St. Francis of Assisi was declared a saint nearly 800 years ago, just two years after his death. Not until much more recently — about 50 years ago — was the beloved 13th-century Italian friar called the patron of ecology.

Pope Leo XIV will carry the cross himself through all 14 stations of the Way of the Cross at Rome’s Colosseum on the first Good Friday of his pontificate.

Just over three years to the date after filing for Chapter 11 protection under the crush of nearly 440 Child Victims Act claims, the Diocese of Albany reached a $148 million settlement agreement with the survivors of sexual abuse by diocesan priests and others on March 27.

The U.S. Supreme Court March 31 issued a ruling finding that a Colorado law banning professional counseling services that practice “conversion therapy” for minors likely infringes on the First Amendment.

Vice President JD Vance will publish a new book this summer exploring his conversion to Catholicism as an adult, The Associated Press reported March 31.

The Catholic bishops of Missouri on March 26 issued a statement offering their support to a ballot measure that would both limit abortion and certain types of medical or surgical gender reassignment procedures for minors who identify as transgender.

Pope Leo XIV has appointed four U.S.-based scholars and leaders as members of the Dicastery for the Promotion of Integral Human Development.

The “faithful service” of retired Bishop William F. Murphy of Rockville Centre, who died March 26 at age 85, “leaves a lasting legacy on Long Island and throughout the universal Church,” said Bishop John O. Barres, the diocese’s current shepherd.

A Wisconsin priest arrested last year for child enticement and attempted sexual assault is facing new charges of possessing child sex abuse material.

A Catholic university in Qatar has closed its buildings as war in the Middle East continues — with the Iranian regime now explicitly naming American universities as “legitimate targets” in retaliation for strikes on two schools in Iran.