holy Land, which also said uncertainty persists over upcoming Holy Week and Easter celebrations.
