The importance of women in the Catholic Church cannot be “reduced” to the question of ministry, Pope Francis told members of the Dicastery for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments.

Record-breaking storms in Southern California have damaged several Catholic schools and church properties, while forcing one archdiocese to reschedule its rite of election for catechumens.

As congressional lawmakers appear to be at an impasse on immigration as a bipartisan border deal failed in the Senate and House Republicans failed to impeach Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, Catholic immigration advocates will continue to pursue “humane and just solutions,” one such advocate told OSV News.

In a January half marathon in Naples, among runners dressed in tank tops, short running shorts or even shirtless were two consecrated women religious in their in white, long-sleeved habits and black athletic shoes.

Argentina’s bishops expressed concern over rampant hunger and government cuts to parish soup kitchens, warning libertarian President Javier Milei that “food cannot be a variable in economic adjustments.”

People who act shocked that a priest would bless a gay couple but have no problem with him blessing a crooked businessman are hypocrites, Pope Francis said.

Since her 23-year-old son Hersh had his left arm blown off at the elbow and was taken hostage into Gaza by Hamas on Oct. 7, 2023, Rachel Goldberg-Polin has gone from the self-described “Jane Doe” anonymity of Jewish woman, to becoming the international voice for hostage families.

Feeling sad, disappointed or ashamed of oneself sometimes is normal and even can lead to conversion, but when people wallow in their sadness it becomes a dangerous vice, Pope Francis said.

Participating in a conference at Cardinal Stefan Wyszynski University in Warsaw, Cardinal Matteo Zuppi, Pope Francis’ special envoy to Ukraine, said that his mission to the war-torn country has specific patterns.

The head of the Dormition Abbey in Jerusalem has described as “heartbreaking” an incident of being spat at by Jewish extremists in the Old City, describing the suspects as “hooligans of religion.”