For Syrian Archbishop Jacques Mourad of Homs, who was held captive by the Islamic State group for five months in 2015, receiving an award named after St. John Paul II was a hopeful reminder of the late pontiff’s efforts to advance peace and dialogue in uncertain times.

The U.S. Catholic bishops have appointed veteran journalist Carol Glatz to head up their Rome-based news bureau, succeeding Cindy Wooden, another longtime journalist.

Welcoming a group of Holy Year pilgrims from Russia, Pope Leo XIV did not mention their country’s war on Ukraine, but he prayed that the pilgrims would let “the fire of Christian love” be kindled in their lives so it would warm “even the coldest and hardest of hearts.”

In anticipation of the celebration Oct. 19 of World Mission Sunday, the Vatican’s missionary news agency shared statistics about the Catholic population, church personnel and the works they are engaged in.

The official state visit of Britain’s King Charles III and Queen Camilla to Pope Leo XIV and the Vatican will focus on ecumenism and ecology, Vatican officials said Oct. 17.

Entrepreneur and former U.S. Marine Colby Barrett is part of the team behind “A Faith Under Siege,” a film that examines attacks by Russian forces and officials on hundreds of Ukrainian faith communities, including Catholic and Protestant believers.

Standing on a streetcorner greeting passersby is not something Will Threlkeld has ever done before. But every Monday morning in downtown Little Falls, that’s exactly where you can find him, greeting people and showing them the face of Jesus.

President Donald Trump announced Oct. 16 a policy proposal to increase access to in vitro fertilization, including issuing guidance urging employers to offer fertility benefits directly to their employees.

As Venezuelans await the upcoming canonization of the South American country’s first saints — Blessed José Gregório Hernández and Blessed María Carmen Elena Rendiles Martínez — both the church and the government prepare for the unprecedented event, promoting restoration works and planning the logistics of the several activities that will happen in Caracas and elsewhere.

Patriarchs and heads of the churches in Jerusalem said in a joint Oct. 14 statement they “rejoice at the recent enactment of the ceasefire in Gaza, and the release of those held captive,” which they hailed as “auspicious moment,” noting “the work of peacebuilding has only just begun.”