Biden’s controversial pardon of son Hunter brings mixed reaction, potential consequences December 3, 2024By Kate Scanlon OSV News Filed Under: 2024 Election, News, World News President Joe Biden’s expansive pardon for his son Hunter Biden Dec. 1 brought strong reaction from Catholic political observers and lawmakers alike, including criticism from Republicans and some members of Biden’s own Democratic Party.
Pope asks the faithful to pray for God’s gift of hope December 3, 2024By Carol Glatz Catholic News Service Filed Under: Jubilee 2025, News, Vatican, World News The pope’s message encouraging prayers “for pilgrims of hope” was released by the Pope’s Worldwide Prayer Network Dec. 3.
Preparations begin for opening Holy Doors at Vatican, Rome basilicas December 3, 2024By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service Filed Under: Feature, Jubilee 2025, News, Vatican, World News Hours after the last visitors and pilgrims left St. Peter’s Basilica for the day, a chisel clanged and dust flew as a group of prelates chanted their prayers before a simple wall marked with a cross.
Catholic agency ‘will follow’ Lebanon’s displaced ‘wherever they settle’ after ceasefire December 3, 2024By Gina Christian OSV News Filed Under: Conflict in the Middle East, Disaster Relief, Feature, News, World News The head of a Catholic humanitarian agency in Lebanon told OSV News the Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire appears to be intact, as he and his team vow to assist those displaced by the conflict “wherever they settle.”
Renew Toronto draws 750 youth in search of purpose, shared faith, discerning God’s will December 3, 2024By Luke Mandato OSV News Filed Under: News, World News, Young Adult Ministry Hundreds of young Catholic adults flocked to Whitby’s Canada Event Center to celebrate their faith as one during this year’s Renew Toronto conference.
In age of individualism, young people need holistic education, pope says December 3, 2024By Justin McLellan Catholic News Service Filed Under: News, Schools, Vatican, World News As young people become increasingly immersed in a society that encourages individualism and disconnection, educators must strive to develop a holistic form of education that integrates the heart, mind and body, Pope Francis said.
Japan’s ‘hidden Christian’ sites are living witness of faith, pope says December 3, 2024By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service Filed Under: News, Religious Freedom, Vatican, World News Christians in Japan should keep alive the memory of the persecution their ancestors endured for their faith and should also pray for Christians suffering persecution around the world today, Pope Francis said.
Supreme Court gets set for oral arguments over state’s gender transition ban for minors December 2, 2024By Kate Scanlon OSV News Filed Under: Health Care, News, Supreme Court, World News The Supreme Court is scheduled to hear Dec. 4 a challenge to a Tennessee state law banning certain types of medical or surgical gender reassignment procedures for minors who identify as transgender, the high court’s first major step toward weighing in on the controversial issue.
Caritas Georgia head: ‘We are being torn apart’ amid political upheaval, protests December 2, 2024By Gina Christian OSV News Filed Under: News, Religious Freedom, World News The head of a Catholic humanitarian agency told OSV News the nation of Georgia is “being torn apart” after the ruling party suspended European Union membership talks — and “the poor will remain hungry,” she warned.
Notre Dame shines bright as French president visits days before the ‘grande réouverture’ December 2, 2024By Caroline de Sury OSV News Filed Under: Arts & Culture, Feature, News, World News The world was left stunned when the first images of the rebuilt Notre Dame were published and spread with viral speed as President Emmanuel Macron walked through the bright, unrecognizably beautiful Parisian cathedral on Nov. 29, a week ahead of the Dec. 7-8 official reopening.
Faith, hope ‘work miracles,’ pope tells people of Nicaragua ahead of Immaculate Conception December 2, 2024By David Agren OSV News Filed Under: News, Religious Freedom, Vatican, World News In a moving letter, Pope Francis expressed his closeness with the people of Nicaragua as Central American bishops called for a day of prayer for the country on the feast of the Immaculate Conception amid constitutional changes that will lead into an even darker dictatorship.
Church needs media evangelizers, pope tells U.S.-based TV network December 2, 2024By Justin McLellan Catholic News Service Filed Under: Evangelization, Journalism, News, Vatican, World News The mission of sharing the Gospel, entrusted to humanity by Jesus, must spread also through modern media channels, Pope Francis said.