As America marks 250 years, Ukrainian Catholic bishops offer a lesson in what freedom costs July 8, 2026By Katarzyna Szalajko OSV News Filed Under: Feature, News, War in Ukraine, World News As America’s 250th anniversary was celebrated across the States and the world, with Pope Leo XIV accepting the Liberty Medal for the occasion, U.S. Ukrainian Catholic bishops asked Americans to consider the meaning of freedom through the experience of a nation still fighting to preserve it.
Catholic priest killed in Central African Republic remembered as a messenger of peace July 8, 2026By Frederick Nzwili OSV News Filed Under: Feature, News, Religious Freedom, World News A Catholic priest working for peace and reconciliation in the Central African Republic was killed by armed men near his residence in the town of Zemio on June 29.
France’s traditionalist Catholics rally behind Pope Leo XIV after SSPX schism July 7, 2026By Caroline de Sury OSV News Filed Under: Feature, News, Vatican, World News French Catholics attached to the traditional Latin Mass but loyal to Rome are expressing deep sadness after the Society of St. Pius X consecrated four bishops without papal approval, prompting the Vatican to declare the group in schism and excommunicate six SSPX bishops.
Ezra Jin Mingri, Chinese prisoner of conscience, released to US July 7, 2026By Kate Scanlon OSV News Filed Under: Feature, News, Religious Freedom, World News Ezra Jin Mingri, founder and pastor of an underground church in China and a prisoner of conscience in that country, was released from imprisonment and reunited with his family in the U.S. shortly before Independence Day, U.S. officials said.
US condemns detention of Nicaraguan bishop as Church awaits proof of his safety July 7, 2026By David Agren OSV News Filed Under: Feature, News, Religious Freedom, World News Another Nicaraguan bishop remains missing after being apprehended by police, drawing a rebuke from the United States for the ongoing “attacks on religious freedom” in the increasingly authoritarian country.
Vatican unveils agenda for global family summit marking ‘Amoris Laetitia’ anniversary July 7, 2026By Paulina Guzik OSV News Filed Under: News, Vatican, World News The Vatican has released the framework for a fall meeting with the heads of Eastern Catholic Churches and presidents of bishops’ conferences, marking the 10th anniversary of “Amoris Laetitia” and focusing on the Church’s pastoral approach to families.
Planned Parenthood to receive Medicaid funds again as defunding provision expires July 6, 2026By Kate Scanlon OSV News Filed Under: Feature, News, Respect Life, World News A provision of the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” that stopped Planned Parenthood from receiving Medicaid payments for a year expired July 4, allowing the nation’s largest abortion provider to regain access to hundreds of millions of dollars in Medicaid funding.
Pope Leo starts his summer break at Castel Gandolfo with cheerful welcome July 6, 2026By Paulina Guzik OSV News Filed Under: Feature, News, Vatican, World News When the papal coat of arms was hung at the balcony of the papal Castel Gandolfo residence July 5, locals knew that their main summer protagonist was on the way.
Pope visits U.S. embassy July 4 for discussion on peace and freedom, with a side of apple pie July 5, 2026By OSV News OSV News Filed Under: America's 250th anniversary, Feature, News, Vatican, World News After spending the morning praying for migrants on the island of Lampedusa, Italy, Pope Leo XIV celebrated the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence with the U.S. Ambassador to the Holy See and his family.
Mass of Thanksgiving for America’s 250th anniversary held at National Shrine in Washington July 5, 2026By Kurt Jensen OSV News Filed Under: America's 250th anniversary, Feature, News, World News Independence Day is a reminder that Americans’ “inalienable rights” mentioned in the Declaration of Independence — life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness — are gifts from God, Cardinal Donald W. Wuerl said July 4 in the nation’s capital.
Pope Leo to pilgrims: ‘Strong eucharistic heritage of US must continue as source of renewal, unity’ July 5, 2026By Gina Christian OSV News Filed Under: America's 250th anniversary, Eucharist, Feature, News, Vatican, World News Participants in the 2026 National Eucharistic Pilgrimage carry on the “great legacy of faith” that has crucially shaped the U.S., now marking its 250th anniversary, said Pope Leo XIV in a message to those gathered for the pilgrimage’s concluding liturgy in Philadelphia.
On U.S. Independence Day, Pope Leo XIV honors migrants in Lampedusa July 4, 2026By Josephine Peterson Catholic News Service Filed Under: America's 250th anniversary, Immigration and Migration, News, Vatican, World News For more than 30 years, Dr. Pietro Bartolo said he has examined more than 350,000 people and performed postmortem examinations on those who died making the crossing to Lampedusa, where migrants rescued from the Mediterranean first arrived.
