In an era of vocations undeniably impacted by a statistically declining priesthood, it’s perhaps among the rarest of Catholic news headlines: Seminary opens.

In a a joyful milestone for the church and lovers of sacred art, Pope Francis declared famed Spanish architect Antoni Gaudí venerable April 14, recognizing his heroic virtues in a decree announced during a Vatican audience with Cardinal Marcello Semeraro.

Jesus, who redeemed humanity by giving up his life on the cross, shows that it is not strength that saves the world, but the “weakness” of boundless love, the papal preacher told thousands of people gathered for the Liturgy of the Lord’s Passion, including U.S. Vice President JD Vance.

The Diocese of Pensacola-Tallahassee is calling for prayers following an April 17 mass shooting at Florida State University’s main campus in Tallahassee, while a campus Catholic ministry is sheltering students and staff amid the lockdown.

When Deacon Vincent Charles is on a training run and meets a car, instead of waving a greeting, he now offers them the Sign of the Cross.

Catholics in France and Spain will also have reason to stay in their countries as their respective churches prepare to commemorate two of the Catholic Church’s most popular saints: Sts. Thérèse of Lisieux and Teresa of Ávila.

A British Catholic bishop has welcomed a ruling by the U.K. Supreme Court that a woman is defined solely by biological sex.

While he did not celebrate Mass or wash the feet of inmates, Pope Francis made his customary Holy Thursday visit to a detention facility, arriving at Rome’s Regina Coeli jail at about 3 p.m. April 17.

More than 1,500 people have been killed in Israeli bombardment of the enclave since it renewed the Israel-Hamas war on March 18, the Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza said.

In a joyful moment after the rosary on St. Bernadette Soubirous’ feast day April 16 at the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes in France, the shrine’s rector, Father Michel Daubanes, announced that a 72nd miracle at the famed pilgrimage site has been recognized.