Mass of Thanksgiving for America’s 250th anniversary held at National Shrine in Washington July 5, 2026By Kurt Jensen OSV News Filed Under: America's 250th anniversary, Feature, News, World News Independence Day is a reminder that Americans’ “inalienable rights” mentioned in the Declaration of Independence — life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness — are gifts from God, Cardinal Donald W. Wuerl said July 4 in the nation’s capital.
Pope Leo to pilgrims: ‘Strong eucharistic heritage of US must continue as source of renewal, unity’ July 5, 2026By Gina Christian OSV News Filed Under: America's 250th anniversary, Eucharist, Feature, News, Vatican, World News Participants in the 2026 National Eucharistic Pilgrimage carry on the “great legacy of faith” that has crucially shaped the U.S., now marking its 250th anniversary, said Pope Leo XIV in a message to those gathered for the pilgrimage’s concluding liturgy in Philadelphia.
On U.S. Independence Day, Pope Leo XIV honors migrants in Lampedusa July 4, 2026By Josephine Peterson Catholic News Service Filed Under: America's 250th anniversary, Immigration and Migration, News, Vatican, World News For more than 30 years, Dr. Pietro Bartolo said he has examined more than 350,000 people and performed postmortem examinations on those who died making the crossing to Lampedusa, where migrants rescued from the Mediterranean first arrived.
Eucharist drew more than a million, including saints, to Philadelphia in bicentennial year July 3, 2026By Gina Christian OSV News Filed Under: America's 250th anniversary, Feature, News, World News The nation’s 250th anniversary and the conclusion of the 2026 National Eucharistic Pilgrimage in Philadelphia July 5 evoke memories of a major Eucharistic gathering held in that city the same year the U.S. marked its bicentennial.
Letter of His Holiness Pope Leo XIV on the 250th Anniversary of the Founding of the United States of America July 3, 2026By Pope Leo XIV OSV News Filed Under: America's 250th anniversary, Feature, News, Vatican, World News I extend my heartfelt congratulations to all Americans on the occasion of the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. This semiquincentennial marks that defining moment in the history of the United States of America, July 4, 1776, that gave enduring voice to the ideals of liberty, equality, the pursuit of happiness, justice and democratic self-government.
After the Vatican declares SSPX in formal schism, what’s next for the Church? July 3, 2026By Kimberly Heatherington OSV News Filed Under: Feature, News, Vatican, World News Following the July 1 illicit consecration of four bishops at its seminary in Écône, Switzerland, by the now-schismatic traditionalist Society of St. Pius X — an action without papal approval that incurred automatic excommunication — that question isn’t simply one of Church politics.
Vatican declares SSPX in schism. What does it mean? July 2, 2026By Paulina Guzik OSV News Filed Under: Feature, News, Vatican, World News The Vatican has declared the Society of St. Pius X to be “in schism” after the traditionalist group consecrated four bishops without the papal mandate, marking the most serious rupture in the Church since Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre’s unauthorized episcopal consecrations in 1988.
Pope Leo overhauls Vatican finance watchdog, revises Rome vicariate reforms in busy day of decrees July 1, 2026By Courtney Mares OSV News Filed Under: Feature, News, Vatican, World News Pope Leo XIV spent what is traditionally his weekly day off on Tuesday issuing a flurry of legislation and appointments June 30, overhauling the Vatican’s financial watchdog agency, revising the governing structure of the Vicariate of Rome and making several appointments in the Roman Curia.
Pope Leo to address National Eucharistic Pilgrimage during closing Mass in Philadelphia July 1, 2026By Maria Wiering OSV News Filed Under: Feature, News, World News The National Eucharistic Pilgrimage ends July 5 with a closing Mass, procession and celebration in Philadelphia, which will begin with a special video message from Pope Leo XIV.
Vance calls the Vatican’s views on immigration ‘troubling’ July 1, 2026By Kate Scanlon OSV News Filed Under: Feature, Immigration and Migration, News, World News Vice President JD Vance said during a June 30 interview that he sees some of the Vatican’s views on immigration as “troubling.”
Prayer key to sister’s release from ICE detention, but foreign-born religious now on edge July 1, 2026By Gina Christian OSV News Filed Under: Feature, Immigration and Migration, News, World News A woman religious in McAllen, Texas, told OSV News the “power of prayer” was key to the release of a religious sister detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement as she walked to Sunday Mass — but foreign-born religious in the area are now on their guard after the incident.
SSPX carries out unauthorized consecration of 4 bishops despite pope’s warning against it July 1, 2026By OSV News OSV News Filed Under: Feature, News, Vatican, World News Despite a personal appeal from Pope Leo XIV, the Society of St. Pius X went ahead July 1 with the unauthorized consecration of four new bishops at its seminary in Écône, Switzerland, with Mass broadcasted live and thousands of faithful attending.
