As fall begins, Catholics are watching closely for Pope Leo XIV’s first major Vatican appointments. One of the most urgent vacancies to fill is his own former role — prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops.

Over a century in the making, the Tower of Jesus Christ, designed by famed Spanish architect Antoni Gaudí, will soon crown the Basilica of the Sagrada Familia in Barcelona, making it the tallest Catholic Church in the world.

When people hit “rock bottom,” they can be confident that God is there ready to rescue and redeem them, Pope Leo XIV said.

Pope Leo XIV asked Catholics to pray the rosary each day in October for peace.

President Donald Trump on Sept. 23 addressed the U.N. General Assembly amid the backdrop of conflict in Gaza and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, as world leaders still question the extent to which the U.S. will be involved in global affairs as the Trump administration implements its “America First” foreign policy.

As artificial intelligence evolves at lightning speed, the University of Notre Dame has convened a summit to bring Catholic and Christian values to bear on AI technology.

Pope Leo XIV has appointed Bishop James F. Checchio of Metuchen, N.J., as coadjutor archbishop of New Orleans.

A Sept. 18 webinar held by the Maryknoll Office of Global Concern addressed the climate priorities of the peoples of the Global South, especially those of the Amazon region and the Guaraní Aquifer region — located beneath the surface of Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay. It’s the largest known aquifer system in the world.

At the start of National Migration Week, taking place this year Sept. 22-28, the chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Committee on Migration invited the faithful to join “The Cabrini Pledge” and be guardians of hope for migrants and refugees.

In its religious orders, the Catholic Church has an array of strong, courageous and generous women who care for the poor, defend peace and share the Gospel message of salvation in Christ, Pope Leo XIV said.