Marking the feast of Mary, Mother of God, and the start of the new year, Pope Francis renewed his appeal for a “firm commitment” to respect all human life worldwide.

The University of Mary in Bismarck, N.D., is launching a new early childhood center to care for the young children of its faculty and community members.

A week after inaugurating the Holy Year 2025, Pope Francis gave thanks for all the work that went into its preparation and prayed that it would be a year of peace, justice and fraternity.

The expectation that President-elect Donald J. Trump’s incoming administration will revoke the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s long-standing policy restricting the arrest of unauthorized immigrants at or near houses of worship has led faith leaders to protest what they say represents an impending threat to religious freedom.

The United States saw an increase of about 18 percent in homelessness this year, a record high, according to a federal report.

Olivia Hussey, known for her iconic on-screen portrayals of Mary and Mother Teresa, died Dec. 27 at age 73 at her California home, according to a statement released by her family the following day.

A historic year in American politics saw former President Donald Trump elected to a second term in the Oval Office four years after he lost his run for a consecutive term.

Speaking on one of the United Kingdom’s most popular radio programs, Pope Francis encouraged millions of listeners to reject pessimism, treat others with kindness and look to the future with hope.

The U.S. gathering — and related events preceding it — was a major undertaking in 2024. As the pinnacle of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ three-year National Eucharistic Revival, it is already proving to be a milestone in the life of the U.S. church, and in the lives of the Catholics who participated.

An army of little violinists dressed in traditional attire of Polish highlanders, or “górale,” went viral playing their Christmas carol in a gorgeous church in southern Poland, making a local legendary children’s orchestra go global.