Drone strike on Iraqi Catholic church complex reopens old wounds March 5, 2026By Dale Gavlak OSV News Filed Under: Conflict in the Middle East, News, World News The Catholic community in northern Iraq has been shaken by the attack of an explosive drone hitting the Chaldean Catholic complex in Ankawa, outside of Irbil.
Religious freedom watchdog annual report spotlights ‘terrifying crisis of religious violence’ in Nigeria March 5, 2026By Kate Scanlon OSV News Filed Under: News, Religious Freedom, World News Nigeria is facing “a terrifying crisis of religious violence,” the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom said in its 2026 annual report, released March 4.
Court allows subpoena of Archdiocese of Seattle in abuse investigation March 5, 2026By Gina Christian OSV News Filed Under: Child & Youth Protection, News, World News A Washington state appeals court has ruled that the state’s attorney general can subpoena religious organizations — including the Archdiocese of Seattle — for records related to alleged sexual abuse, as part of determining whether charitable funds were used to cover up such actions.
Rhode Island AG releases report on clerical abuse in Diocese of Providence March 5, 2026By Gina Christian OSV News Filed Under: Child & Youth Protection, News, World News Rhode Island’s attorney general has published a 284-page report on sexual abuse in the Diocese of Providence, capping a six-year investigation that began in 2019 through a voluntary agreement with the diocese to survey records stretching back to 1950.
Vatican theological commission warns of replacing God with ‘a world governed by machines’ March 5, 2026By Courtney Mares OSV News Filed Under: News, Vatican, World News The Vatican’s International Theological Commission has warned that if humanity places total trust in technology in a “world ruled by machines,” it risks replacing the “living God” with a counterfeit “virtual God.”
Cardinal Parolin questions whether missiles, bombs are solution to Iranian people’s aspirations March 4, 2026By Courtney Mares OSV News Filed Under: Conflict in the Middle East, News, Vatican, World News The Vatican secretary of state appealed for peace and diplomacy on the fifth day of the U.S. and Israel-Iran war, warning that recognition of any country’s right to wage “preventive war” according to their own criteria would risk the world “being set ablaze.”
Expert: Violent 764 group a ‘growing problem’ targeting vulnerable kids online March 4, 2026By Gina Christian OSV News Filed Under: Child & Youth Protection, News, social media, World News A number of violent extremist groups, led by minors and young adults, are increasingly targeting kids online — in some cases, with deadly results.
9 ‘perpetual pilgrims’ to travel patriotic East Coast route in 2026 National Eucharistic Pilgrimage March 4, 2026By OSV News OSV News Filed Under: Eucharist, News, World News Nine young adults have been selected as “perpetual pilgrims” to travel with the Eucharist along the East Coast this summer in the third National Eucharistic Pilgrimage. The pilgrims — five men and four women — will participate in the pilgrimage’s full route, which begins May 24 in Florida and reaches Maine before ending in Philadelphia July 5 for U.S. semiquincentennial celebrations.
Prayer, unity essential as conflict spreads to Gulf States, says apostolic vicar of region March 4, 2026By Junno Arocho Esteves OSV News Filed Under: Conflict in the Middle East, Feature, News, World News The apostolic vicar of Southern Arabia warned that the current military escalation in the Persian Gulf amid the U.S. and Israel-Iran war is a conflict with “ancient roots” that poses a serious threat to the Middle East and the wider world.
Amid U.S. and Israel-Iran war, Palestinian sisters find refuge in prayer at Jerusalem hospital March 4, 2026By Judith Sudilovsky OSV News Filed Under: Conflict in the Middle East, News, World News Among the belongings Asma Isyed, 68, brought from her West Bank village of Zababdeh in October were a small Bible and a booklet of prayers by St. Mariam Baouardy, a Palestinian saint.
Church is holy by Christ’s presence, not human perfection, pope says March 4, 2026By Josephine Peterson Catholic News Service Filed Under: News, Vatican, World News The Catholic Church is both a community made up of fragile and limited human beings and a divine reality, Pope Leo XIV said at his weekly general audience.
Vatican synod study group proposes creation of pontifical commission for new technologies March 4, 2026By Courtney Mares Catholic News Service Filed Under: News, Synodality, Vatican, World News A Synod on Synodality study group has recommended the creation of a new “Pontifical Commission for Digital Culture and New Technologies” in the first of 15 synod study group reports expected in the coming weeks.
