As Hurricane Melissa continued its devastating course through the Caribbean, Archbishop Timothy P. Broglio, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, urged Catholics to pray for and support the people and communities impacted by one of the strongest Atlantic hurricanes on record.

With Pope Leo XIV set to proclaim of St. John Henry Newman as a doctor of the church Nov. 1, let’s consider what criterion is used to make this decision, whether a layperson could be named a doctor and what sort of writings church doctors must have produced to be given this title.

Influential religious leaders reminded Catholics of their responsibility to combat antisemitism while celebrating the 60th anniversary of “Nostra Aetate,” a transformative church document in Catholic-Jewish relations, in the nation’s capital.

As a paramilitary group announced the capture of el-Fasher, the besieged capital of Sudan’s North Darfur state, Catholic Church leaders amplified calls for the protection of “forgotten” civilians — including thousands of children — trapped in the western Sudanese city.

Pope Leo XIV and Vatican officials have urged Catholic leaders across Asia to adopt a “zero tolerance” stance on abuse and called on them to strengthen measures to protect minors and vulnerable adults.

President Donald Trump’s ceasefire agreement in Gaza was tested Oct. 28 as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered the Israeli military to conduct strikes in Gaza as his government alleged Hamas violated a White House-backed ceasefire agreement by firing on Israeli forces and failing to return the remains of deceased hostages.

The president of the U.S. bishops’ conference has urged lawmakers to fund federal food assistance before a looming deadline risks disrupting benefits for more than 40 million people.

The director of apostolates for a Jamaica-based religious community serving the poor in Kingston said Oct. 28 that the Category-5 Hurricane Melissa seems to be sparing Kingston the worst of its wrath.

At a time when so many people and the planet are suffering, the world’s religions need to come together to promote truth, compassion, reconciliation, justice and peace, Pope Leo XIV said.

A landmark Catholic document, credited with igniting a revolution in Catholic-Jewish relations over the decades, has turned 60.