A silent genocide is unfolding in Congo, church sources warn February 25, 2025By Frederick Nzwili OSV News Filed Under: News, Religious Freedom, World News A “silent genocide” — mimicking the Rwandan one of 1994 — is occurring eastern Congo, said some Catholic Church sources, as shock greeted the killing of 70 people in a Protestant church in the North Kivu Province.
Pope continues to be in ‘critical,’ but ‘stable’ condition February 25, 2025By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service Filed Under: Feature, News, Vatican, World News In a sign affirming that Pope Francis has been able to conduct work while in the hospital, the Vatican said the pope had met with the top officials of the Vatican Secretariat of State and had signed several decrees in sainthood causes.
Faithful unite in St. Peter’s Square praying for pope’s health February 25, 2025By Carol Glatz Catholic News Service Filed Under: Feature, News, Vatican, World News A light drizzle finally let up as hundreds of faithful headed to St. Peter’s Square to pray the rosary for Pope Francis on the 11th day of his hospitalization for double pneumonia.
‘Ukraine will rise’ as ‘Russia brings death,’ say Ukrainian Greek Catholic bishops February 25, 2025By Gina Christian OSV News Filed Under: News, War in Ukraine, World News As Ukraine marks the third anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion, the Ukrainian Greek Catholic bishops are affirming Ukrainians’ belief in “the triumph of God’s truth” — and the recognition that “true peace cannot exist without justice.”
Trump’s first month ends in friction with bishops over immigration, IVF, Vance attacks February 25, 2025By Maria Wiering OSV News Filed Under: Feature, Immigration and Migration, News, Respect Life, World News The U.S. bishops’ Feb. 18 lawsuit against the federal government for abrupt and sweeping changes to refugee resettlement funding, and the bishops’ Feb. 20 admonition of President Donald Trump’s executive order aiming to expand access to in vitro fertilization underscore the ongoing friction between the nation’s Catholic leaders and its 47th president in his first month since reassuming office.
Supreme Court considers Texas death-row inmate’s request for DNA testing February 25, 2025By Kate Scanlon OSV News Filed Under: News, Respect Life, Supreme Court, World News The U.S. Supreme Court Feb. 24 considered the case of a Texas death-row inmate who is seeking to obtain post-conviction DNA testing on evidence that he claims would show he did not directly participate in a 1998 murder and lead to the repeal of his death sentence.
While still in critical condition, pope is showing slight improvement February 24, 2025By Carol Glatz Catholic News Service Filed Under: Feature, News, Vatican, World News The morning after Pope Francis’ doctors said that he remained in “critical” condition and showed initial signs of renal insufficiency, the Vatican press office said the pope was in “good spirits” and continuing his treatment.
More bishops call for prayers as Pope Francis’ condition remains critical February 24, 2025By Gina Christian OSV News Filed Under: Bishops, Feature, News, Vatican, World News The U.S. bishops urged the faithful to join in on a call from Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin to pray the rosary for Pope Francis Feb. 24 as he remains hospitalized.
Amid darkness of Ukraine war, religious sisters bring light, hope and purpose to villages February 24, 2025By Katarzyna Szalajko OSV News Filed Under: News, War in Ukraine, World News As the full-scale Russian invasion in Ukraine reached a tragic threshold of three years Feb. 24, religious sisters are bringing rays of sunshine to those who don’t know how to smile anymore, including children whose carefree childhood disappeared, and farmers, whose fields are mined and useless.
Visiting the poor in Lebanon was a prayer for Pope Francis, cardinal says February 24, 2025By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service Filed Under: Conflict in the Middle East, News, Vatican, World News While Pope Francis was hospitalized in Rome’s Gemelli hospital, one of the cardinals closest to him traveled to Lebanon to demonstrate the pope’s ongoing concern for refugees and for peace in the Middle East.
Knights of Columbus mark 125 years of patriotic degree at St. Patrick’s Cathedral February 24, 2025By Steven Schwankert OSV News Filed Under: Feature, Knights of Columbus, News, World News The Knights of Columbus, the world’s largest Catholic fraternal service organization, celebrated the 125th anniversary of its patriotic fourth degree with an exemplification ceremony, Mass, and unveiling of a statue of its founder Blessed Michael J. McGivney at St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York City.
Pope’s condition still ‘critical’ with signs of renal insufficiency under control February 23, 2025By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service Filed Under: Feature, News, Vatican, World News While Italy’s main news agency reported that Pope Francis’ respiratory “crisis” had subsided, a Vatican source said he was still receiving supplemental oxygen by nasal cannula early Feb. 23.
