Pope Francis’ 2024: Turning 88, praying for peace, presiding over synod December 28, 2024By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service Filed Under: Feature, News, Vatican, World News Pope Francis, who celebrated his 88th birthday Dec. 17, mostly uses a wheelchair instead of walking and presides over rather than concelebrates most public liturgies. Still, he had a 2024 full of important engagements, the longest trip of his papacy and major preparations for the Holy Year 2025, which he is set to open Dec. 24.
Report: Most US executions in 2024 come down to 4 states December 28, 2024By Kate Scanlon OSV News Filed Under: News, Respect Life, World News Just four states were responsible for three-quarters of the executions that took place in the U.S. in 2024, according to a new report by the Death Penalty Information Center.
A Tale of Two Gifts December 27, 2024By Rita Buettner Catholic Review Filed Under: Blog, Christmas, Commentary, Open Window The true gift of Christmas is always the same—love come down from heaven to earth, love that changes everything, the Son of God made man, come to show us how to live and how to love.
Don’t lose hope, pope says as he opens Holy Door at Rome prison December 27, 2024By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service Filed Under: Jubilee 2025, News, Vatican, World News Wearing red vestments for the feast of St. Stephen, the first Christian martyr, Pope Francis knocked on the door of the church in Rome’s Rebibbia prison complex and walked over its threshold.
God wants all people to be saved; he forgives all who repent, pope says December 27, 2024By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service Filed Under: Feature, News, Vatican, World News God wants to save each and every person, and Christians are called to give witness to that fact by praying even for people who have harmed them, Pope Francis said.
For Catholics in Nicaragua, the year has been ‘tragic on every level’ December 27, 2024By Junno Arocho Esteves Filed Under: News, Religious Freedom, World News For Latin American Catholics, December is an important month, not just in anticipation of the Christmas celebrations, but also for important Marian feast days, such as Our Lady of Guadalupe and the Immaculate Conception, that remain linked to their cultural history.
In 2024, state laws of interest to Catholics span abortion to IVF to immigration December 27, 2024By Kate Scanlon OSV News Filed Under: Feature, News, Respect Life, Supreme Court, World News State laws of interest to Catholics spanned policy areas from abortion to IVF to immigration in 2024. An expected ruling from the U.S. Supreme Court in 2025 could have an impact on state laws across the country banning certain types of medical or surgical gender reassignment procedures for minors who identify as transgender.
School Sisters of Notre Dame announce progress on sale of IND property for affordable housing December 27, 2024By Catholic Review Staff Catholic Review Filed Under: Feature, Local News, News, Schools The School Sisters of Notre Dame recently announced that they are making progress on the sale of the buildings that housed the Institute of Notre Dame in Baltimore, while also emphasizing their mission to continue to minister to the neighborhood surrounding the Aisquith Street property.
Living with Hope (and Butter on the Counter) December 26, 2024By Rita Buettner Catholic Review Filed Under: Blog, Commentary, Open Window I love making cookies, especially at Christmastime. But I can’t always find the time to bake. Sometimes in the morning as I look ahead at the day, I think maybe, just maybe, I’ll have time to make cookies today. So, I pull some butter out of the fridge and leave it to soften on the […]
Gaza: For humanitarian workers, civilians, 2024 proves to be year of suffering, loss December 26, 2024By Junno Arocho Esteves OSV News Filed Under: Conflict in the Middle East, Feature, News, World News With a ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon barely holding, as both sides accuse each other of violations, hopes for even a fragile peace seem impossible for those living and aiding people in Gaza.
Home viewing roundup: What’s available to stream and what’s on horizon December 26, 2024By John Mulderig OSV News Filed Under: Movie & Television Reviews Capsule reviews of theatrical movies available now for streaming or scheduled for broadcast on network or cable television as well as notes on TV programming for the same week.
Cardinal O’Malley devotes decades to making ‘present the merciful face of God’ December 26, 2024By Michael R. Heinlein OSV News Filed Under: Child & Youth Protection, News, Retirement, Vocations, World News Cardinal O’Malley, who was ordained a priest in the Order of Friars Minor Capuchin on Aug. 29, 1970, at the age of 26, has been a key figure at the highest levels of church governance in helping oversee reforms in the wake of the clergy sexual abuse crisis.
