Meloni look-alike angel sparks investigation at historic Roman church February 3, 2026By Paulina Guzik OSV News Filed Under: Arts & Culture, News, World News If anything can electrify Italians on a Saturday, it’s certainly a combination of politics and scandal. This time, angels were involved as Romans rushed to the church of San Lorenzo in Lucina, in the proximity of the tourist-bustling Spanish Steps and Via del Corso, to see an angel in a freshly restored chapel with a face identical to that of Giorgia Meloni, Italian prime minister.
Pope adds feast day of St. John Henry Newman to universal calendar February 3, 2026By Carol Glatz Catholic News Service Filed Under: News, Saints, Vatican, World News Pope Leo XIV has added the feast day of St. John Henry Newman, who is “a radiant light for the Church on pilgrimage through history,” to the General Roman Calendar so that “his Optional Memorial be celebrated by all on 9 October.”
Irish abuse survivor praises Pope Leo’s ’empathy,’ apology after private audience February 3, 2026By Junno Arocho Esteves OSV News Filed Under: Child & Youth Protection, News, Vatican, World News David Ryan, an Irish survivor whose tragic story of the abuse he and his brother suffered was the subject of a 2022 documentary, was overcome with emotion after meeting with Pope Leo XIV at the Vatican. The pope was reportedly shocked and apologized to the Irish victim.
Traditionalist society to consecrate new bishops in July without papal mandate February 3, 2026By Junno Arocho Esteves OSV News Filed Under: Bishops, News, World News The traditionalist Society of St. Pius X said it would proceed with the consecration of new bishops this summer, a move without a papal mandate that could lead to an automatic excommunication.
Sainthood cause formally opened for northwoods catechist of ‘this wild country’ February 3, 2026By Patricia Kasten Filed Under: News, Saints, World News While sometimes called “Sister Adele,” Brice — who was born Jan. 30, 1831, and whose last name is sometimes spelled “Brise” — remained a laywoman all her life, never taking public religious vows.
Illinois pitching for funds to shore up abortion tourism denounced as ‘macabre’ February 3, 2026By Simone Orendain OSV News Filed Under: News, Respect Life, World News The executive director of the Illinois bishops’ conference and an Illinois pro-life leader have decried the state’s call for funding to support Illinois’ abortion tourism industry after recent data indicated a slight weakening in the number of out-of-state women coming to the state to abort their unborn children.
Pope praises religious for courageous witness serving the marginalized February 3, 2026By Carol Glatz Catholic News Service Filed Under: Consecrated Life, News, Vatican, World News Pope Leo XIV praised consecrated men and women for going to the world’s peripheries and refusing to abandon their people, even amid conflict.
Happiness cannot be bought, hoarded, only shared with others, pope says February 2, 2026By Carol Glatz Catholic News Service Filed Under: News, Vatican, World News A lack of faith in Christ leads to many delusions, such as believing the arrogant will always rule and only money can buy happiness, Pope Leo XIV said.
Guatemala’s ‘Fray Augusto’ is a martyr of the confessional, vice postulator says February 2, 2026By Junno Arocho Esteves OSV News Filed Under: Consecrated Life, News, Saints, Vocations, World News At first glance, the official photo of Venerable Augusto Ramírez Monasterio — known simply as “Fray Augusto” — shows a smiling Franciscan friar standing in a small garden, hands clasped and slightly hidden within the sleeves of his brown habit.
Pope Leo prays for thousands affected by disastrous floods in southern Africa February 2, 2026By Fredrick Nzwili OSV News Filed Under: Disaster Relief, News, Vatican, World News As deadly floods hit southern Africa, Pope Leo XIV prayed for the affected, with Catholic bishops in the region urging support for thousands struck by the climate change-related disaster.
Minneapolis priest ‘not hopeful’ tensions will ease under border czar February 2, 2026By Gina Christian OSV News Filed Under: Immigration and Migration, News, World News A Minneapolis priest told OSV News that despite signals of deescalation, tensions over immigration enforcement actions in that city will not see the situation get “better in a few days.”
Pope welcomes new Marian mosaic, St. Rose of Lima statue in Vatican Gardens February 2, 2026By Paulina Guzik OSV News Filed Under: Marian Devotion, News, Vatican, World News The Vatican Gardens welcomed a new Marian mosaic and a statue of St. Rose of Lima, both created by young artists from Peru — in a ceremony that clearly delighted Pope Leo XIV — an American-born pope that holds Peru in “a special place” in his heart.
