Louisiana asks court to reinstate in-person dispensing rule for abortion pill February 26, 2026By Kate Scanlon OSV News Filed Under: News, Respect Life, World News Lawyers for the state of Louisiana asked a federal judge to roll back Biden administration-era eased restrictions on mifepristone, a drug commonly, but not exclusively, used for most first trimester abortions, at a hearing Feb. 24 in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Louisiana.
Pope Leo XIV to embark on 10-day Africa tour, trips to Spain, Monaco February 26, 2026By Courtney Mares OSV News Filed Under: News, Vatican, World News Pope Leo XIV will travel to six countries over the next four months, including a 10-day tour of Africa and trips to Monaco and Spain, the Vatican announced Feb. 25.
Spanish bishops clarify Pope Leo XIV’s remarks following media reports February 25, 2026By Junno Arocho Esteves OSV News Filed Under: News, Religious Freedom, Vatican, World News The executive commission of the Spanish bishops’ conference clarified a recent report that alleged Pope Leo XIV had warned about attempts by far-right political parties in the country to “weaponize the Church.”
Amid clash with Notre Dame administration, students pray for life with Bishop Rhoades at university grotto February 25, 2026By Gretchen R. Crowe OSV News Filed Under: Colleges, News, Respect Life, World News Two weeks after calling on the University of Notre Dame to withdraw its appointment of pro-abortion professor Susan Ostermann as head of one of the school’s research centers, Bishop Kevin C. Rhoades of Fort Wayne-South Bend joined students to pray for life at the university’s Marian grotto.
Sydney Archdiocese welcomes record numbers at Rite of Election February 25, 2026By Junno Arocho Esteves OSV News Filed Under: Evangelization, News, World News The Catholic Archdiocese of Sydney said it welcomed a record number of catechumens and candidates during the annual Rite of Election at St. Mary’s Cathedral.
Trump touts immigration enforcement in State of the Union address as polls show growing concern February 25, 2026By Kate Scanlon OSV News Filed Under: Feature, Immigration and Migration, News, Religious Freedom, World News President Donald Trump touted his administration’s immigration enforcement actions in his Feb. 24 State of the Union address, as polls show increasing concern about these policies among U.S. voters.
Border state bishops urge immigration enforcement reform before State of the Union February 25, 2026By Kate Scanlon OSV News Filed Under: Bishops, Feature, Immigration and Migration, News, World News A group of U.S. bishops, most from the U.S.-Mexico border region, issued a statement Feb. 24 hours before President Donald Trump’s first State of the Union address of his second term, urging several reforms to immigration enforcement.
Public disapproval of Trump’s immigration policy increases February 25, 2026By Kate Scanlon OSV News Filed Under: Immigration and Migration, News, Religious Freedom, World News Disapproval of President Donald Trump’s immigration policy increased ahead of his State of the Union address, according to several recent polls.
U.S. visitors’ office saw big uptick in serving pilgrims during 2025 February 25, 2026By Carol Glatz Catholic News Service Filed Under: News, Vatican, World News The Jubilee Year, the death of Pope Francis and the unexpected election of a U.S. pope boosted the number of U.S. visitors seeking free tickets to Vatican events in 2025, said the Bishops’ Office for U.S. Visitors to the Vatican.
Pope Leo XIV says he considered a vocation with the Salesians as a boy February 25, 2026By Courtney Mares OSV News Filed Under: News, Vatican, Vocations, World News Pope Leo XIV has revealed that he considered joining the Salesians as a boy before ultimately discerning a vocation with the Augustinian order, joking that the congregation of Don Bosco “came in second place” in his spiritual journey.
German bishops’ conference elects proponent of controversial Synodal Way as president February 24, 2026By Junno Arocho Esteves OSV News Filed Under: Bishops, News, World News The German bishops’ conference announced that it has elected Bishop Heiner Wilmer of Hildesheim as its next president.
Sacramento Catholic school averts possible shooting at Mass, thanks to astute parent February 24, 2026By Gina Christian OSV News Filed Under: Gun Violence, News, Schools, World News A California parish school averted a possible mass shooting, thanks to the quick intervention of an off-duty law enforcement officer and school parent who detained an armed former student.