As Pope Leo XIV neared his 70th birthday Sept. 14, those closest to the American-born pontiff said they knew, very early on, that he was in for lifelong service to the church.

Catholics in the U.S. “like what they’ve seen so far” in Pope Leo XIV, with 8 in 10 viewing the new pope favorably — and significant numbers of non-Catholics agreeing, according to a new study from Pew Research Center.

At a time when people feel powerless to help migrants and refugees, Christians must continue to insist that “there is no justice without compassion, no legitimacy without listening to the pain of others,” Pope Leo XIV said.

President Donald Trump and law enforcement officials said Sept. 12 they had a suspect in custody in connection to the fatal shooting of conservative activist Charlie Kirk Sept. 10 during an event at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah.

Great spiritual traditions and mature critical thinking enable humanity to go beyond ethnicities, clans and cliques, which recognize only those who are similar and reject those who are different, Pope Leo XIV said.

Pope Leo XIV’s fellow Augustinians have elected a Philadelphia-area native as the order’s new prior general.

Pope Leo XIV told 192 new bishops from around the world that they must respond promptly to allegations of inappropriate or abusive behavior by priests.

While lawsuits proceed, a federal appeals court has allowed implementation of a provision of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act that would eliminate Medicaid funding for Planned Parenthood and its affiliates for one year.

Catholic faithful in Arizona gathered in prayer following the fatal shooting of conservative activist Charlie Kirk during a Sept. 10 public speaking event at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah.

Religious freedom violations are an early warning sign of where mass atrocities could occur around the globe, a new report from the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom said.