On U.S. Independence Day, Pope Leo XIV honors migrants in Lampedusa July 4, 2026By Josephine Peterson Catholic News Service Filed Under: America's 250th anniversary, Immigration and Migration, News, Vatican, World News For more than 30 years, Dr. Pietro Bartolo said he has examined more than 350,000 people and performed postmortem examinations on those who died making the crossing to Lampedusa, where migrants rescued from the Mediterranean first arrived.
Happy 250th to the USA, climbing the Empire State Building, a Cookie Monster geode & more (7 Quick Takes) July 4, 2026By Rita Buettner Catholic Review Filed Under: Blog, Commentary, Open Window July is my favorite month of the year. It’s my birthday month, so that adds to the joy, but July is also the heart of the summer—and summertime is the best.
Eucharist drew more than a million, including saints, to Philadelphia in bicentennial year July 3, 2026By Gina Christian OSV News Filed Under: America's 250th anniversary, Feature, News, World News The nation’s 250th anniversary and the conclusion of the 2026 National Eucharistic Pilgrimage in Philadelphia July 5 evoke memories of a major Eucharistic gathering held in that city the same year the U.S. marked its bicentennial.
Letter of His Holiness Pope Leo XIV on the 250th Anniversary of the Founding of the United States of America July 3, 2026By Pope Leo XIV OSV News Filed Under: America's 250th anniversary, Feature, News, Vatican, World News I extend my heartfelt congratulations to all Americans on the occasion of the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. This semiquincentennial marks that defining moment in the history of the United States of America, July 4, 1776, that gave enduring voice to the ideals of liberty, equality, the pursuit of happiness, justice and democratic self-government.
After the Vatican declares SSPX in formal schism, what’s next for the Church? July 3, 2026By Kimberly Heatherington OSV News Filed Under: Feature, News, Vatican, World News Following the July 1 illicit consecration of four bishops at its seminary in Écône, Switzerland, by the now-schismatic traditionalist Society of St. Pius X — an action without papal approval that incurred automatic excommunication — that question isn’t simply one of Church politics.
Vatican declares SSPX in schism. What does it mean? July 2, 2026By Paulina Guzik OSV News Filed Under: Feature, News, Vatican, World News The Vatican has declared the Society of St. Pius X to be “in schism” after the traditionalist group consecrated four bishops without the papal mandate, marking the most serious rupture in the Church since Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre’s unauthorized episcopal consecrations in 1988.
Keeping a republic: a 250th birthday meditation July 2, 2026By George Weigel Syndicated Columnist Filed Under: America's 250th anniversary, Commentary, The Catholic Difference As we mark the national semiquincentennial on July 4, we might well reflect on Benjamin Franklin’s answer to Elizabeth Willing Powel, when the elderly sage left the Constitutional Convention in 1787 and the Philadelphia matron demanded, “Well, Dr. Franklin, what have we got, a republic, or a monarchy?”
The Carrolls of America: Young men, educated in France, influenced a new nation July 2, 2026By Christopher Gunty Catholic Review Filed Under: America's 250th anniversary, Feature, Local News, News Unable to receive a Catholic education in the British colonies in North America, three young men from wealthy families were sent to Saint-Omer, France, to study at the College of the English Jesuits.
Two religious sisters from Archdiocese of Baltimore helped shape America July 2, 2026By Catholic Review Staff Catholic Review Filed Under: America's 250th anniversary, Feature, Local News, News St. Elizabeth Ann Seton and Venerable Mother Mary Lange were towering figures in the history of the Archdiocese of Baltimore. Working in the early decades of the republic, both women recognized unmet needs in American society and responded by creating institutions that would endure long after their lifetimes.
Pope Leo overhauls Vatican finance watchdog, revises Rome vicariate reforms in busy day of decrees July 1, 2026By Courtney Mares OSV News Filed Under: Feature, News, Vatican, World News Pope Leo XIV spent what is traditionally his weekly day off on Tuesday issuing a flurry of legislation and appointments June 30, overhauling the Vatican’s financial watchdog agency, revising the governing structure of the Vicariate of Rome and making several appointments in the Roman Curia.
Pope Leo to address National Eucharistic Pilgrimage during closing Mass in Philadelphia July 1, 2026By Maria Wiering OSV News Filed Under: Feature, News, World News The National Eucharistic Pilgrimage ends July 5 with a closing Mass, procession and celebration in Philadelphia, which will begin with a special video message from Pope Leo XIV.
Vance calls the Vatican’s views on immigration ‘troubling’ July 1, 2026By Kate Scanlon OSV News Filed Under: Feature, Immigration and Migration, News, World News Vice President JD Vance said during a June 30 interview that he sees some of the Vatican’s views on immigration as “troubling.”
