Two cardinals-to-be will stand out in a sea of red during a solemn consistory in St. Peter’s Basilica when Pope Francis creates 21 new cardinals Dec. 7.

Russian politicians want to close house churches and ban anointing faithful in flats. This would hit the religious communities hard and following the Orthodox Church hierarchy, Catholic bishops are also opposing the move.

At 53 years old, Capuchin Father Roberto Pasolini, the new preacher of the papal household, was among the youngest in the Vatican audience hall when he told Pope Francis and members of the Roman Curia: be open to change.

“Mary,” an earnest drama, will be available for streaming on Netflix Dec. 6.

Sudanese Catholic Bishop Yunan Tombe Trille Kuku Andali of El Obeid Dec. 2 described narrowly escaping execution in his country, where he has remained with the faithful amid a deadly war between the Sudan Armed Forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces.

The Catholic Health Association of the United States said the national organization, along with the Catholic health community, is “shocked and grieved” by the public killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson at the hands of a masked gunman.

Cardinal-designate Mykola Bychok said he hopes the characteristics that make him unique in the College of Cardinals will benefit the Catholic Church and the Ukrainian people.

The incoming Trump administration should “rethink” its plans to carry out mass deportations, the bishops of New Mexico wrote in an open letter.

The proposal — co-written by members of the institute and the Seattle-based Ending Clergy Abuse human rights organization — called for a global extension of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ protocol of permanently removing from ministry credibly accused priests or deacons.

Ukraine’s 1994 unilateral nuclear disarmament was “a truly prophetic gesture in favor of global peace,” although Russia has long since abandoned its pledge at the time to honor Ukraine’s sovereignty, said the head of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.