Pope visits U.S. embassy July 4 for discussion on peace and freedom, with a side of apple pie July 5, 2026By OSV News OSV News Filed Under: America's 250th anniversary, Feature, News, Vatican, World News After spending the morning praying for migrants on the island of Lampedusa, Italy, Pope Leo XIV celebrated the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence with the U.S. Ambassador to the Holy See and his family.
Mass of Thanksgiving for America’s 250th anniversary held at National Shrine in Washington July 5, 2026By Kurt Jensen OSV News Filed Under: America's 250th anniversary, Feature, News, World News Independence Day is a reminder that Americans’ “inalienable rights” mentioned in the Declaration of Independence — life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness — are gifts from God, Cardinal Donald W. Wuerl said July 4 in the nation’s capital.
Pope Leo to pilgrims: ‘Strong eucharistic heritage of US must continue as source of renewal, unity’ July 5, 2026By Gina Christian OSV News Filed Under: America's 250th anniversary, Eucharist, Feature, News, Vatican, World News Participants in the 2026 National Eucharistic Pilgrimage carry on the “great legacy of faith” that has crucially shaped the U.S., now marking its 250th anniversary, said Pope Leo XIV in a message to those gathered for the pilgrimage’s concluding liturgy in Philadelphia.
In Independence Day Mass, Archbishop Lori calls for continued witness to human dignity July 5, 2026By Christopher Gunty Catholic Review Filed Under: America's 250th anniversary, Archbishop's Ministry, Feature, Local News, News Archbishop William E. Lori said that when Redemptorist Father Patrick Woods invited him several months ago to celebrate an Independence Day Mass on the grounds of the Carroll House, “I knew this is the place I had to be on the Fourth of July.”
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.
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.
