Pope Francis names Ohio pastor of four parishes as bishop of Sioux City, Iowa February 12, 2025By Gina Christian OSV News Filed Under: Bishops, News, Uncategorized, World News Pope Francis has accepted the resignation of Bishop R. Walker Nickless, 77, from the pastoral governance of the Diocese of Sioux City, Iowa, and appointed Father John E. Keehner Jr., pastor of four parishes, to succeed him.
CRS, Caritas warn of global impact of USAID shutdown February 12, 2025By Gina Christian OSV News Filed Under: Disaster Relief, Feature, News, World News Baltimore-based Catholic Relief Services and Caritas agencies throughout the world are warning that the Trump administration’s freezing of the U.S. Aid for International Development — which has provided major funding for the groups for over six decades — will harm millions globally.
‘Martyr of the Amazon’: Recalling Sister Dorothy Stang’s ministry 20 years after her murder February 12, 2025By Junno Arocho Esteves OSV News Filed Under: Environment, News, Religious Freedom, World News In the lead up to the 20th anniversary of the death of Sister Stang, who is considered by many as a “Martyr of the Amazon,” a relic containing blood-soaked soil from the site of her murder was enshrined at the Basilica of St. Bartholomew on Tiber Island in Rome on Jan. 10.
Report: Russia weaponizes Orthodoxy to persecute, kill Christians in Ukraine February 12, 2025By Gina Christian OSV News Filed Under: News, Religious Freedom, World News A new report calls for the Russian Federation to be designated a state sponsor of terrorism, finding that Russia is weaponizing Orthodox Christianity as part of a genocidal attack on Ukraine — persecuting Catholics, other Christians and other faith communities in the besieged nation.
Pope accepts resignation of archbishop of Cincinnati, bishop of Sioux City, Iowa February 12, 2025By Gina Christian OSV News Filed Under: Bishops, News, World News Pope Francis has accepted the resignation of Archbishop Dennis M. Schnurr, 76, from the pastoral governance of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, and has appointed Auxiliary Bishop Robert G. Casey of Chicago as his successor.
Vatican publishes partial list of papal liturgical events during Lent February 12, 2025By Catholic News Service Catholic News Service Filed Under: Lent, News, Vatican, World News The Vatican released a partial schedule of Pope Francis’ liturgical celebrations in March and early April, including a group Lenten retreat for the pope and top members of the Curia for the first time in five years.
Pray, do penance, everything possible for peace, pope says at audience February 12, 2025By Carol Glatz Catholic News Service Filed Under: Feature, News, Vatican, World News Reflecting on the many countries at war, such as Ukraine, Palestine, Israel, Myanmar, North Kivu in Congo and South Sudan, the pope said, “Let’s pray for peace, let’s do our all for peace. Don’t forget that war is always a defeat.”
Faith groups sue over Trump administration policy to permit ICE arrests at churches February 12, 2025By Kate Scanlon OSV News Filed Under: Feature, Immigration and Migration, News, Religious Freedom, World News More than two dozen Christian and Jewish groups filed a lawsuit Feb. 11 in federal court to challenge a Trump administration policy that rescinded long-standing restrictions on Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents from making arrests at what are seen as sensitive locations, including houses of worship, schools and hospitals.
Nicaragua calls Vatican ‘depraved’ for keeping Bishop Álvarez as head of two dioceses from afar February 12, 2025By David Agren OSV News Filed Under: News, Vatican, World News Nicaragua’s government issued a statement attacking the Vatican as “depraved” following interviews in which exiled Bishop Rolando Álvarez of Matagalpa reaffirmed the pope’s desire for him to continue leading a pair of Nicaraguan dioceses from afar.
Pope: Without human control, AI could show its ‘fearsome’ side February 12, 2025By Carol Glatz Catholic News Service Filed Under: News, Vatican, World News Ways must be found to ensure artificial intelligence benefits everyone and protects the environment, given the high amounts of energy consumed by data centers, Pope Francis told leaders at a global meeting on AI.
Sick come to Lourdes to find peace, heal internally, U.S. pilgrimage organizer says February 11, 2025By Caroline de Sury OSV News Filed Under: News, World News Even though a pilgrimage peak is some months away, the shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes celebrated its wintery feast day Feb. 11 with a number of pilgrims who flocked to the French holy site on the anniversary of the first apparition of the Blessed Virgin to St. Bernadette Soubirous in 1858.
Pope adds feast day of St. Teresa of Kolkata to universal calendar February 11, 2025By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service Filed Under: Feature, News, Saints, Vatican, World News Pope Francis has added the feast day of St. Teresa of Kolkata, a “beacon of hope” and an example of loving service to the poorest of the poor, to the General Roman Calendar so that her “Optional Memorial shall be celebrated by all on 5 September every year.”
