Capuchin friar who was one of last people with direct ties to Padre Pio dies at age 85 January 16, 2026By OSV News The Dialog Filed Under: News, Saints, World News Capuchin Franciscan Father John Aurilia — the former assistant to St. Padre Pio whose final interview last October on the Wilmington’s Diocese’s Catholic Forum broke records as it was viewed nearly 300,000 times — died Jan. 13 in Wilmington. He was 85.
Kyiv’s iconic St. Nicholas Church returns to Catholic hands for 50 years January 16, 2026By Katarzyna Szalajko OSV News Filed Under: Arts & Culture, News, War in Ukraine, World News After decades of legal disputes, delays and competing claims, Ukraine’s Roman Catholic community has received the right to use Kyiv’s historic St. Nicholas Church for the next 50 years, under an agreement signed with the state.
Papal puzzle lovers: Popes Leo XIV and XIII noted for liking word games January 16, 2026By Carol Glatz Catholic News Service Filed Under: Arts & Culture, News, Vatican, World News Pope Leo XIV, who plays the daily online puzzle Wordle, is not the only papal puzzle lover.
Ohio nuns lament downfall of their former nursing home under new owners January 16, 2026By Gina Christian OSV News Filed Under: Consecrated Life, Health Care, News, World News A congregation of Catholic women religious is lamenting the downfall of an acclaimed nursing home it once operated, after severe neglect and endangerment of residents by the current owners prompted Ohio state officials to intervene.
Survey: National Eucharistic Revival rekindled faith and outreach, but challenges remain January 16, 2026By Gina Christian OSV News Filed Under: Eucharist, Feature, News, World News The National Eucharistic Revival — a three-year initiative to renew belief in the real presence of Jesus Christ in the Eucharist, following a marked decline in belief among U.S. Catholics — has rekindled both faith and outreach, according to a new study, although several challenges remain in extending those results to those not already in the pews.
Surrogacy reduces children to products for sale, Vatican foreign minister says January 16, 2026By Junno Arocho Esteves OSV News Filed Under: News, Respect Life, Vatican, World News Surrogacy violates the dignity of both unborn children and pregnant women, reducing them to mere commodities and victims of exploitation, said Archbishop Paul R. Gallagher, the Vatican foreign minister.
Pope Leo comforts families of victims of Swiss Crans-Montana tragic bar fire January 15, 2026By Paulina Guzik OSV News Filed Under: Disaster Relief, News, Vatican, World News Pope Leo XIV met Jan. 15 with the families of victims of the Crans-Montana bar fire on New Year’s night, which took the lives of 40 people and injured 116 in a Swiss resort tragedy.
Report: More than 388 million Christians worldwide face ‘high levels’ of persecution January 15, 2026By Gina Christian OSV News Filed Under: Feature, News, Religious Freedom, World News More than 388 million Christians — or 1 in 7 believers worldwide — face “high levels of persecution and discrimination for their faith,” according to a new report.
Senate hearing examines abortion pill after FDA approval of new generic version January 15, 2026By Kate Scanlon OSV News Filed Under: News, Respect Life, U.S. Congress, World News A Senate committee held a hearing on the abortion pill Jan. 14 as the Trump administration faces scrutiny from some pro-lifers over the Food and Drug Administration’s recent approval of a new generic form of the drug.
U.S. bishops praise DHS policy change on wait times for religious worker visas January 15, 2026By Kate Scanlon OSV News Filed Under: Feature, Immigration and Migration, News, Religious Freedom, World News The Department of Homeland Security said Jan. 14 it issued an interim final rule reducing wait times for religious worker visas. Catholic advocates were among those who pushed the Trump administration to address the backlog in their visa category.
At annual Marian celebration in Venezuela, bishops call for release of political prisoners January 15, 2026By Junno Arocho Esteves OSV News Filed Under: Conflict in the Caribbean, Marian Devotion, News, World News Each year, the annual Marian procession of the “Divina Pastora” (“Divine Shepherdess”) draws millions of pilgrims and devotees in Venezuela.
Rubio says U.S. closely working with Catholic Church to get Cuba humanitarian aid January 15, 2026By Kate Scanlon OSV News Filed Under: Disaster Relief, News, World News U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced Jan. 14 that the first in a series of direct humanitarian shipments to Cuba “in close partnership with the Catholic Church” would take place the same day — as well as another Jan. 16 — as the island recovers from Hurricane Melissa.
