Experts dispute White House claims mass deportations improve Americans’ lives February 19, 2026By Kimberly Heatherington OSV News Filed Under: Feature, Immigration and Migration, News, World News Numerous American bishops have collectively and individually stated their concerns regarding the nature of immigration enforcement taking place and mass deportation.
From Pompeii to Pavia: Pope Leo XIV to make 6 pastoral visits throughout Italy February 19, 2026By Courtney Mares OSV News Filed Under: News, Vatican, World News Pope Leo XIV will travel to six destinations across Italy this year, the Vatican announced on Feb. 19, journeying from the shrine of Our Lady of the Rosary of Pompeii in the south to the tomb of St. Augustine in northern Italy.
Young man doing community service shot dead while painting chapel in Puebla, Mexico February 19, 2026By David Agren OSV News Filed Under: Gun Violence, News, World News A young man painting a chapel in Puebla was killed when gunmen shot at a work crew involved in community service in what was the second recent act of violence targeting churches in one of Mexico’s largest and most traditionally Catholic cities.
Pope to Legionaries of Christ: Authority in religious life is not ‘domination’ February 19, 2026By Junno Arocho Esteves OSV News Filed Under: Child & Youth Protection, News, Vatican, World News Pope Leo XIV reminded members of the Legionaries of Christ that exercising governance and authority is meant as a service and not as a means to control others.
U.S. Church faces these areas of ‘critical concern’ on religious liberty, says bishops’ report February 19, 2026By Kate Scanlon OSV News Filed Under: Bishops, Feature, News, Religious Freedom, World News The USCCB Committee for Religious Liberty issued Feb. 17 its “Annual Report on the State of Religious Liberty,” which highlights the legislative actions, executive actions, and U.S. Supreme Court cases the U.S. bishops are closely watching.
Rev. Jesse Jackson dies at 84; Catholic leaders praise civil rights leader’s work for justice February 19, 2026By Kate Scanlon OSV News Filed Under: News, Obituaries, World News Catholic leaders were among those who praised the legacy of the Rev. Jesse Jackson, a Baptist minister and prominent civil rights leader, who died Feb. 17. He was 84.
As drought strikes hard, Church leaders in Eastern Africa call for Lenten prayers February 19, 2026By Fredrick Nzwili OSV News Filed Under: Disaster Relief, News, World News As Lent begins, Catholic leaders across Eastern Africa are urging prayers — and action — for millions facing a deepening drought crisis.
Shevchuk: Ash Wednesday collection has helped ‘resurrect’ Church in Ukraine February 19, 2026By Gina Christian OSV News Filed Under: News, War in Ukraine, World News Ahead of the USCCB collection — typically held on Ash Wednesday (Feb. 18) in most dioceses, and which can be supported online anytime at igivecatholic.org/story/USCCB-CCEE — OSV News spoke with Major Archbishop Sviatoslav Shevchuk, father and head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, to discuss the impact of the USCCB’s appeal in Ukraine.
Rhode Island’s Catholic community reeling after deadly shooting during high school hockey game February 19, 2026By Rick Snizek OSV News Filed Under: Gun Violence, News, World News A deadly shooting erupted during a boys hockey game in Rhode Island, involving a co-op with a number of players reported to be from an area Catholic school, and may have been motivated by what law enforcement characterized as a “family dispute.”
Holy See will not join Trump’s ‘Board of Peace’ for Gaza, Cardinal Parolin says February 18, 2026By Kate Scanlon OSV News Filed Under: Conflict in the Middle East, Feature, News, Vatican, World News The Holy See “will not participate” in President Donald Trump’s “Board of Peace” for Gaza, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican’s secretary of state, said Feb. 17, citing “points that leave us somewhat perplexed.”
Pope Leo XIV calls for ‘countercultural’ repentance on first Ash Wednesday of his pontificate February 18, 2026By Courtney Mares OSV News Filed Under: Feature, Lent, News, Vatican, World News Beneath the Roman pines of the Aventine Hill, Pope Leo XIV led a solemn penitential procession Feb. 18 to Rome’s oldest extant basilica, marking the first Ash Wednesday of his pontificate with a call for “countercultural” repentance for sins from individuals, institutions and the Church itself.
Bishops praise Virginia Legislature for halting assisted suicide bill February 18, 2026By Gina Christian OSV News Filed Under: News, Respect Life, World News SB359, which would have permitted doctors to prescribe lethal, self-administered drugs to terminally ill patients deemed to have less than six months to live, failed to advance in a full state senate committee hearing Feb. 5.
