Pope, Israeli president speak by phone about Sydney attack, peace in Gaza December 17, 2025By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service Filed Under: Conflict in the Middle East, Ecumenism and Interfaith Relations, Gun Violence, News, Vatican, World News Pope Leo XIV and Israeli President Isaac Herzog spoke by telephone Dec. 17, just days after a terrorist attack on a Hanukkah celebration in Australia led to the deaths of 15 people.
Tennessee faith leaders urge governor to stop all executions December 17, 2025By Katie Peterson OSV News Filed Under: News, Respect Life, World News Tennessee Christian faith leaders in early December called on the state of Tennessee and Republican Gov. Bill Lee to stop all executions.
Honor is ‘bigger than me,’ Heisman winner, a Catholic, says in emotional acceptance speech December 17, 2025By John Shaughnessy OSV News Filed Under: Colleges, Feature, News, Sports, World News When Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza was announced as the winner of the Heisman on Dec. 13 in a ceremony in New York City, Father Hyde rejoiced with the other friars watching the event on television.
Amid ‘fragile’ ceasefire, Caritas Jerusalem seeks to ‘replant hope’ in Gaza this Christmas December 17, 2025By Junno Arocho Esteves OSV News Filed Under: Christmas, Conflict in the Middle East, News, World News As the celebration of Christ’s birth draws near, the traditional Christmas tree lighting in various places, including Bethlehem and the Vatican, is meant as a sign of joyful expectation for the coming of salvation.
Illinois Catholic bishops back pregnancy centers’ suit over law requiring abortion referrals December 17, 2025By Kate Scanlon OSV News Filed Under: Bishops, News, Religious Freedom, Respect Life, World News Catholic bishops in Illinois offered their support to a lawsuit from pro-life pregnancy centers that say a Prairie State law requiring those centers to refer women for abortions violates their First Amendment rights.
Pope Leo names Bishop Ramón Bejarano to lead Diocese of Monterey December 17, 2025By OSV News OSV News Filed Under: Bishops, News, World News Pope Leo XIV has appointed Bishop Ramón Bejarano, currently auxiliary bishop of San Diego and titular bishop of Carpi, as Bishop of Monterey, Calif.
Attending school Christmas concert, pope thanks children for sharing love December 17, 2025By Catholic News Service Catholic News Service Filed Under: Arts & Culture, News, Vatican, World News At the end of his one day off each week, Pope Leo XIV went to the local school in Castel Gandolfo and joined hundreds of excited parents in watching the children’s Christmas concert.
Readers share favorite Christmas carols December 17, 2025By George P. Matysek Jr. Catholic Review Filed Under: Arts & Culture, Christmas, Feature, Local News, News A recent Catholic Review poll, conducted in print and online, invited readers to share their favorite Christmas carols.
Trump, lawmakers call for Jimmy Lai’s release after ‘unjust conviction’ December 16, 2025By Kate Scanlon OSV News Filed Under: News, Religious Freedom, World News President Donald Trump, the State Department, and members of Congress expressed concern after Hong Kong’s prominent Catholic media tycoon and pro-democracy campaigner Jimmy Lai was convicted of national security offenses under the city’s controversial national security law.
Church beatifies 50 French Catholics killed ‘in hatred of the faith’ by German Nazis December 16, 2025By Caroline de Sury OSV News Filed Under: News, Saints, World News Fifty French Catholics killed under German Nazism were beatified Dec. 13, 2025, during a Mass at Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris — an event that recognized their witness of faith during World War II.
Chile’s bishops’ congratulate new Catholic president, ‘worry’ over anti-migrant attitudes December 16, 2025By David Agren OSV News Filed Under: Immigration and Migration, News, World News Chile’s bishops’ congratulated José Antonio Kast for claiming the South American country’s election, but called for the president-elect to “promote an environment of dialogue, encounter, and respect, essential for rebuilding social trust” amid deep divisions and rising concerns over crime and migration.
USCCB president expresses church’s solidarity with Jewish community December 16, 2025By OSV News OSV News Filed Under: Ecumenism and Interfaith Relations, Feature, Gun Violence, News, World News Archbishop Paul S. Coakley of Oklahoma City, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, expressed the Catholic Church’s solidarity with the Jewish community in the wake of a Dec. 14 terror attack by two gunmen that targeted Jewish beachgoers at an event celebrating the first day of Hanukkah at Sydney’s Bondi Beach.
