Madagascar Catholic church leaders urge calm as military seizes power October 17, 2025By Jonathan Luxmoore OSV News Filed Under: News, World News Catholic Church leaders in Madagascar have urged a return to dialogue after the Indian Ocean island’s president was forced into exile by an Oct. 14 military takeover.
Syrian archbishop awarded John Paul prize; he says hope for peace not lost but evil continues October 17, 2025By Junno Arocho Esteves OSV News Filed Under: Conflict in the Middle East, News, Vatican, World News For Syrian Archbishop Jacques Mourad of Homs, who was held captive by the Islamic State group for five months in 2015, receiving an award named after St. John Paul II was a hopeful reminder of the late pontiff’s efforts to advance peace and dialogue in uncertain times.
U.S. bishops appoint new CNS Rome Bureau editor as veteran journalist retires October 17, 2025By Gina Christian OSV News Filed Under: Journalism, News, Vatican, World News The U.S. Catholic bishops have appointed veteran journalist Carol Glatz to head up their Rome-based news bureau, succeeding Cindy Wooden, another longtime journalist.
Pope welcomes Russian pilgrims, prays they will be witnesses of hope October 17, 2025By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service Filed Under: News, Vatican, World News Welcoming a group of Holy Year pilgrims from Russia, Pope Leo XIV did not mention their country’s war on Ukraine, but he prayed that the pilgrims would let “the fire of Christian love” be kindled in their lives so it would warm “even the coldest and hardest of hearts.”
Vatican statistics show fewer priests, more lay missionaries October 17, 2025By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service Filed Under: Missions, News, Vatican, Vocations, World News In anticipation of the celebration Oct. 19 of World Mission Sunday, the Vatican’s missionary news agency shared statistics about the Catholic population, church personnel and the works they are engaged in.
British king’s Vatican visit to focus on ecumenism, ecology October 17, 2025By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service Filed Under: Ecumenism and Interfaith Relations, News, Vatican, World News The official state visit of Britain’s King Charles III and Queen Camilla to Pope Leo XIV and the Vatican will focus on ecumenism and ecology, Vatican officials said Oct. 17.
Filmmakers tell story of Ukraine’s persecuted Christians ‘hunted’ by Russia October 17, 2025By Gina Christian OSV News Filed Under: Movie & Television Reviews, News, War in Ukraine, World News Entrepreneur and former U.S. Marine Colby Barrett is part of the team behind “A Faith Under Siege,” a film that examines attacks by Russian forces and officials on hundreds of Ukrainian faith communities, including Catholic and Protestant believers.
With street corner ministry, Minnesota man says he’s doing what Lord has asked of him October 17, 2025By Dianne Towalski The Central Minnesota Catholic Filed Under: Evangelization, News, World News Standing on a streetcorner greeting passersby is not something Will Threlkeld has ever done before. But every Monday morning in downtown Little Falls, that’s exactly where you can find him, greeting people and showing them the face of Jesus.
Trump rolls out policy proposal to increase access to in vitro fertilization October 17, 2025By Kate Scanlon OSV News Filed Under: Health Care, News, Respect Life, World News President Donald Trump announced Oct. 16 a policy proposal to increase access to in vitro fertilization, including issuing guidance urging employers to offer fertility benefits directly to their employees.
Amid political disputes, Venezuelans prepare for canonization of their first saints October 17, 2025By Eduardo Campos Lima OSV News Filed Under: News, Saints, World News As Venezuelans await the upcoming canonization of the South American country’s first saints — Blessed José Gregório Hernández and Blessed María Carmen Elena Rendiles Martínez — both the church and the government prepare for the unprecedented event, promoting restoration works and planning the logistics of the several activities that will happen in Caracas and elsewhere.
Just and lasting peace possible through establishment of Palestinian state, patriarchs say October 16, 2025By OSV News OSV News Filed Under: Conflict in the Middle East, Feature, News, World News Patriarchs and heads of the churches in Jerusalem said in a joint Oct. 14 statement they “rejoice at the recent enactment of the ceasefire in Gaza, and the release of those held captive,” which they hailed as “auspicious moment,” noting “the work of peacebuilding has only just begun.”
From satanist to saint: Meet Bartolo Longo, who gave world the shrine of Our Lady in Pompeii October 16, 2025By Katarzyna Szalajko OSV News Filed Under: News, Saints, World News When pilgrims gather in St. Peter’s Square on Oct. 19 to witness the canonization of Blessed Bartolo Longo, along with six other blesseds, they will see not just the elevation of a new saint, but a story of a radical conversion.
