Gina Christian of OSV News catches you up on the Catholic news of the day for Sept. 11, 2026. Tune in and visit us online at osvnews.com.

Read the stories in this episode:

• Healing, peace, justice and unity do not "just happen. We have to work for it," Archbishop Ronald A. Hicks of New York said in his homily at his first Sept. 11 memorial Mass since becoming New York's archbishop. 
• Archbishop Paul S. Coakley of Oklahoma City, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, has urged the Trump administration to end mass deportations to Haiti.
• Pope Leo XIV will put Europe and peace at the center of his Sept. 28 visit to Metz, France, during his Sept. 25-28 trip. The northeastern city is closely linked to Robert Schuman, the French statesman and devout Catholic whose sainthood cause is underway.
• Catholic bishops in Mozambique say they remain perplexed and deeply grieved over the lack of answers three months after the assassination of Bishop Osório Citora Afonso.
• On the 25th anniversary of 9/11, friends of Father Mychal Judge are remembering the Franciscan friar and New York City Fire Department chaplain for his ministry to first responders, the poor, the sick and others who were often forgotten. 

Maggie Murray of OSV News catches you up on the Catholic news of the day for Sept. 10, 2026. Tune in and visit us online at osvnews.com.

Read the stories in this episode:

1. U.S. Catholic bishops are offering Masses and pastoral reflections marking 25 years since the September 11th attacks, with Archbishop Paul Coakley urging Catholics to renew their commitment to being instruments of peace in a fractured world.
2. Archbishop Charles Thompson of Indianapolis granted a temporary dispensation from the Sunday Mass obligation for Catholics who reasonably fear immigration detention, citing a surge in enforcement activity and the sudden separation of families.
3. The Minnesota Supreme Court heard arguments in a case testing whether a Catholic school can decline to renew the contract of an employee who identified as transgender, with a decision expected in early 2027.
4. Pope Leo XIV told 147 newly ordained bishops from five continents to make room in their hearts for everyone, pointing to his encyclical "Magnifica Humanitas" as a guide for safeguarding humanity in the age of artificial intelligence.
5. American Catholics are already preparing for World Youth Day 2027 in Seoul — the first ever held in mainland Asia and Pope Leo XIV's first as pope — drawn by Korean culture and the chance to see the first American pontiff.

Gina Christian of OSV News catches you up on the Catholic news of the day for Sept. 9, 2026. Tune in and visit us online at osvnews.com.

Read the stories in this episode:

• The U.S. Supreme Court on Sept. 8 declined a case from a New York Catholic woman seeking to send her son to kindergarten without receiving the vaccines the state requires to attend public school.
• Christians can help overcome the many distortions and lies about the true dignity of every human person and, in doing so, promote and defend human life, Pope Leo XIV said.
• Pope Leo XIV urged Church leaders linked to the Focolare movement to make "giving witness to unity" a priority in a world increasingly marked by polarization and fragmentation. 
• Andrzej Poczobut, a Belarusian Catholic dissident and journalist, returned to Belarus Sept. 8 after five months in exile in Poland, saying he was prepared to risk arrest and urging Western Catholics to remember Christians imprisoned by the Alexander Lukashenka regime.
• Pope Leo XIV’s Sept. 25-28 visit to France will bring him from Paris to Lourdes and Metz, with major public events, meetings with abuse survivors and a call to protect human dignity, French bishops said. 

Maggie Murray of OSV News catches you up on the Catholic news of the day for Sept. 8, 2026. Tune in and visit us online at osvnews.com.

Read the stories in this episode:

1. Cardinal Robert McElroy warned at a Labor Day Mass in Washington that artificial intelligence will radically reshape the labor market within twenty years, urging that workers have a genuine voice in decisions about automation.
2. Archbishop Stefan Hesse of Hamburg compared the U.S.-Mexico border fortifications to the Berlin Wall after a weeklong solidarity visit, warning that treating migration purely as a security threat erodes human dignity.
3. Pope Leo XIV returned to the Shrine of Our Lady of Good Counsel in Genazzano, a place of lifelong personal devotion, asking Mary's help to bring God's word to light through "courageous and wise decisions."
4. The Peruvian port city of Callao is building a nearly 46-foot statue of Pope Leo XIV — the world's largest monument to the pontiff — ahead of his November visit to the country where he holds citizenship.
5. The John Paul II Vatican Foundation will mark its 45th anniversary in Rome this October with a papal audience, highlighting scholarship work that has supported more than 1,100 students in Poland.

Gina Christian of OSV News catches you up on the Catholic news of the day for Sept. 4, 2026. Tune in and visit us online at osvnews.com.

Read the stories in this episode:

• Pope Leo XIV urged scholars from Oxford University's Oriel College to "seek the truth courageously" during a Sept. 4 audience at the Vatican, pointing to St. John Henry Newman as a model of faith and scholarship.
• Caritas Nepal's leader is urging global action on climate justice after catastrophic flooding in Nepal claimed more than 1,100 lives and left thousands missing.
• Women must be able to "exercise their leadership" and become "artisans of peace and guardians of life," as the global community fractures and conflicts increase, the Vatican told the United Nations. 
• A network of Catholic priests with more than 2,200 members worldwide has joined growing calls to describe the humanitarian crisis in Gaza as genocide, citing widespread civilian deaths, displacement and destruction in the Palestinian enclave. 
• Catholics in the Diocese of Rochester will soon have a physical link to Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen. A first-class relic of the famed cleric, who led the Rochester Diocese as its sixth bishop (1966-69), is being given to the diocese by Archbishop Sheen's native Diocese of Peoria. 

Gina Christian of OSV News catches you up on the Catholic news of the day for Sept. 3, 2026. Tune in and visit us online at osvnews.com.

Read the stories in this episode:

• Pope Leo XIV on Sept. 3 encouraged Catholic bishops serving in the Middle East to remain faithful to the Gospel despite the challenges of leading often small Christian communities, praising their "precious presence" across the region.
• The International Theological Commission has released a new document calling for ecological conversion and proposing the term "sin against creation and the Creator" as a more precise way of describing environmental wrongdoing.
• Archbishop Thomas G. Wenski of Miami described the apparent suicide of a Haitian student in Ohio as “a death of despair,” coming amid the loss of deportation protections for hundreds of thousands of Haitians in the United States.
• Cardinal Blase J. Cupich of Chicago, two orders of Catholic nuns and a pharmacist sued Illinois Sept. 3 over the state's physician-assisted suicide law, which permits physicians to aid terminally ill adults in dying by suicide. 
• British supporters of the traditional Latin Mass are pointing to growing youth participation as a sign of renewed interest in the Catholic faith.

Maggie Murray of OSV News catches you up on the Catholic news of the day for September 2, 2026. Tune in and visit us online at osvnews.com.

Read the stories in this episode:

1. Pope Leo XIV opened the Season of Creation with Mass at Castel Gandolfo, urging the faithful to "hear the melodious voice of creation" and insisting "it is not yet too late" to repair humanity's relationship with the environment.
2. A Montreal Superior Court judge ruled sexual misconduct allegations against Cardinal Marc Ouellet were false and ordered his accuser to pay $100,000 in damages, which the cardinal has pledged to donate to organizations fighting abuse of Indigenous Canadians.
3. American Catholic teacher Sarah Morse reached an out-of-court settlement with a Scottish school that fired her after she told students she opposed abortion because of her faith.
4. Archbishop Shelton Fabre marked Labor Day by urging Catholics to be "builders of communion" and to safeguard human dignity as artificial intelligence reshapes the economy and deepens anxieties among low-wage workers and young people.
5. Voters in multiple states will decide November ballot measures on abortion, gender policy and housing, including Missouri's Amendment 3, which the state's Catholic conference views with cautious optimism.

Maggie Murray of OSV News catches you up on the Catholic news of the day for September 1, 2026. Tune in and visit us online at osvnews.com.

Read the stories in this episode:

1. Pope Leo XIV dedicated his September prayer intention to the care of water as the Season of Creation begins, calling access to safe drinking water a fundamental human right amid a global crisis affecting 2.1 billion people.
2. The school at Holy Family Parish in Gaza reopened for roughly 1,000 students for the first time since the war began, with Bishop William Shomali calling it a sign that Christian families "are not forgotten and will not be abandoned."
3. Senator Bill Cassidy released a report calling on the FDA to reinstate in-person dispensing requirements for mifepristone and accusing abortion drug manufacturers of failing to meet their legal safety obligations.
4. In his full World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation message, Pope Leo XIV argued that war and environmental destruction share a common root in the human heart, requiring conversion rather than structural reform alone.
5. Nashville seminarians in the propaedeutic stage of formation spent their summer living in tents and working at a Middle Tennessee farm, blending manual labor with morning prayer, silent meals, Eucharistic adoration and daily Mass.

Gina Christian of OSV News catches you up on the Catholic news of the day for Aug. 31, 2026. Tune in and visit us online at osvnews.com

Read the stories in this episode:

• Bishop Joseph C. Bambera, head of the U.S. bishop's committee on ecumenical and interreligious affairs, has expressed his robust support for biblical scholar Amy-Jill Levine, as she faces antisemitic backlash for her recent appointment as the first Jewish president of the Catholic Biblical Association of America.
• Pope Leo XIV has issued a new document that gives the synod of bishops of the Eastern Catholic Church the power to remove a patriarch from office, if their relationship be, as Vatican News reports, "irreparably compromised for serious reasons." 
• Whatever the injustice or injury, do not revert to hatred or violence, since only love, hope, forgiveness and respect will protect and promote human dignity, Pope Leo XIV told the faithful in an Aug. 29 homily. 
• Pope Leo XIV ordered the Holy See's communications office to stop using artwork by Father Marko Rupnik, according to a French Bishop Jean-Marc Micas of Tarbes and Lourdes. 
• Archbishop William E. Lori of Baltimore dedicated and blessed retreat house in Washington, D.C., adjacent to St. John Paul II National Shrine, with both projects initiatives of the Knights of Columbus.

Gina Christian of OSV News catches you up on the Catholic news of the day for Aug. 28, 2026. Tune in and visit us online at osvnews.com.

Read the stories in this episode:

• The Department of Justice said today the FBI "took minimal corrective action" after a controversial leaked memo discussed "radical traditionalist" Catholics.
• "We are stronger when we do this work together," biblical scholar Amy-Jill Levine, the first Jewish president of the Catholic Biblical Association, told OSV News amid antisemitic backlash to her appointment.
• A Catholic legal scholar told OSV News that Meta's major $18 billion settlement to resolve claims about its platforms' impact on kids and teens could mark an important step toward greater accountability for social media companies -- but a federal law would be even more effective.  
• Maronite Bishop A. Elias Zaidan, chair of the U.S. Catholic Bishops' Committee on International Justice and Peace, is calling on the international community to step up aid after devastating torrents of water and mud raged along the Nepal-China border Aug. 26, killing close to 400 with almost  2,000 still missing. 
• Pope Leo XIV met with a U.S. delegation of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul on Friday, urging members to live out their faith through direct service to the poor.

Gina Christian of OSV News catches you up on the Catholic news of the day for Aug. 27, 2026. Tune in and visit us online at osvnews.com.

Read the stories in this episode:

• Pope Leo XIV has expressed deep sorrow following a catastrophic glacial collapse along the Nepal-China border that triggered massive flash floods and mudslides, killing almost 400 people so far, with more than 1,400 reported missing.
• Archbishop Bernard A. Hebda is encouraging the faithful of the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis and all community members to be "beacons of light" at the one-year mark of a fatal shooting during an all-school Mass at Annunciation School and Church in Minneapolis.
• The Thomas More Society announced U.S. District Court Judge Franklin Valderrama on Aug. 21 placed the temporary restraining order on Illinois' End of Life Options for Terminally Ill Patients Act for specific individuals.
• Archbishop Paul R. Gallagher, Vatican secretary for relations with states, used a visit to Moscow to press for an end to Russia's war in Ukraine, urging negotiations backed by the international community. 
• The Diocese of Knoxville, Tennessee, is remembering the late Dolly Parton -- whose career as a singer, songwriter, actress, businesswoman and philanthropist spanned decades -- as "one of our own."

Gina Christian of OSV News catches you up on the Catholic news of the day for Aug. 26, 2026. Tune in and visit us online at osvnews.com.

Read the stories in this episode:

• Pope Leo XIV on Aug. 25 appointed Knights of Columbus Supreme Knight Patrick Kelly as a member of the Vatican Dicastery for the Laity, Family and Life, adding the leader of the world's largest Catholic fraternal organization to a body that helps guide the Church's outreach to laypeople, families and young people.
• Hundreds of faith leaders and organizations urged the Trump administration to extend Temporary Protected Status for El Salvador before it expires in September.
• Cardinal Blase J. Cupich of Chicago has reinstated Father Michael Pfleger, known for his longtime social justice ministry, as pastor of St. Sabina Parish after an inquiry cleared the cleric of abuse allegations.
• Spanish Catholics are marking twin anniversaries tied to St. John of the Cross, with renewed public interest in the 16th-century mystic, poet and reformer drawing pilgrims, scholars and visitors to sites across Spain.
• Through the tragedy of losing a loved one, a Washington state family found themselves in a dark place -- but it was there the Sacred Heart shone. 

Maggie Murray of OSV News catches you up on the Catholic news of the day for August 25, 2026. Tune in and visit us online at osvnews.com.

Read the stories in this episode:

1. Pope Leo XIV told members of Spain's Marsodeto Federation that recognizing Christ in the faces of people with disabilities helps society grow, praising their 45 years of service to more than 2,600 people.
2. Archbishop Paul Gallagher arrived in Moscow for a four-day diplomatic visit as European leaders gathered in Kyiv for Ukraine's independence anniversary, reflecting the Vatican's commitment to keeping dialogue open.
3. Father Thomas Esposito of Our Lady of Dallas Cistercian Abbey published "Blue Miles," a debut novel following an elderly monk through a single day and exploring both the joys and struggles of monastic life.
4. Jesuit Father Robert Spitzer's new "Science, Reason, and Faith: Catholic Study Bible" aims to show that science and faith are complementary, addressing a leading reason young Catholics leave the Church.
5. A new Iona Institute report found Catholic baptisms in Ireland fell nearly 30 percent over the past decade, driven by declining birth rates and accelerating secularization.

Maggie Murray of OSV News catches you up on the Catholic news of the day for August 24, 2026. Tune in and visit us online at osvnews.com.

Read the stories in this episode:

1. Pope Leo XIV called for a culture of love and mercy to overcome hatred, suspicion and the “culture of power,” urging people to challenge unjust structures and become courageous pioneers of change.
2. A year after the shooting at Annunciation Catholic School and Church in Minneapolis, Molly and Matt Stommes reflect on the tragedy and the meaningful, practical support their family and community have received.
3. Hundreds of Catholics gathered in Houston for a Mass, prayer procession and candlelight vigil honoring Lorenzo Salgado Araujo, with Church leaders and his family calling for compassion, accountability and justice.
4. Two months after devastating earthquakes struck northern Venezuela, the Catholic Church continues its spiritual and humanitarian response as Archbishop Jesús González de Zárate emphasizes hope, mercy and solidarity with survivors.
5. Young Catholics in the Washington Archdiocese say invitations, authentic relationships, belonging, clear teaching and keeping Christ at the center can help draw their peers to the Church and give them reasons to stay.

Gina Christian of OSV News catches you up on the Catholic news of the day for Aug. 21, 2026. Tune in and visit us online at osvnews.com.

Read the stories in this episode:

• Archbishop Bernard A. Hebda of St. Paul and Minneapolis presided Aug. 19 at Mass ahead of a panel discussion with members of Minneapolis' Annunciation Catholic School community recounting their experiences following a fatal shooting during an all-school Mass Aug. 27, 2025. 
• All mosaics created by disgraced former Jesuit artist Father Marko Rupnik on the Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary in Lourdes will be covered ahead of Pope Leo XIV's September visit and remain hidden indefinitely.
• Pope Leo XIV is urging lawmakers worldwide to establish strong guardrails for artificial intelligence, warning that unchecked technological progress risks eroding human dignity.
• Pope Leo XIV met with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun at the Vatican on Aug. 20 as church officials voiced deep concern over stalled efforts to secure peace along the Lebanon-Israel border.
• Catholic education is "an act of hope" that demands a holistic commitment from parents, clergy and teachers to form children in the truth of Christ's love, said Bishop Earl K. Fernandes of Columbus, Ohio. 

Maggie Murray of OSV News catches you up on the Catholic news of the day for August 20, 2026. Tune in and visit us online at osvnews.com.

Read the stories in this episode:

1. Pope Leo XIV called war and environmental destruction symptoms of a deeper moral crisis in his message for the World Day of Prayer for Creation, urging a spiritual conversion that redirects resources from destruction to caring for the poor.
2. Arizona's Supreme Court issued a second ruling on clergy-penitent privilege, prompting canon law experts to clarify that while conversations outside the confessional may lose legal protection, the sacramental seal of confession itself remains absolutely inviolable.
3. Eighty clergy from the Archdiocese of Bogotá departed on a five-day "Spiritual First Aid" mission to earthquake-devastated Colombian cities, offering prayer, pastoral support and reconciliation to survivors as the death toll reached 319.
4. Papal nuncio Archbishop Visvaldas Kulbokas told OSV News that prayer remains Ukraine's "number one weapon" against Russian aggression, warning that spiritual despair would be a more tragic defeat than the war itself.
5. Thousands gathered along Louisiana's Bayou Teche for the Fête-Dieu du Teche, a 40-mile Eucharistic boat procession retracing the path of exiled Acadian Catholics and celebrating both the Assumption and Cajun heritage.

Gina Christian of OSV News catches you up on the Catholic news of the day for Aug. 19, 2026. Tune in and visit us online at osvnews.com.

Read the stories in this episode:

• A shooting in a Jesuit-run school in the Philippines, which saw a student kill a fellow student before killing himself, sparked shock and reignited alarm over juvenile delinquency and campus security. 
• Pope Leo XIV and church leaders in Poland and Hungary are mourning 12 Polish pilgrims killed in a bus crash in eastern Hungary while returning from the Marian shrine of Medjugorje.
• Singing and playing music during the liturgy is an integral and necessary part of the celebration, which means it is much more than something "decorative," Pope Leo XIV said. 
• Technology use is commonplace in U.S. Catholic schools, but as more studies show the harms of heavy tech use in the classroom and beyond, some schools are starting to pull back. 
• Pope Leo XIV has appointed three U.S.-based consultors, all with ties to the University of Notre Dame in Indiana, to the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development. 

Maggie Murray of OSV News catches you up on the Catholic news of the day for August 18, 2026. Tune in and visit us online at osvnews.com.

Read the stories in this episode:

1. Pope Leo XIV offered prayers and consolation for Zimbabwe after an overloaded ferry capsized on Lake Kariba, killing at least 92 people, with local bishops coordinating pastoral care for grieving families.
2. Residents of Taybeh, the West Bank's last fully Christian village, face escalating settler harassment and threats to their olive harvest, prompting Pope Leo XIV to renew his call for a two-state solution.
3. USCCB education director John DeJak highlighted the nation's nearly 5,800 Catholic schools serving 1.7 million students as a new school year begins, emphasizing parents' obligation to form children in the faith.
4. Archbishop Gustavo García-Siller announced the laicization and excommunication of Father John Mary Foster, found guilty of schism for calling Popes Francis and Leo XIV "usurpers" and defying archdiocesan authority.
5. Ahead of Archbishop Fulton Sheen's September beatification, OSV News highlighted the largely forgotten women who sustained his missionary fundraising operation for sixteen years as national director of the Society for the Propagation of the Faith.

Maggie Murray of OSV News catches you up on the Catholic news of the day for August 17, 2026. Tune in and visit us online at osvnews.com.

Read the stories in this episode:

1. Pope Leo XIV said true beauty is found in enduring love rather than worldly aesthetics during his Feast of the Assumption homily, pointing to weary parents and devoted grandparents as modern reflections of Mary's love.
2. Pope Leo XIV expressed deep sadness and offered spiritual solidarity to Indonesia after a magnitude 7.7 earthquake killed at least 53 people and displaced nearly 5,500, prompting the Archdiocese of Ende to move Masses outdoors.
3. Pope Leo XIV renewed his call to end escalating West Bank violence and pursue a two-state solution after Israeli settler attacks surged against Taybeh, one of the region's last Christian villages.
4. LCWR president Sister Vicky Larson urged Catholic sisters to "lead by listening" as their annual Orlando assembly closed, with Sister Debra Sciano beginning her term as the new president representing two-thirds of US women religious.
5. More than 2,000 Catholic Scouts gathered for an outdoor Mass at Scouting America's National Jamboree in West Virginia, with Bishop Evelio Menjívar calling the joyful liturgy "always a sign of hope."

Maggie Murray of OSV News catches you up on the Catholic news of the day for August 14, 2026. Tune in and visit us online at osvnews.com.

Read the stories in this episode:

1. Florida's Catholic bishops urged Governor Ron DeSantis to commute William Silvia's August 18th execution to life without parole, citing Church teaching that "every human life, given by God, is sacred."
2. Iowa's four Catholic dioceses formed the Iowa Catholic Scholarship Granting Organization to help families access a new federal education tax credit offering up to $1,700 for K-12 scholarship donations starting in 2027.
3. An Australian court convicted former Bishop Christopher Saunders of 13 counts of sexually abusing three young Aboriginal men, prompting the Vatican to resume its paused canonical investigation.
4. Pope Leo XIV called on the world to prioritize the dignity of vulnerable migrant children in his World Day of Migrants and Refugees message, warning of trafficking, conflict recruitment and sexual violence along transit routes.
5. The Vatican released its first euro coin set featuring Pope Leo XIV's portrait, marking his pontificate's start and the 800th anniversary of St. Francis of Assisi's death.

Maggie Murray of OSV News catches you up on the Catholic news of the day for August 13, 2026. Tune in and visit us online at osvnews.com.

Read the stories in this episode:

1. The Supreme Court set November 3rd for oral arguments in St. Mary Catholic Parish v. Roy, a case over whether Colorado's universal preschool program can exclude Catholic preschools based on their religious beliefs.
2. Arizona's Supreme Court unanimously ruled that courts must defer to church doctrine in defining what qualifies as a "confession," a decision Catholic dioceses say bolsters protection for the seal of confession.
3. Jordan is investing $120 million to prepare Al-Maghtas, the site of Christ's Baptism, for millions of pilgrims expected for the 2,000th anniversary of the event in 2030.
4. Pope Leo XIV sent an initial 100,000 euros in emergency Vatican aid to Colombia as the earthquake death toll climbed to at least 265, with additional resources being prepared for long-term recovery.
5. The Dominican friar band Hillbilly Thomists released their sixth album, "Strange Land," while touring ten cities, wrapping up in Nashville on the feast of St. Dominic.

Maggie Murray of OSV News catches you up on the Catholic news of the day for August 12, 2026. Tune in and visit us online at osvnews.com.

Read the stories in this episode:

1. Bishop Thomas Paprocki, four Catholic doctors and a Lutheran nursing home sued Illinois to block a new physician-assisted suicide law from taking effect September 12th, arguing it violates religious and free-speech protections.
2. Pope Leo XIV urged sisters gathered at the Leadership Conference of Women Religious to actively foster vocations, pointing to "a growing hunger for God" among young people despite widespread secularization.
3. A Spanish Christian legal group filed a formal complaint after intruders desecrated tabernacles and a relic of St. Margaret Mary Alacoque at a Madrid parish, demanding the incident be investigated as a religious hate crime.
4. Bishops' conferences across Latin America pledged prayers and humanitarian aid for Colombia as the death toll from Sunday's magnitude 7.4 earthquake surpassed 250, with CELAM coordinating relief for displaced and indigenous communities.
5. Pope Leo XIV called Sunday "the foundation and kernel" of the liturgical year, urging Catholics and employers alike to prioritize conditions that allow everyone to attend Sunday Mass.

Maggie Murray of OSV News catches you up on the Catholic news of the day for August 11, 2026. Tune in and visit us online at osvnews.com.

Read the stories in this episode:

1. Pope Leo XIV offered prayers and condolences after a magnitude 7.4 earthquake killed at least 132 people in Colombia, as bishops called on citizens to respond as "one family" through prayer and support for rescue efforts.
2. Massachusetts bishops condemned Governor Maura Healey's signing of a new law removing legal restrictions on abortion after 24 weeks as "a radical measure which is gravely immoral."
3. Catholic experts told OSV News that recent AI security disclosures from Anthropic and OpenAI reinforce the Church's warning that human responsibility cannot be transferred onto technology.
4. Pro-life organizations led by Advancing American Freedom pressed newly confirmed Attorney General Todd Blanche to follow through on his promise to review a Biden-era policy permitting mifepristone by mail.
5. The Vatican announced Pope Leo XIV's 2027 World Day of Peace message will focus on "disarming technology," building on his encyclical to warn against AI's role in military decisions.

Maggie Murray of OSV News catches you up on the Catholic news of the day for August 10, 2026. Tune in and visit us online at osvnews.com.

Read the stories in this episode:

1. As preparations accelerate for World Youth Day 2027 in Seoul, organizers are preparing to welcome young Catholics from around the world for a gathering centered on hope, hospitality, solidarity and Korea’s rich Catholic heritage. 
2. The Diocese of Wichita is opening St. Philip Neri Seminary after more than 20 years of planning, with Church leaders describing the new institution as a major investment in forming holy, joyful and faithful priests. 
3. A bankruptcy judge has allowed abuse survivors to pursue legal action seeking to include Vermont Catholic parishes and schools in claims against the Diocese of Burlington, while stressing that the ruling does not make those entities automatically liable. 
4. Thirty-five years after Fathers Michal Tomaszek and Zbigniew Strzalkowski were murdered by Peru’s Shining Path guerrillas, their fellow Franciscan says their decision to remain with vulnerable communities continues to witness to missionary courage, prayer and service. 
5. Thousands of Catholics gathered in Denver to venerate relics of St. Margaret Mary Alacoque, whose devotion to the Sacred Heart was symbolically joined with the legacy of Julia Greeley, a Denver Catholic known for charity and devotion to the Sacred Heart.

Maggie Murray of OSV News catches you up on the Catholic news of the day for August 7, 2026. Tune in and visit us online at osvnews.com.

Read the stories in this episode:

1. Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche signaled on a private call that the Trump administration is preparing policies to stop mifepristone distribution by mail, though the Justice Department later said his comments had been "mischaracterized."
2. The Archdiocese of Chicago dedicated "At Peace," believed to be the first suicide loss memorial garden created by a U.S. Catholic archdiocese, offering grieving families a place to encounter God's love and peace.
3. Catholic Scouting America launched a year-long "Novena Prayer for America" honoring the nation's 250th anniversary, with intentions mirroring the priorities of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.
4. OSV News learned that 22 previously undisclosed letters from Slovenian women allegedly abused by Father Marko Rupnik add new documentation to his ongoing Vatican canonical trial.
5. The Vatican released the full itinerary for Pope Leo XIV's September visit to France, including a private meeting with abuse victims alongside stops in Paris, Lourdes and Metz.

Maggie Murray of OSV News catches you up on the Catholic news of the day for August 6, 2026. Tune in and visit us online at osvnews.com.

Read the stories in this episode:

1. Pope Leo XIV challenged 2,500 young people gathered in Assisi for the Jubilee Year of St. Francis to become the "new saints" the world needs, urging them to embrace the Gospel with the freedom of Christ.
2. Renewed Israeli strikes in Gaza are casting doubt on the White House's peace plan, with a Notre Dame scholar disputing claims of real progress even as Catholic bishops call for intense prayer for the negotiations' success.
3. Bishop Daniel Garcia marked the 61st anniversary of the Voting Rights Act by calling for reflection on full democratic participation, echoing Pope Leo XIV's affirmation that democracy reflects citizens' God-given dignity.
4. A week after a massive migrant surge overwhelmed Ceuta, Spanish Catholic groups continued providing aid while local Catholics processed Our Lady of Africa through the enclave's streets as a sign of hope amid ongoing humanitarian concerns.
5. Acutis AI co-founder Peter Cooney unpacked Pope Leo XIV's encyclical "Magnifica Humanitas" at a Washington conference, explaining the pope's call to engage AI's dangers with hope rather than fear.

Gina Christian of OSV News catches you up on the Catholic news of the day for Aug. 5, 2026. Tune in and visit us online at osvnews.com.

Read the stories in this episode:

• Pope Leo XIV will make the first apostolic journey of his pontificate to South America Nov. 6-17, visiting 10 cities across Uruguay, Argentina and Peru.
• Returning to his weekly general audiences after a monthlong summer break, Pope Leo XIV urged Catholics to embrace the Liturgy of the Hours more fully in their daily lives, saying the church's public prayer is an antidote to a world shaped by technology, consumerism and an efficiency-driven mindset.
• Pope Leo XIV mourned the death of Cardinal Júlio Duarte Langa, bishop emeritus of Xai-Xai, Mozambique, who died Aug. 3 at age 98 while receiving treatment in a Maputo hospital.
• At "an unprecedented moment" in U.S. immigration policy, Archbishop Gustavo García-Siller of San Antonio is assuring migrants in a new pastoral letter, released Aug. 3, that the Church "will come to you."
• Jason Adkins, executive director and general counsel of the Minnesota Catholic Conference, has been elected president of the National Association of State Catholic Conference Directors, or NASCCD, and will serve a two-year term through August 2028. 

Maggie Murray of OSV News catches you up on the Catholic news of the day for August 4, 2026. Tune in and visit us online at osvnews.com.

Read the stories in this episode:

1. Bishop Thomas Daly of Spokane called for prayer as wildfires displaced more than 65,000 people across Washington state, with at least one of the three Spokane Complex fires believed to be human-caused.
2. Notre Dame law professor Rick Garnett called Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier's letter demanding Catholic schools adopt vaccine religious exemptions or lose voucher funding "a glaring and dangerous government overreach" that violates First Amendment protections.
3. Catholic groups nationwide, including a Kentucky parish ministry aiming for 1,000 rosaries, are crafting World Mission Rosaries to distribute to pilgrims at Archbishop Fulton Sheen's September 24th beatification in St. Louis.
4. A new University of Notre Dame report offers 12 recommendations for improving seminarian formation, emphasizing psychological services, special needs support, and fostering healthy chastity and celibacy among future priests.
5. Scholars identified two previously unknown sermons by St. Augustine in a 12th-century manuscript in Pelplin, Poland, revealing his openness to multiple interpretations of difficult biblical passages and his emphasis on God's mercy.

Gina Christian of OSV News catches you up on the Catholic news of the day for Aug. 3, 2026. Tune in and visit us online at osvnews.com.

Read the stories in this episode:

• The Diocese of El Paso, Texas, has shut down its long-running legal aid ministry to unaccompanied child migrants, as the Trump administration withholds almost $1 million in funding for work already performed. 
• Police in northern Nigeria are investigating the murder of a Catholic priest killed in an apparent roadside ambush in Kogi state.
• A Spanish missionary priest has been appointed to lead the Archdiocese of Rabat following abuse allegations against its leader, Cardinal Cristóbal López Romero.
• Cardinal Ernest Simoni, 97, returned to Albania’s former Spaç prison camp, where he secretly celebrated Mass during 18 years of forced labor, to publicly celebrate Mass July 31 and honor those who suffered and died there.
• Pope Leo XIV is inviting Catholics to pray "for evangelization in the city" as his August prayer intention, asking the Lord to accompany millions searching for meaning amid the noise and haste of urban life. 

Gina Christian of OSV News catches you up on the Catholic news of the day for July 31, 2026. Tune in and visit us online at osvnews.com.

Read the stories in this episode:

• A federal judge temporarily shielded on July 30 four orders of women religious and Catholic healthcare ministries from enforcement of a New York state law allowing physicians to aid terminally ill adults in dying by suicide.
• A Catholic-supported hospital in Gaza City sustained damage after an Israeli airstrike hit a nearby residential apartment late July 29, according to the Catholic Near East Welfare Association's Pontifical Mission in Lebanon and Syria.
• The Hillbilly Thomists are in the midst of a 10-city U.S. tour, scheduled to end Aug. 8 -- the feast of St. Dominic -- in Nashville for Dominican Fest at the Dominican Campus, home to three schools run by the Dominican Sisters of St. Cecilia. 
• The Diocese of Cádiz and Ceuta is offering emergency assistance to civil authorities after more than 60,000 migrants crossed from Morocco into the Spanish enclave of Ceuta, creating the largest migration crisis in the territory's history.
• As an estimated 350,000 Haitian immigrants in the United States face losing Temporary Protected Status, church leaders are calling for prayer and action.

Maggie Murray of OSV News catches you up on the Catholic news of the day for July 30, 2026. Tune in and visit us online at osvnews.com.

Read the stories in this episode:

1. Bishop Daniel Flores expressed relief that Sister Leticia Ugbaoja, a Nigerian-born nurse and religious sister detained by ICE en route to Mass, can remain in the US while her immigration case proceeds, though the ultimate outcome remains uncertain.
2. Jennie Bradley Lichter announced she is stepping down as president of the March for Life effective July 31st to become a full-time mother, leaving the organization to seek new leadership amid key pro-life policy battles.
3. Catholic immigration advocates including CLINIC condemned a new Trump administration rule, issued without public comment, that could push nearly 445,000 asylum seekers directly into deportation proceedings.
4. UK Catholic leaders praised Prime Minister Andy Burnham's commitment to strengthening palliative care ahead of a September vote on assisted dying legislation, while urging him to also act on overseas aid, homelessness and child poverty.
5. Pope Leo XIV reflected on music's power to draw people toward God after Andrea Bocelli led 164 young singers in a Jubilee concert at Castel Gandolfo marking the 800th anniversary of St. Francis of Assisi's death.

Maggie Murray of OSV News catches you up on the Catholic news of the day for July 29, 2026. Tune in and visit us online at osvnews.com.

Read the stories in this episode:

1. Police detained a Polish suspect in the Medjugorje vandalism attack as workers restored the damaged statue and altar, while a Catholic filmmaker who knew the man urged restraint over online condemnation ahead of the shrine's annual youth festival.
2. President Trump marked the 45th anniversary of Blessed Stanley Rother's martyrdom, honoring the Oklahoma-born priest as the first American-born martyr beatified by the Catholic Church for his sacrificial service in Guatemala.
3. Florida executed two death row inmates in a single day for the first time since 1964, just one day after the state's Catholic bishops issued a pastoral letter condemning capital punishment as part of "a culture of death."
4. Bishop Manuel de Jesús Rodríguez told attendees at a Palm Beach event that clergy sexual abuse threatens "faith itself" by destroying the credibility of those entrusted to preach the Gospel, drawing on his own doctoral research into canon law protections for victims.
5. Oslo's Bishop Fredrik Hansen described Nobel laureate Sigrid Undset's post-conversion life as reflecting the heroic virtues required for sainthood, noting strong interest from American Catholics helped prompt his diocese to formally begin exploring her canonization cause.

Maggie Murray of OSV News catches you up on the Catholic news of the day for July 28, 2026. Tune in and visit us online at osvnews.com.

Read the stories in this episode:

1. Vandals defaced statues of the Virgin Mary and set fire to the altar at Medjugorje's Church of St. James early Tuesday, prompting condemnation from Bosnia-Herzegovina's Interreligious Council and calls for prayer for the perpetrator's conversion.
2. Representative Veronica Escobar introduced the "Mount Cristo Rey Protection Act" to block the Trump administration's eminent domain seizure of a century-old New Mexico pilgrimage site for border wall construction, as the Diocese of Las Cruces continues its court battle.
3. Pope Leo XIV named Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone of San Francisco and Bishop Edward Lohse of Kalamazoo to the Vatican's highest court, the Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signatura, among seven new members appointed July 25th.
4. Pope Leo XIV urged young Catholics in Peru, Brazil and Portugal to reject complacency and live their faith with "holy rebelliousness," pointing to St. Carlo Acutis as a model of digital-age holiness.
5. French Church and political leaders marked the 10th anniversary of Father Jacques Hamel's murder by Islamist terrorists, with his sister Roseline Hamel reflecting on forgiveness and her unlikely friendship with an attacker's mother.

Gina Christian of OSV News catches you up on the Catholic news of the day for July 27, 2026. Tune in and visit us online at osvnews.com.

Read the stories in this episode:

• During his Angelus address in Castel Gandolfo July 26,  Pope Leo XIV renewed his urgent appeals for peace in the Holy Land and across the Middle East during his Angelus address in Castel Gandolfo, expressing deep concern over the escalating violence and calling for an immediate return to dialogue.
• Religious persecution predominantly affecting Christian communities in Nigeria remains a key concern for the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom, the commission's new chair told OSV News in a July 24 interview. 
• Pope Leo XIV called for prayers July 26 as massive wildfires rage across Spain and France, forcing hundreds of thousands of people to evacuate their homes.
• Pope Leo XIV has appointed Archbishop Christophe-Zakhia el-Kassis, apostolic nuncio to the United Arab Emirates and Yemen, as the Holy See's new permanent observer to the United Nations in New York.
• About 300 Catholics gathered July 25 at St. Augustine Church in Philadelphia's Old City for a rare celebration that brought the sights, sounds and prayers of early American Catholic life back to life.

Gina Christian of OSV News catches you up on the Catholic news of the day for July 24, 2026. Tune in and visit us online at osvnews.com.

Read the stories in this episode:

• A recent OpenAI security incident that saw a test model go rogue may be a sign of more to come, and a call to double down on preventing future attacks, a Catholic expert on artificial intelligence ethics told OSV News.
• Give those targeted in immigration enforcement operations "the chance to be heard," said a religious sister detained by U.S. Customs and Enforcement agents for several hours en route to Mass June 28, amid an intended third-country deportation effort. 
• Four Catholic journalists have launched an initiative to deliver the personal prayers and reflections of Venezuelan earthquake survivors directly to Pope Leo XIV. 
• Several young adults who spent the summer as "perpetual pilgrims" in the 2026 National Eucharistic Pilgrimage said the journey transformed their faith and strengthened their sense of national unity. 
• Andrea Bocelli will sing for Pope Leo XIV July 29 alongside a more than 160-member children’s choir drawn from the Holy Land, Uganda, and Italy, in a performance organized by his charitable foundation at the Vatican's Borgo Laudato Si' gardens in Castel Gandolfo. 

Gina Christian of OSV News catches you up on the Catholic news of the day for July 23, 2026. Tue in and visit us online at osvnews.com.

Read the stories in this episode:

• Venezuelan Catholic bishops are urging the faithful to reject claims that the country’s devastating June earthquakes were a form of divine punishment.
• Ten years after the killing of Father Jacques Hamel shocked France and the world, the Catholic Church in France is preparing to honor his memory with prayer.
• A Kansas priest and former pastor at several parishes has been arrested on several charges of child sexual abuse.
• Acting U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche issued updated guidance July 23 on federal protections for religious liberty. 
• Ann Teresa O'Neill, whose confirmed miraculous recovery from acute lymphatic leukemia as a child helped pave the way for the canonization of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, has died at the age of 78.

Gina Christian of OSV News catches you up on the Catholic news of the day forJuly 22, 2026. Tune in and visit us online at osvnews.com.

Read the stories in this episode:

• The Vatican has pushed back against reports that former Jesuit Father Marko Rupnik has been acquitted in his Vatican criminal trial.
• Catholic leaders in Peru are rallying emergency aid to those affected by the two earthquakes that struck the mountainous region of Junín, while they work to safeguard national heritage sites damaged as a result.
• The recent sentencing of a convicted online child predator in San Antonio to a 40-year prison term and renewed safety warnings from federal officials mark a call for parents to double down on protecting their kids in the digital sphere, a Catholic legal scholar told OSV News.
• Estrella del Paso, a legal aid ministry of the Diocese of El Paso, has exhausted its financial reserves after going seven months without federal reimbursement for its work representing unaccompanied immigrant children.
• Pope Leo XIV took a road trip pilgrimage with his older brother to the scenic mountainside Sanctuary of the Most Holy Trinity in Vallepietra July 22 before stopping to pray in the Holy Cave in Subiaco, where a young St. Benedict sought refuge from the corruption of Rome in the early sixth century.

Maggie Murray of OSV News catches you up on the Catholic news of the day for July 21, 2026. Tune in and visit us online at osvnews.com.

Read the stories in this episode:

1. Cardinal Bechara Rai called Lebanese Catholics to prayer as President Joseph Aoun met with President Trump at the White House to discuss disarming Hezbollah and securing Israel's withdrawal from Lebanese territory.
2. Ukraine's ambassador to the Vatican said a papal visit remains possible following a Kyiv meeting between President Zelenskyy and Archbishop Paul Gallagher, who survived a Russian missile strike near the apostolic nunciature during his five-day trip.
3. Pope Leo XIV made a surprise, nearly four-hour pilgrimage to the Benedictine Abbey of Montecassino, praying at the tomb of St. Benedict for peace in the world's conflict-torn regions.
4. Colorado Catholics led by Denver Auxiliary Bishop Jorge Rodríguez prayed the rosary outside the Hudson Correctional Facility, soon to reopen as a 1,200-bed ICE detention center, calling it a symbolic act of concern for human dignity.
5. Organizers moved the October 31st beatification Mass for the Georgia martyrs to a venue six times larger after surging interest in the 16th-century Franciscan friars who died defending the sanctity of marriage.

Maggie Murray of OSV News catches you up on the Catholic news of the day for July 20, 2026. Tune in and visit us online at osvnews.com.

Read the stories in this episode:

1. Four orders of Catholic sisters and healthcare ministries sued New York on July 17th, arguing a new physician-assisted suicide law would force them to violate their faith by facilitating deaths they believe are morally unacceptable.
2. Switzerland's Catholic Church joined other Christian denominations in condemning the government's elimination of a longstanding military service exemption for priests and monks, calling the process "arbitrary" and lacking meaningful consultation with faith communities.
3. The U.S. bishops launched National NFP Awareness Week on July 19th, timed to the anniversary of "Humanae Vitae," with USCCB's Theresa Notare calling natural family planning "an ethical means to live out the Gospel."
4. A Vatican-supported delegation from the World Meeting of Popular Movements completed the first leg of a U.S. tour visiting grassroots communities affected by immigration enforcement and poverty, with Father Mattia Ferrari calling the experience "a strong witness of love."
5. Christians in Gaza found a rare moment of joy watching Spain defeat Argentina in the World Cup Final, with Father Gabriel Romanelli of Holy Family Parish urging continued prayers for peace amid ongoing war and displacement.

Gina Christian of OSV News catches you up on the Catholic news of the day for July 17, 2026. Tune in and visit us online at osvnews.com.

Read the stories in this episode:

• As Spain and Argentina prepare for the July 19 World Cup final, the match also highlights the Catholic faith shared by both footballing nations.
• Anticipation is building across South America for Pope Leo XIV's expected visit this November. 
• Promotions of sainthood causes take many directions. For Blessed Solanus Casey, the Capuchin Franciscan Province of St. Joseph decided on a scholarly path with an essay prize for graduate students. 
• Nobel laureates gathered in Rome July 16 praised Pope Leo XIV's encyclical "Magnifica Humanitas" as they signed the Rome Declaration on an Unarmed and Disarming Peace in the Age of Artificial Intelligence and Nuclear Weapons.
• A "theology of migration" moves us toward "communion with God and with one another," said Holy Cross Father Daniel G. Groody of the University of Notre Dame, a member of the Vatican's Dicastery for the Promotion of Integral Human Development.

Maggie Murray of OSV News catches you up on the Catholic news of the day for July 16, 2026. Tune in and visit us online at osvnews.com.

Read the stories in this episode:

1. France's National Assembly voted 291 to 241 to legalize assisted dying, prompting Cardinal Jean-Marc Aveline to call it a "serious turning point" that abandons the nation's tradition of caring for people until natural death.
2. The death toll from Venezuela's twin June 24th earthquakes has climbed to 4,829, as Caritas Venezuela and Catholic Relief Services distribute over 13,000 metric tons of food, water and hygiene supplies amid continuing aftershocks.
3. Catholic leaders in Maine and Texas are calling for prayer and accountability after two fatal ICE shootings within a week claimed the lives of Johan Sebastián Durán Guerrero and Lorenzo Salgado Araujo, sparking protests and federal investigations.
4. The USCCB submitted formal comments opposing a proposed federal rule expanding insurance coverage for IVF, urging the Trump administration to promote "restorative reproductive medicine" instead and to include conscience protections for employers.
5. Senators pressed Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche on his handling of state mifepristone lawsuits during his July 15th confirmation hearing, with Senator John Cornyn demanding a formal response on the administration's intentions as the nomination now hangs on razor-thin margins following Senator Lindsey Graham's death.

Gina Christian of OSV News catches you up on the Catholic news of the day for July 15, 2026. Tune in and visit us online at osvnews.com.

Read the stories in this episode:

• Franciscan leaders in the United States are taking their plea public, urging U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio to take decisive diplomatic action against rising Israeli settler violence targeting West Bank Christians. 
• The Diocese of Las Cruces is asking for a jury trial as it challenges the Trump administration's effort to seize land at Mount Cristo Rey, a historic Catholic pilgrimage site in southern New Mexico, for construction of a border wall.
• Pope Leo XIV's recent lunch with people experiencing homelessness and poverty at Castel Gandolfo has highlighted a model one Catholic organization hopes parishes around the world will adopt. 
• Friar Pedro de Corpa and four fellow Franciscan missionaries, known as the Georgia Martyrs, continue to inspire Catholics more than four centuries after their deaths, as devotion grows ahead of their Oct. 31 beatification in Savannah. 

Maggie Murray of OSV News catches you up on the Catholic news of the day for July 14, 2026. Tune in and visit us online at osvnews.com.

Read the stories in this episode:

1. The Society of St. Pius X in Kenya is rejecting the Vatican's schism declaration, with Father Pierre Champroux insisting the group remains fully Catholic while Archbishop Philip Anyolo of Nairobi bars diocesan clergy from ministering alongside SSPX priests and urges the faithful to remain in full communion with Pope Leo XIV.
2. Catholic Relief Services worker Robyn Fieser described devastation "a lot worse than expected" after arriving in Venezuela this week following back-to-back earthquakes that killed at least 4,500 people, as CRS and Caritas Venezuela distribute emergency food, hygiene kits and shelter materials to a traumatized population.
3. South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham died unexpectedly Friday at age 71, with his sister Darline Graham Nordone set to complete his term — a loss that leaves a Republican vacancy on the Judiciary Committee just as it prepares to consider Todd Blanche's nomination for attorney general.
4. Cardinal Blase Cupich placed longtime Chicago social justice priest Father Michael Pfleger on leave following a decades-old sexual abuse allegation he strongly denies, with Pfleger suggesting the claim is retaliation for his outspoken advocacy on gun violence, racism and Trump administration policies.
5. Guatemala Brillando, a Catholic-led eye care initiative founded by Pennsylvania optometrist Dr. Doug Villella and now led by the Yee brothers' Visualiza network, opened its fourth eye hospital this week on its path toward eliminating preventable blindness across Guatemala by 2032.

Gina Christian of OSV News catches you up on the Catholic news of the day for July 13, 2026. Tune in and visit us online at osvnews.com.

Read the stories in this episode:

• Ann Widdecombe, a prominent British Catholic politician, author and broadcaster, has died after being fatally attacked in the kitchen of her home in Devon.
• Much has been done to mitigate rates of HIV and AIDS, but more work remains as children are still vulnerable to the virus and the disease it causes, said the Holy See's diplomatic representative to the United Nations in a July 10 address.
• Pope Leo XIV drew large crowds to Castel Gandolfo for his first summer Angelus at the papal residence July 12, with pilgrims packing trains and buses from Rome to join the gathering.
• By bringing together its five current novitiates spread throughout the continent into two new novitiates starting in 2028, the Society of Jesus will be able "to maintain robust cohorts of novices and provide them with the best formators we could." 
• The archbishop of St. Paul and Minneapolis and students from St. Catherine University in St. Paul donned hard hats and work gloves July 8 to help raise a wall of the first duplex being built in the Twin Cities as part of a national Habitat for Humanity initiative called the Pope Leo Village.

Maggie Murray of OSV News catches you up on the Catholic news of the day for July 10, 2026. Tune in and visit us online at osvnews.com.

Read the stories in this episode:

1. Catholic Extension Society announced 46 nominees on June 24th for its 2026-2027 Lumen Christi Award, honoring individuals and groups across the country whose spiritual care and self-sacrifice reflect the light of Christ, with finalists to be named this summer and a $100,000 national honoree selected in the fall.
2. Cardinal Robert McElroy ordained Bishop Gary Studniewski and Bishop Robert Boxie III as new auxiliary bishops for the Archdiocese of Washington on Monday, telling roughly 2,500 people gathered at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception that "the face of God smiles upon this archdiocese with intense love."
3. A new mosaic of Our Lady of Gietrzwałd was unveiled in the Vatican Gardens on June 30th, with Polish Church leaders framing it as both a symbol of deepening Poland-Holy See ties and a renewed invitation for Pope Leo XIV to visit the shrine ahead of the 150th anniversary of its 1877 apparitions in 2027.
4. Through Seton Hall Preparatory School's Spectrum Big Brothers program, students build weekly friendships with autistic peers at Academy360 Upper School, embodying what one program director called Pope Francis' vision of a "culture of encounter" from the encyclical "Fratelli Tutti."
5. A Chicago White Sox-themed rosary handcrafted by Indiana hobbyist Kevin Workman reached Pope Leo XIV — an avid White Sox fan — on June 24th through former catcher A.J. Pierzynski, leaving Workman "in tears" over what he called "the biggest thing that's ever happened in my little world."

Maggie Murray of OSV News catches you up on the Catholic news of the day for July 9, 2026. Tune in and visit us online at osvnews.com.

Read the stories in this episode:

1. Andy Burnham is poised to become the United Kingdom's first publicly Catholic prime minister later this month, drawing cautious hope from Church leaders who praise his appreciation for Catholic social teaching while questioning whether his liberal positions on abortion, assisted suicide and marriage reflect his stated faith.
2. Bishop Yunan Tombe Trille Kuku Andali has chosen to remain in the besieged Sudanese city of El-Obeid — despite daily shelling, drone strikes, and a previous near-fatal assault by paramilitary forces — as a courageous witness to the small Christian community still sheltering there.
3. Women who say they were harmed by the abortion pill sent a July 8th letter to Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche urging him to side with states challenging the Biden-era policy permitting mifepristone to be dispensed by mail, as frustration grows over the Trump DOJ's repeated moves to pause those state lawsuits.
4. Norway's Bishop Fredrik Hansen announced Tuesday that a sainthood cause will open this fall for Nobel Prize-winning author Sigrid Undset — a convert who found Catholicism through medieval research, became a Third Order Dominican, and publicly championed Norwegian resistance to Nazism during World War II.
5. Netflix's new eight-episode adaptation of "Little House on the Prairie," premiering today, embraces the faith, family and community themes of the original while also exploring the Catholic-influenced spiritual life of the Osage people and referencing a real-life Jesuit missionary who served them in the 19th century.

Gina Christian of OSV News catches you up on the Catholic news of the day for July 8, 2026. Tune in and visit us online at osvnews.com.

Read the stories in this episode:

• Catholic leaders and organizations in the U.S. continue to aid Venezuela as that nation recovers from two deadly earthquakes that struck 39 seconds apart June 24.
• Cardinal Robert W. McElroy of Washington said his decision to remove a high-profile priest as an archdiocesan exorcist was driven by the public way he exercised his ministry, not by his specific beliefs about UFOs.
• As the United States marked its 250th anniversary, Ukrainian Catholic bishops urged Americans to reflect on the true meaning of freedom through Ukraine's ongoing fight against Russia's full-scale invasion.
• Father Mike Schmitz, one of the most popular priest-influencers on social media, brought his signature warmth and energy to Fort Lauderdale on his "Parables" tour, inviting audiences to rediscover the timeless message of Christ's Gospel through the parables.
• Pope Leo XIV marked the 250th anniversary of the United States with a relaxed July 4 dinner at the Rome residence of the U.S. Ambassador to the Holy See Brian Burch, offering a rare glimpse of the first American pope in an informal setting. 

Maggie Murray of OSV News catches you up on the Catholic news of the day for July 7, 2026. Tune in and visit us online at osvnews.com.

Read the stories in this episode:

1. French traditionalist Catholics in communion with Rome are expressing grief over the SSPX schism while rallying behind Pope Leo XIV's September France visit, with the Association Notre-Dame de Chrétienté already providing volunteers and logistical support for events expected to draw nearly 500,000 people in Paris.
2. Father Crepin Martial Monga, a Catholic priest who sheltered thousands of refugees and mediated among armed groups in the Central African Republic, was shot and killed June 29th near his residence in Zémio — a death Church leaders believe was directly linked to his courageous peacebuilding work.
3. The U.S. State Department condemned the June 29th detention of 80-year-old Bishop Juan Abelardo Mata in Nicaragua, as Church observers and exiled advocates say the government's claim that he has returned home safely cannot be verified by anyone close to him.
4. A one-year provision blocking Planned Parenthood from receiving Medicaid funding expired July 4th, allowing the nation's largest abortion provider to regain access to hundreds of millions of federal dollars as pro-life groups push for a similar measure in an upcoming Republican reconciliation bill.
5. The National Shrine of Our Lady of Champion in Wisconsin — the only church-approved Marian apparition site in the United States — hosted a Fourth of July celebration honoring 76 Catholic Saints of America, with shrine chaplain Father Nathan Mudd reminding the faithful that their Catholic identity always takes precedence over their American one.

Maggie Murray of OSV News catches you up on the Catholic news of the day for July 6, 2026. Tune in and visit us online at osvnews.com.

Read the stories in this episode:

• The 2026 National Eucharistic Pilgrimage concluded in Philadelphia with Pope Leo XIV and Archbishop Nelson Pérez urging Catholics to carry Christ's Eucharistic presence forward as a source of renewal, unity and transformation. 
• In a prerecorded message, Pope Leo XIV encouraged pilgrims to see the Eucharist as an indispensable gift that can strengthen the nation's faith as the United States marks its 250th anniversary. 
• Pope Leo XIV arrived at the papal summer residence for nearly three weeks of rest and prayer, reviving a longstanding papal tradition while remembering earthquake victims and the people of Venezuela. 
• Pastor Ezra Jin Mingri, an imprisoned leader of an underground Christian church in China, has been released and reunited with his family in the United States, while Hong Kong Catholic publisher Jimmy Lai remains imprisoned. 
• Mexico's World Cup run brought faith and soccer together as Catholics prayed for the national team while Church leaders urged the country's renewed sense of unity to extend beyond the tournament.

Gina Christian of OSV News catches you up on the Catholic news of the day for July 2, 2026. Tune in and visit us online at osvnews.com.

Read the stories in this episode:

• The Vatican has declared the Society of St. Pius X to be "in schism" after the traditionalist group consecrated four bishops without papal approval, marking the most serious rupture since Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre's unauthorized episcopal consecrations in 1988.
• The Vatican Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith has established a procedure for both priests and lay faithful connected to the Society of St. Pius X  to return to Catholic communion, following the society's schismatic act July 1. 
• Conservative Catholics are urging Church leaders to provide stronger pastoral support for traditionalists who remain loyal to the pope after six leaders of the Society of St. Pius X were excommunicated July 2 for consecrating four bishops without papal approval.
• The National Eucharistic Pilgrimage ends July 5 with a closing Mass, procession and celebration in Philadelphia, which will begin with a special video message from Pope Leo XIV.
• For Noah Hajdu, carrying a 130-pound wooden cross up 2,006-foot-high Mount Wachusett in central Massachusetts was more than a physical feat -- it was to honor Jesus Christ.

Gina Christian of OSV News catches you up on the Catholic news of the day for July 1, 2026. Tune in and visit us online at osvnews.com.

Read the stories in this episode:

• Despite a personal appeal from Pope Leo XIV, the Society of St. Pius X went ahead July 1 with the unauthorized consecration of four new bishops at its seminary in Écône, Switzerland. 
• Vice President JD Vance said during a June 30 interview that he sees some of the Vatican's views on immigration ​as "troubling."
• A woman religious in McAllen told OSV News the "power of prayer" was key to the release of Sister Letty Ugboaja, who was detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement as she walked to Sunday Mass, but foreign-born religious in the area are on their guard after the incident.
• The U.S. Supreme Court on June 30 took up a case regarding whether state and local bans on semiautomatic rifles, sometimes called assault weapons, violate the Second Amendment.
• The Benedictine Confederation has launched a new website to help pilgrims, visitors and spiritual seekers connect with monasteries worldwide as the Church begins a four-year "Journey to Jubilee" leading to the 1,500th anniversary of the founding of Monte Cassino in 2029. 

Gina Christian of OSV News catches you up on the Catholic news of the day for June 30, 2026. Tune in and visit us online at osvnews.com.

Read the stories in this episode:

• The U.S. Supreme Court on June 30 upheld West Virginia and Idaho state laws requiring student athletes to compete on sports teams that correspond to their biological sex rather than their gender identity. 
• The U.S. Supreme Court on June 30 struck down President Donald Trump's executive order limiting birthright citizenship, finding it violated the 14th Amendment. 
• A religious sister on her way to Sunday Mass in the border city of McAllen, Texas, was detained by U.S. Customs and Enforcement agents for several hours June 28.
• Pope Leo XIV has issued a final, heartfelt appeal to the traditionalist Society of St. Pius X, urging its leader to halt the unauthorized consecration of new bishops planned for July 1.
• Pope Leo XIV is urging Christians around the world to prepare together for 2033, when the Catholic Church will celebrate an extraordinary Jubilee year marking 2,000 years since the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. 

Gina Christian of OSV News catches you up on the Catholic news of the day for June 29, 2026. Tune in and visit us online at osvnews.com.

Read the stories in this episode:

• Over 2,500 Catholics, united and proud in their faith, marching through Boston and bringing the real presence of Jesus in the Eucharist to everyone in their midst, led by their archbishop and dozens of priests, praying the rosary in a place where the celebration of Mass was once illegal. 
• Five Catholic bishops from the United States-Mexico border region led a day of pastoral accompaniment in Nogales, Arizona, and Nogales, Mexico, June 26 as the United States approaches its 250th birthday as a nation.
• On the feast of Sts. Peter and Paul, Pope Leo XIV personally placed the pallium on the shoulders of 35 metropolitan archbishops, urging them to follow the example of the patron saints of Rome in being "builders of unity" and "servants of the truth in charity." 
• Cardinals concluded a two-day extraordinary consistory June 27, saying Pope Leo XIV's decision to convene the College of Cardinals twice in six months has already strengthened unity by helping cardinals get to know one another. 
• Pope Leo XIV is calling for global solidarity and sending financial aid to Venezuela after the strongest twin earthquakes to strike the nation in over a century left at least 1,450 people dead.

Gina Christian of OSV News catches you up on the Catholic news of the day for June 26, 2026. Tune in and visit us online at osvnews.com.

Read the stories in this episode:

• Pope Leo XIV opened the second extraordinary consistory of his pontificate June 26, urging cardinals to help him discern what the Holy Spirit is saying to the Church today and reminding them they are not "guardians of particular interests," but disciples called to communion in Christ. 
• The Catholic Bishops' Conference of England and Wales has issued an unreserved apology and renewed its commitment to a zero-tolerance policy for abuse following the arrest and charging of a local prelate.
• Four American archbishops are in Rome to receive the pallium from Pope Leo XIV during the June 29 Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul.
• Catholic leaders are warning the Supreme Court's decision allowing the Trump administration to deport more than 330,00 Haitians and some 6,100 Syrians under protected status in the U.S. will have dire consequences -- including for the U.S. itself.
• The relics of the French nun to whom Christ revealed his Sacred Heart will be available for public veneration in the U.S. at a number of locations, as the nation -- newly consecrated to the Sacred Heart -- marks its 250th anniversary. 

Gina Christian of OSV News catches you up on the Catholic news of the day for June 25, 2026. Tune in and visit us online at osvnews.com.

Read the stories in the episode:

• Catholic leaders across the world are pledging prayers and support, as the strongest earthquakes to strike Venezuela in more than a century have killed at least 188 people dead and left over 1,500 injured.
• The traditionalist Society of St. Pius X is moving forward with plans to consecrate four new bishops on July 1 without a papal mandate, defying direct warnings from the Vatican.
• The U.S. Supreme Court has issued several rulings, including two that impact immigration, with one decision giving the Trump administration the go-ahead to end deportation protections for eligible Haitians and Syrians in the U.S. 
• Catholic permanent deacons -- who in 2025 numbered more than 21,000 in the U.S., with close to 15,000 in active ministry -- "bring a spirit of renewal and encouragement to the missionary ministry of the Church," said Archbishop Ronald A. Hicks of New York, chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops' Committee on Clergy, Consecrated Life and Vocations.
• As the Trump administration moves to seize a diocesan pilgrimage site for the border wall, bishops from New Mexico and Texas are calling on the faithful to join them for a June 28 Mass on the mountain.
  
  

Gina Christian of OSV News catches you up on the Catholic news of the day for June 24, 2026. Tune in and visit us online at osvnews.com.

Read the stories in this episode:

• On the fourth anniversary of the Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization decision by the U.S. Supreme Court, the U.S. bishops and pro-life leaders pointed to abortion pills as among key challenges  for the cause of protecting the right to life of unborn children. 
• Tickets to the September 2026 beatification of Venerable Fulton J. Sheen are quickly being snapped up, and the $15-$25 per-person price is due to the "substantial costs" in planning and holding the event at a national-level venue, Bishop Louis Tylka of Peoria, Illinois, told OSV News. 
• German lay Catholic groups are vowing to press forward with demands to preach at Mass, directly defying a Vatican rejection of the proposal.
• Catholic leaders in Sudan are renewing calls to end violence against civilians after the killing of Father Youhanna Al-Amin, a priest serving in the Diocese of El-Obeid. 
• Participation in the Eucharist transforms believers into the Body of Christ and offers a remedy to the divisions affecting families and communities, Pope Leo XIV said during his weekly general audience June 24.

Gina Christian of OSV News catches you up on the Catholic news of the day for June 23, 2026. Tune in and visit us online at osvnews.com.

Read the stories in this episode:

• The Vatican has released the official schedule for Pope Leo XIV's upcoming extraordinary consistory, giving a clear glimpse into the major themes guiding his papacy.
• As Pakistan's religious minorities continue to face rights violations, that nation's Catholic bishops are fostering hope the faithful can live out their convictions with confidence.
• The bishops of France are urging the faithful to take part in a prayer novena that began June 21, as lawmakers move closer to a pivotal vote on legislation that could permanently legalize assisted dying. 
• The Archdiocese of Chicago has been given the go-ahead to proceed with its countersuit against abuse settlement claimants who received payouts or had pending settlements after filing allegedly false claims.
• Although the U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear its case and the land has been transferred, an Indigenous coalition seeking to protect its sacred site at Oak Flat in Arizona from destruction by a copper mining giant continues its legal efforts. 

Maggie Murray of OSV News catches you up on the Catholic news of the day for June 22, 2026. Tune in and visit us online at osvnews.com.

Read the stories in this episode:

1. Speaking at U.N. World Food Program headquarters in Rome, Pope Leo XIV criticized global priorities that favor weapons and conflict over feeding the hungry, calling access to food a fundamental human right. 
2. During a visit to the hometown of St. Frances Xavier Cabrini, Pope Leo highlighted her legacy of serving migrants and challenged young people to follow her example of faith-filled missionary service. 
3. In a video message marking the 50th anniversary of the Steubenville Youth Conferences, Pope Leo encouraged young Catholics to seek fulfillment in God rather than social media, material success, or popular culture. 
4. The Diocese of Las Cruces is continuing its legal fight against federal efforts to acquire land at Mount Cristo Rey, arguing the project would violate religious freedom and damage a sacred place of prayer. 
5. Celebrating Mass at the Shrine of Our Lady of the Mount in Anjara, Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa urged pilgrims to trust in God’s providence and look ahead to the 2030 jubilee marking 2,000 years since Jesus’ baptism.

Gina Christian of OSV News catches you up on the Catholic news of the day for June 19, 2026.  Tune in and visit us online at osvnews.com.

Read the stories in this epsiode:

• Catholic leaders expressed cautious optimism about an end to the conflict in the Middle East after members of the Trump administration and Iranian officials signed a memorandum of understanding, a tentative framework to end the war in Iran. 
• A majority of U.S. Catholics view Pope Leo XIV favorably, and just over half say President Donald Trump has been too critical of the pontiff, according to new data from the Pew Research Center. 
• Juneteenth and the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence provided the context for a June 15 online discussion on the importance of acknowledging the nation's racial history honestly so the work of justice and equality can continue.
• Archbishop James F. Checchio of New Orleans said his archdiocese's June 13-14 consecration to the Sacred Heart, which followed a consecration of the U.S. by the nation's Catholic bishops, is a way of bringing healing and hope to the New Orleans faithful after long-running clerical abuse scandals and bankruptcy.

Maggie Murray of OSV News catches you up on the Catholic news of the day for June 18, 2026. Tune in and visit us online at osvnews.com.

Read the stories in this episode:

1. Pope Leo XIV declared Mother Mary Teresa Tallon venerable today, advancing the sainthood cause of the New York-born foundress of the Parish Visitors of Mary Immaculate alongside 20 Spanish Civil War martyrs, in a meeting with the prefect of the Dicastery for the Causes of Saints.
2. Pope Leo XIV received the board of governors of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem in a private Vatican audience today, urging the diverse academic community to be "artisans of true peace" and a beacon of hope in a world increasingly defined by division and pointed rhetoric.
3. Ahead of Religious Freedom Week, which runs June 22nd through 29th, a USCCB expert explained that protecting religious liberty is ultimately about safeguarding human dignity — the God-given right of every person to seek God freely and live out their faith in the public square.
4. Philadelphia theater professor Darrin Pufall Purdy's painstaking reconstruction of the habits of the Sisters of Charity of New York — interviewing sisters and combing through archives to recover a nearly undocumented piece of Catholic heritage — earned him the commission to costume a 2024 Broadway revival of "Doubt: A Parable."
5. OSV News Editor-in-Chief Gretchen R. Crowe has been named publisher of Our Sunday Visitor Inc., becoming the first woman to hold that role in the Catholic organization's 114-year history while continuing to lead OSV News, effective June 22nd.

Gina Christian of OSV News catches you up on the Catholic news of the day for June 17, 2026. Tune in and visit us online at osvnews.com.

Read the stories in this episode:

• The Catholic faithful and all people of goodwill in Canada have been called "to voice renewed concern" about the country's Medical Assistance in Dying law, now in place for a decade.
• A Catholic expert on artificial intelligence is commending recent calls by AI research firm Anthropic to rein in the technology amid a significant acceleration in its growth. 
• Reflecting on his weeklong trip to Spain, Pope Leo XIV said one of his clearest impressions came from the Canary Islands, where migration revealed both the challenges facing Europe and what he described as a Christian path toward a "civilization of love." 
• Catholics in the Diocese of Wilmington rose early June 12 for 6 a.m. Eucharistic Procession led by Bishop William E. Koenig on Ocean City, Maryland's boardwalk.
• Deacon Jim Scull and a small team of deacons from the Diocese of San Diego launched the Million Meal Event five years ago. 

Maggie Murray of OSV News catches you up on the Catholic news of the day for June 16, 2026. Tune in and visit us online at osvnews.com.

Read the stories in this episode:

1. Organizers declared Pope Leo XIV's weeklong Spain visit an overwhelming success, drawing 2.5 million participants and generating an expected economic impact of over $174 million — capped by a dramatic final-day mechanical failure that prompted King Felipe VI to fly the pope back to Rome on his royal jet.
2. Pope Leo XIV reflected Saturday on the June 6th beatification of nine Polish Salesian priests killed at Auschwitz and Dachau during World War II, honoring their enduring legacy as educators, mentors and witnesses of hope who were targeted by the Nazis precisely for forming young people in faith and freedom.
3. A new Pew Research Center report released Sunday found that religious hostility spiked in more countries in 2023 and that governments have been steadily cracking down on religious belief and expression since 2007, with China, Iran and Russia among the highest restrictors and Nigeria and India recording the worst social hostilities.
4. Catholics in downtown Chicago expressed sorrow and shock this week after a burning cross was discovered at Grant Park on June 9th, prompting Cardinal Blase Cupich to condemn what he called "the sickness of spirit" behind such acts and to pledge renewed efforts to proclaim the Gospel dignity of every human person.
5. Homeboy Industries, the acclaimed Los Angeles gang-intervention program founded by Jesuit Father Greg Boyle, and Georgetown University's McCourt School of Public Policy have launched a $100 million fundraising campaign to expand the organization and build a new Father Gregory Boyle Center for Radical Kinship at the heart of a visionary reentry initiative called Hope Village.

Gina Christian of OSV News catches you up on the Catholic news of the day for June 15, 2026. Tune in and visit us online at osvnews.com.

Read the stories in this episode:

• After President Donald Trump, Pakistani mediators and Iranian officials said a framework has been reached for a deal to end the war in Iran, a Catholic expert in peacekeeping said that while there is cause for optimism, key obstacles remain.
• A Catholic diocese and an Illinois pregnancy center have turned to a federal appeals court in challenging an Illinois nondiscrimination law that they said would force them to hire workers who do not share their pro-life mission.
• Mexico opened its third turn as a World Cup host with a 2-0 victory over South Africa on June 11 at Mexico City's iconic stadium, but Catholic leaders urged fans not to lose sight of the country's deeper challenges.
• Catholic and Orthodox leaders are expressing shock and outrage after a Russian drone strike heavily damaged a historic monastery complex in Kyiv, with a cathedral set ablaze. 
• A century after his birth, French geneticist Jérôme Lejeune is being remembered for both a landmark scientific discovery and a steadfast commitment to the dignity of human life. 

Maggie Murray of OSV News catches you up on the Catholic news of the day for June 12, 2026. Tune in and visit us online at osvnews.com.

Read the stories in this episode:

1. Pope Leo XIV concluded his visit to Tenerife by urging Christians to embrace migrants with hospitality, saying those who serve the vulnerable are themselves evangelized through encounters with Christ.
2. Speaking at a migrant reception center in Tenerife, Pope Leo delivered a forceful condemnation of human traffickers, warning them to repent for exploiting vulnerable people or face divine justice.
3. The U.S. bishops' spring plenary meeting culminated in the consecration of the United States to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, approval of updates to child protection policies, and discussions on prison ministry, synodality, and preparations for the 500th anniversary of Our Lady of Guadalupe.
4. At the consecration Mass in Orlando, Archbishop William Lori said devotion to the Sacred Heart can heal divisions, transform hardened hearts, and renew both the Church and the nation through holiness.
5. President Donald Trump praised the bishops’ consecration of the United States to the Sacred Heart, calling it a powerful reminder that America has long been guided by faith and the loving hand of God.

Maggie Murray of OSV News catches you up on the Catholic news of the day for June 11, 2026. Tune in and visit us online at osvnews.com.

Read the stories in this episode:

1. Pope Leo XIV delivered a profound message of dignity and hope to human trafficking survivors at the Port of Arguineguín in Spain's Canary Islands, declaring that "human dignity has no passport" and that God recognizes the inestimable worth of every person regardless of how they have been exploited or harmed.
2. The U.S. Catholic bishops voted yesterday at their Orlando plenary assembly to update their landmark 2002 Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People, strengthening key definitions and announcing that a separate document will be developed to address clergy abuse of vulnerable adults.
3. Bishop Alan McGuckian of Down and Connor condemned violent anti-migrant riots that gripped Belfast for a second consecutive night, as the stabbing victim's own family expressed disgust at rioters targeting residents by skin color and burning vehicles and homes.
4. President Trump signed the $70 billion Secure America Act into law yesterday, funding ICE and CBP through the end of his term — without any of the migrant family protections or sensitive-location safeguards that Catholic bishops and advocates had urged Congress to include.
5. French Church leaders have released details of Pope Leo XIV's September 25th through 28th apostolic journey to France, confirming stops at a reopened Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, the Marian shrine of Lourdes, and the Franco-German reconciliation city of Metz — with a possible visit to a palliative care facility amid France's assisted-dying debate.

Maggie Murray of OSV News catches you up on the Catholic news of the day for June 10, 2026. Tune in and visit us online at osvnews.com.

Read the stories in this episode:

1. Pope Leo XIV made a deeply personal pilgrimage yesterday to the mountain monastery of Montserrat, entrusting his entire pontificate to Our Lady of Montserrat before culminating his Barcelona visit today with Mass at the Sagrada Família and the inauguration of the Tower of Jesus Christ — now the tallest Catholic church in the world.
2. Pope Leo XIV visited the Brians 1 Penitentiary in Barcelona yesterday, delivering a message of mercy and renewal to more than 1,000 pretrial detainees, listening to personal testimonies from two female inmates, and reminding the crowd that "the past does not condemn the future."
3. Gathered in Orlando for their spring plenary assembly, the U.S. bishops formally thanked Pope Leo XIV for his first encyclical "Magnifica Humanitas" and prayed that as he marks one year as pope, he will continue to be a guiding light for the Church and the world.
4. Catholic leaders hosted a webinar warning that the 2026 FIFA World Cup could create heightened vulnerability to human trafficking at venues including MetLife Stadium and Lincoln Financial Field, urging the faithful to see trafficked persons as "brothers and sisters whose suffering is our shared responsibility."
5. Pope Leo XIV opened the sixth World Apostolic Congress on Mercy in Vilnius, Lithuania — the city of Saint Faustina's Divine Mercy revelations — telling 7,000 gathered pilgrims that lasting peace in a world of fear and conflict is impossible without compassion and forgiveness.

Maggie Murray of OSV News catches you up on the Catholic news of the day for June 9, 2026. Tune in and visit us online at osvnews.com.

Read the stories in this episode:

1. Pope Leo XIV arrived in Barcelona yesterday to enormous anticipation, praying in Catalan at the city's cathedral and preparing to celebrate Mass today at the Sagrada Família and inaugurate its Tower of Jesus Christ on the 100th anniversary of architect Antoni Gaudí's death.
2. Pope Leo XIV used a lighthearted story about an AI system that still thought Pope Francis was pope to deliver a serious message to Spain's bishops — that Christians follow a Gospel "algorithm" rooted in love and service, and that the Church's strength comes from holiness, not resources.
3. Eastern Catholic scholar Ines Murzaku says Pope Leo XIV's encyclical "Magnifica Humanitas" calls the world to recover the mystery of the human person, framing the document as a biblical contrast between Babel — technological power without communion — and Jerusalem, built patiently through prayer and shared responsibility.
4. New data from the Religious Freedom Data Center shows Christian harassment incidents in Israel are sharply rising, with more than 88 cases already documented in 2026 — putting the year on pace to surpass last year's total of 181 — as advocates urge victims to keep reporting despite limited police follow-through.
5. Lego announced the largest building set in its history — a 12,060-piece model of Barcelona's Sagrada Família — timed to coincide with the 100th anniversary of Antoni Gaudí's death and Pope Leo XIV's inauguration today of the basilica's recently completed Tower of Jesus Christ.

P.S. -- Yes, the Vatican confirmed that Pope Leo XIV met Bad Bunny yesterday.

Maggie Murray of OSV News catches you up on the Catholic news of the day for June 8, 2026. Tune in and visit us online at osvnews.com.

Read the stories in this episode:

1. Pope Leo XIV drew an estimated 500,000 young Catholics to a Madrid prayer vigil Friday night, challenging them to reject superficiality, embrace authentic Christian witness and "be human as Christ is" — before concluding the evening in Eucharistic adoration with the massive crowd.
2. More than 1.2 million people filled the streets of Madrid on Saturday as Pope Leo XIV celebrated Corpus Christi Mass and led a nearly mile-and-a-half Eucharistic procession through floral-carpeted streets, calling the faithful to move beyond comfortable, private faith and welcome Christ's transforming presence.
3. The Catholic Church in Mozambique is mourning the shooting death of Bishop Osório Citora Afonso of Quelimane, found dead at his episcopal residence on June 6th — a tragedy that deepens concerns about violence targeting religious communities in a country already facing Islamist attacks and ongoing insecurity.
4. Catholic and Indigenous leaders gathered in Edmonton last month for a symposium examining the legacy of the "Doctrine of Discovery," building on the Vatican's 2023 repudiation of the concept and committing to ongoing dialogue and community education about the doctrine's lasting harm to Indigenous peoples.
5. As the U.S. bishops prepare to consecrate the nation to the Sacred Heart of Jesus this Wednesday in Orlando, theologians explain that the historic act is not symbolic magic but a sacred covenant that literally orients the United States toward God and the fulfillment of its deepest purpose.

Maggie Murray of OSV News catches you up on the Catholic news of the day for June 5, 2026. Tune in and visit us online at osvnews.com.

Read the stories in this episode:

1. The Vatican's apostolic nuncio to Ukraine is cautiously encouraging a new diplomatic opening after President Zelenskyy published an open letter calling on Putin to meet for peace talks, with Archbishop Kulbokas echoing Pope Leo XIV's call to pursue resolution through "unarmed words."
2. Bishop Daniel Garcia of Austin assured the faithful their sacraments remain valid after Father Anthony Odiong was sentenced to life in prison for the sexual assault of multiple women in his pastoral care — a case that highlights the Church's ongoing challenges in protecting vulnerable adults.
3. Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa presided over a Corpus Christi Mass and Eucharistic procession at Jerusalem's Church of the Holy Sepulcher, using the feast to proclaim that the Eucharist offers a logic of giving and sharing in a region ravaged by conflict and the deaths of more than 3,500 people.
4. Vatican theological consultants have unanimously voted to advance the sainthood cause of Servant of God Sister Blandina Segale — the Italian-born Sister of Charity known as the "fastest nun in the West" — moving her case to the dicastery's member bishops and cardinals for the next stage of review.
5. Veteran Iberia captain Pablo Martínez Núñez is preparing for the most meaningful flight of his 26-year career — piloting Pope Leo XIV from Madrid to Barcelona on June 9th as part of the pope's six-day visit to Spain, with hopes of routing near the Sagrada Familia and asking the pope to bless a photo of his family.

Gina Christian of OSV News catches you up on the Catholic news of the day for June 4, 2026. Tune in and visit us online at osvnews.com.

Read the stories in this episode:

• Spain is preparing a warm and unmistakably Catholic welcome for Pope Leo XIV as the first U.S.-born pope makes his inaugural visit to the country June 6-12.
• Pope Leo XIV is heading to Barcelona to inaugurate the Tower of Jesus Christ at the famed Sagrada Familia basilica. 
• Father Anthony Odiong, a priest from Nigeria with the Austin Diocese, was sentenced to life in prison for sexually preying upon women he was spiritually advising.
• As international health officials warn the Ebola outbreak in central Africa had a "big head start," Catholic Relief Services, the overseas relief and development arm of the Catholic Church in the U.S., is among the groups seeking to stop the spread of Ebola.
• Pope Leo XIV is encouraging Catholics to continue the public witness of faith expressed through Eucharistic processions as the Church prepares to celebrate the solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ, known as Corpus Christi.

Maggie Murray of OSV News catches you up on the Catholic news of the day for June 3, 2026. Tune in and visit us online at osvnews.com.

Read the stories in this episode:

1. As Pope Leo XIV prepares to land in Madrid this Friday, Spanish Catholics and Church leaders are hoping his visit — to a nation still polarized by Civil War wounds — will carry a powerful message of reconciliation, forgiveness and unity rooted in Christian witness.
2. As Senate Republicans push a $72 billion immigration enforcement bill, Bishop Brendan Cahill of the U.S. bishops' Committee on Migration urged lawmakers to protect migrant family unity, prevent enforcement at houses of worship, and pass the Religious Workforce Protection Act.
3. A Catholic medical ethicist says Pope Leo XIV's AI encyclical "Magnifica Humanitas" carries urgent lessons for healthcare, where systems are aggressively adopting artificial intelligence that lacks the prudential judgment needed to treat the whole human person with dignity.
4. The U.S. bishops will take a key step this month toward advancing the sainthood cause of Monsignor Joseph Francis Buh, a Slovenian-born missionary priest who spent decades serving Native American and Slovenian communities in northeastern Minnesota and is venerated as the "Patriarch of the Diocese of Duluth."
5. Continuing his catechesis on the Second Vatican Council's Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy, Pope Leo XIV told thousands gathered in St. Peter's Square that the rites and symbols of Catholic worship are not arbitrary ceremonies but the essential means through which believers encounter God and are formed in faith.

Maggie Murray of OSV News catches you up on the Catholic news of the day for June 2, 2026. Tune in and visit us online at osvnews.com.

Read the stories in this episode:

1. Pope Leo XIV has named EWTN News president Montse Alvarado as prefect of the Vatican's Dicastery for Communication, making her the first laywoman and youngest person ever to lead a Roman Curia dicastery when she assumes the role on November 1st.
2. Black Catholic leaders are welcoming Pope Leo XIV's apology for the Church's role in slavery — included in his first encyclical "Magnifica Humanitas" — while calling on the Church to move beyond acknowledgment toward concrete action and healing.
3. With the FIFA World Cup kicking off June 11th in the United States, Mexico and Canada, Pope Leo XIV dedicated his June prayer intention to sport as an instrument of peace, fraternity and cross-cultural encounter rather than rivalry or division.
4. When Pope Leo XIV visits Pavia, Italy on June 20th to venerate Saint Augustine's remains, he will make a meaningful detour to the birthplace of Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini — a stop that reflects both popes' deep, shared compassion for migrants and refugees.
5. The U.S. Catholic bishops have released a bilingual 15-page prayer service honoring America's immigrants, refugees and the enslaved as the nation marks its 250th anniversary, structured as a Liturgy of the Word and closing with a call to advocate for just and humane immigration reform.

Gina Christian of OSV News catches you up on the Catholic news of the day for June 1, 2026. Tune in and visit us online at osvnews.com.

Read the stories in this episode:

• Pope Leo XIV on June 1 praised Venerable Fulton J. Sheen as "a light of faith, hope, and love" whose pioneering radio and television broadcasts brought the Gospel to millions of Americans, including the pope himself as a child. 
• Several hundred people gathered at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington May 30 to join Pope Leo XIV in a worldwide rosary for peace, seek Mary's intercession to bring peace to the hearts of people and peace to nations at war. 
• A Catholic priest from Nigeria has been found guilty by a Texas court of sexually abusing several women under his spiritual care, a felony crime in that state.
• Pope Leo XIV's first stop in Spain June 6 at a Caritas center for persons experiencing homelessness will send a clear message about his priorities. 
• Catholic dioceses across the United States are preparing for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, viewing the global tournament as both a major pastoral opportunity and a unique moment of international encounter. 

Gina Christian of OSV News catches you up on the Catholic news of the day for May 29, 2026. Tune in and visit us online at osvnews.com.

Read the stories in this episode:

• After a Pentecost launch, the National Eucharistic Pilgrimage marks its first full weekend with events in the Diocese of Charlotte, North Carolina.
• An AI ethics expert says Catholics may have more power than they realize in shaping the future of artificial intelligence. 
• The Knights of Peter Claver, one of the Catholic Church's largest historically Black Catholic lay fraternal organizations, said it "offers its full support" for Pope Leo XIV's acknowledgment of the Church's role in slavery. 
• Christians in Lebanon are facing a growing humanitarian crisis as fighting between Israel and Hezbollah continues and the country’s economic collapse deepens.
• The relics of St. Margaret Mary Alacoque, the French Visitation sister who experienced visions of Jesus revealing his Sacred Heart, will be present with the U.S. bishops in Orlando, Florida, when they consecrate the United States to Jesus' Sacred Heart June 11. 

Gina Christian of OSV News catches you up on the Catholic news of the day for May 28, 2026. Tune in and visit us online at osvnews.com.

Read the stories in this episode:

• Pope Leo XIV will preside over a worldwide rosary for peace May 30, uniting Marian shrines across continents in simultaneous prayer to close the Catholic Church's month of devotion to the Virgin Mary. 
• Most U.S. adults who regularly attend religious services have heard their clergy speak about at least one political or social issue recently, according to a new Pew Research Center survey. 
• Pope Leo XIV's first encyclical, "Magnifica Humanitas: On Safeguarding the Human Person in the Time of Artificial Intelligence," addressed sexual exploitation as one of the human dignity concerns posed by artificial intelligence. 
• In Peru, top Catholic leaders dropped to their knees last week to beg forgiveness from indigenous farmers who suffered violence and land theft at the hands of a now-suppressed lay movement. 
• A French blockbuster is coming to theatres in the U.S. just in time for the consecration of the nation to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and premieres for U.S. audiences in June. 

Peter Jesserer Smith of OSV News catches you up on the Catholic news of the day for May 27, 2026. Tune in and visit us online at osvnews.com.

Read the stories in this episode:

• Vice President JD Vance said in a new interview with NBC News that while he has not yet fully read Pope Leo XIV's first encyclical, "Magnifica Humanitas" -- which addresses human dignity concerns posed by artificial intelligence -- what he has read of it "sounds very profound."
  
  
• Pope Leo XIV has renewed his call for humanitarian aid and human rights protections in Gaza.
  
  
• Pope Leo XIV defended Church reform as a legitimate process that adapts to current needs while remaining rooted in authentic tradition.
  
  
• As the National Eucharistic Pilgrimage continued to make its way up the East Coast, it took a day to encounter Friar Pedro de Corpa and Companions, the five Franciscan friars -- also known as the Georgia Martyrs -- who will be beatified Oct. 31 in Savannah, Georgia. 

Maggie Murray of OSV News catches you up on the Catholic news of the day for May 26, 2026. Tune in and visit us online at osvnews.com.

Read the stories in this episode:

1. Catholic bishops across the U.S. and Mexico are enthusiastically welcoming Pope Leo XIV's first encyclical, "Magnifica Humanitas," released Sunday, which applies centuries of Catholic social teaching to the age of artificial intelligence and insists that human dignity must always take precedence over technological progress.
2. AI experts and theologians say Pope Leo XIV's "Magnifica Humanitas" delivers an urgent moral challenge to the tech industry, warning against reducing human mystery to data, sounding the alarm on AI's environmental costs, and calling for education that champions genuine human creativity and critical thinking over algorithmic dependence.
3. Nine perpetual pilgrims set out on Pentecost Sunday from the oldest site of continuous Catholic presence in the United States, launching the third National Eucharistic Pilgrimage on the six-week "St. Frances Xavier Cabrini Route" up the East Coast to Philadelphia over the Fourth of July weekend.
4. Seattle Auxiliary Bishop Frank Schuster celebrated the annual Maritime Day Mass at the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, honoring the world's often-overlooked seafarers and highlighting Stella Maris, the Church's global maritime ministry formally established by Pope Leo XIV as an official canonical entity last November.
5. Uruguay's bishops announced a "high probability" that Pope Leo XIV will visit their country in late 2026 as part of a South American tour that could also include Argentina and Peru — the nation where the pope served as a missionary and bishop and became a naturalized citizen.

Gina Christian of OSV News catches you up on the Catholic news of the day for May 25, 2026 -- the day Pope Leo XIV released his first encyclical, "Magnifica Humanitas: On Safeguarding the Human Person in the Time of Artificial Intelligence." OSV News Vatican editor Courtney Mares was on site for the press conference unveiling this historic document, which points to Catholic social teaching as the urgently needed framework for ensuring AI helps, rather than harms, humanity. Tune in and listen as we bring you the details and deep dives on the encyclical at osvnews.com.

Read the stories in this episode, plus more from our ongoing coverage of Pope Leo's new encyclical:

• Pope Leo XIV published his landmark encyclical on artificial intelligence "Magnifica Humanitas" May 25, comparing the attempt to build an AI future that excludes God to the "Tower of Babel" and underlining the need to safeguard human dignity as it is "threatened by new forms of dehumanization." 
• Pope Leo XIV called for vigilance as he spoke at the Vatican press conference May 25 to present his first encyclical on artificial intelligence, saying his conversations with industry leaders -- including "very troubling voices" who warned of autonomous weapons systems beyond effective human governance -- had led him to the conviction that AI must be disarmed.
• Anthropic co-founder Christopher Olah used the Vatican presentation of Pope Leo XIV's new encyclical, "Magnifica Humanitas" to call for stronger moral oversight of artificial intelligence. 
• Cardinals and theologians at the press conference for the encyclical shared additional concerns over AI and its impact -- including threats to the Global South.
• Pope Leo XIV's first encyclical on artificial intelligence is "a powerful reminder that no technology can replace a child of God, and all technology should be placed at the service of helping humanity thrive," said Archbishop Paul S. Coakley of Oklahoma City. 
• What do Babel, Nehemiah, transhumanism and technocratic paradigm have in common? They're all terms in Pope Leo's new encyclical. Check out our guide; we looked them up so you don't have to.
• A look at the AI company Anthropic, whose co-founder Christopher Olah  participated in the Holy See press conference introducing "Magnifica Humanitas" May 25.
• What's "emergent misalignment"? What happens when AI goes rogue.

Gina Christian of OSV News catches you up on the Catholic news of the day for May 22, 2026. Tune in and visit us online at osvnews.com.

Read the stories in this episode:

• Pope Leo XIV has cleared the way for the beatification of a Maronite patriarch who played a pivotal role in the creation of modern Lebanon.
• Somalia is nearing catastrophe again, as aid agencies warn that millions are facing severe hunger, displacement and collapsing access to basic services.
• Swedish Cardinal Anders Arborelius received an honorary doctorate May 18 from the Pontifical University of John Paul II in Kraków for "an integrative approach combining theological reflection, spirituality and pastoral responsibility."
• As Pope Leo XIV releases his encyclical on artificial intelligence, Brian Patrick Green, an AI ethics scholar for a Vatican working group, says emergent misalignment -- a negative and dangerous side effect of AI in large language model training -- is a key issue that needs to be addressed.
• Ahead of his May 23 priestly ordination for the Diocese of Fresno, California, Deacon Scott-Vincent Borba -- co-founder of beauty giant e.l.f. Cosmetics, who left stardom for the seminary -- sat down with OSV News to share his thoughts on how he hopes to serve in his ministry.

Gina Christian of OSV News catches you up on the Catholic news of the day for May 21, 2026. Tune in and visit us online at osvnews.com.

Read the stories in this episode:

• A Ukrainian nun serving in a city on the front lines met with Pope Leo XIV during a private audience with members of a papal society, handing him images of two Ukrainian soldiers in captivity and pleading with him to "end the war."
• Uganda’s Catholic bishops are urging calm and prayer after the government postponed this year’s Uganda Martyrs Day celebrations because of a growing Ebola outbreak in Central Africa. 
• Pope Leo XIV will find a growing, revitalized Church when he begins a seven-day apostolic visit to Spain on June 6, according to Madrid Cardinal José Cobo. 
• A Princeton professor and two Catholic archbishops are promoting Fidelity Month as a response to what they see as America's declining commitment to core values.
• The Ascend Eucharistic Revival May 16 was one of the largest gatherings of Catholics in the Pacific Northwest in over a century, according to event organizers. 

Maggie Murray of OSV News catches you up on the Catholic news of the day for May 20, 2026. Tune in and visit us online at osvnews.com.

Read the stories in this episode:

1.  Tens of thousands of Catholics are expected to join France’s annual Chartres pilgrimage as organizers stress unity with the pope amid renewed tensions surrounding traditionalist groups and the Latin Mass. 
2.  Catholic bishops from the U.S.-Mexico border region are warning Congress that a proposed $72 billion immigration enforcement package threatens the dignity and human rights of immigrant families. 
3.  Organizers of the 2026 National Eucharistic Pilgrimage say beginning the journey in St. Augustine highlights that America’s story started with Catholic worship long before the nation’s political founding. 
4.  Seattle Archbishop Paul Etienne is urging Catholics to rediscover devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus as a path toward healing, love and spiritual renewal in a divided world. 
5.  Pope Leo XIV encouraged Villanova University graduates to live out the Augustinian values of truth, unity and charity while reflecting on America’s founding ideals ahead of the nation’s 250th anniversary.

Maggie Murray of OSV News catches you up on the Catholic news of the day for May 19, 2026. Tune in and visit us online at osvnews.com.

Read the stories in this episode:

1. Pope Leo XIV delivered a candid pre-Pentecost challenge to about 1,000 confirmation candidates from Genoa, urging them to pray for perseverance and stay rooted in parish life rather than disappearing from the Church after receiving the sacrament.
2. Hundreds of Jews, Muslims, Christians and Druze joined an interfaith peace march through Jerusalem on Sunday, organized as a direct counterpoint to the violence-marred Jerusalem Day Flag Parade and calling for justice and unity amid rising regional tensions.
3. St. Cecilia Parish in Philadelphia — whose former pastor was named a serial abuser in a 2005 grand jury report — has dedicated an outdoor memorial inscribed with Scripture, prayer and a survivor's own words, as part of a broader commitment to accountability and child safety.
4. A coalition of Catholic ministries asked the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to block enforcement of a Biden-era regulation that extended pregnant worker protections to abortion, arguing the EEOC twisted a bipartisan law beyond what Congress ever intended.
5. Archbishop Timothy Broglio celebrated the annual memorial Mass for Catholic war dead at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception this past Saturday, connecting Christ's Great Commission to the military's own call to protect the rights and dignity of every American.

Gina Christian of OSV News catches you up on the Catholic news of the day for May 18, 2026. Tune in and visit us online at osvnews.com.

Read the stories in this episode:

• Pope Leo XIV's first encyclical "Magnifica Humanitas" will be published May 25, addressing artificial intelligence and the protection of human dignity, the Vatican has announced.
• As the nation prepares to celebrate its 250th birthday, it should reflect on how the American understanding of equality is grounded in the belief that all people are equally children of God, Bishop Robert E. Barron of Winona-Rochester, Minnesota, said May 17 at a prayer rally on the National Mall.
• The number of executions around the globe in 2025 surged to the highest recorded figure in 44 years, a new Amnesty International report said. 
• Bolivia's Catholic bishops are urging dialogue and "humanitarian pauses" as nationwide protests deepen the country's political and economic crisis. 
• Marking 10 years since his installation as archbishop of St. Paul and Minneapolis on May 13, 2016, Archbishop Bernard A. Hebda is renewing his focus on Catholic family life and vocations by releasing a new pastoral letter aimed at parents and families. 

Gina Christian of OSV News catches you up on the Catholic news of the day for May 15, 2026. Tune in and visit us online at osvnews.com.

Read the stories in this episode:

• As the world awaits Pope Leo XIV's first encyclical on artificial intelligence, expected to be signed May 15 and released by the Vatican by the end of the month, the pope has already emerged as a leading global voice on on the ethical challenges posed by AI.
• The Diocese of Salford in northern England has opened the sainthood cause of Pedro Ballester, a Manchester-born student remembered for his joy, faith and selflessness during a long battle with cancer.
• The sainthood cause of Msgr. Luigi Giussani, founder of the Communion and Liberation movement, is moving to Rome. 
• The U.S. Supreme Court on May 14 blocked an appeals court ruling that sought to pause a federal policy permitting mifepristone, sometimes called the abortion pill, to be dispensed through the mail. 
• More than two years after a devastating explosion in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Bishop Pierre-André Dumas said his long recovery in South Florida has become a witness to faith, friendship and resilience. 

Maggie Murray of OSV News catches you up on the Catholic news of the day for May 14, 2026. Tune in and visit us online at osvnews.com.

Read the stories in this episode:

1. Catholics worldwide are watching closely as President Donald Trump meets with Chinese President Xi Jinping, amid renewed calls for the release of imprisoned Catholic publisher Jimmy Lai. 
2.  A new Georgia law criminalizing clergy sexual misconduct in pastoral care is being praised by Catholic experts as a major step toward stronger accountability and abuse prevention. 
3.  New Pew Research data shows most Americans — including Catholics — oppose churches endorsing political candidates despite ongoing legal and political debates over the issue. 
4.  Church leaders in Sicily are honoring Brazilian Sister Nadir Santos da Silva after the nun died trying to rescue a fellow sister from dangerous waters near Catania. 
5.  U.S. Catholic bishops are preparing to consecrate the nation to the Sacred Heart of Jesus ahead of America’s 250th anniversary as a prayer for healing and spiritual renewal.

Gina Christian of OSV News catches you up on the Catholic news of the day for May 13, 2026. Tune in and visit us online at osvnews.com.

Read the stories in this episode:

• Cardinal Víctor Manuel Fernández, head of the Vatican’s doctrinal office, said the traditionalist Society of St. Pius X would commit "a schismatic act" if it proceeds with plans to consecrate new bishops July 1 without papal approval.
• A New Mexico diocese is citing a breach of religious freedom protections, as it pushes back against the Trump administration's efforts to seize land from a pilgrimage site to build a portion of a border wall. 
• Pope Leo XIV's upcoming address to Spain's parliament is being seen as a historic and potentially unifying moment in one of Europe's most politically polarized countries. 
• Forty-five years after the assassination attempt on St. John Paul II, Pope Leo XIV paused in St. Peter's Square on May 13 to pray at the spot where the Polish pontiff was shot in 1981.
• Sharing the Gospel means "we must be present in digital spaces," and an annual collection held May 16-17 this year by the nation's Catholic bishops aims to bolster those efforts. (You can donate online to the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops' Catholic Communications Campaign at https://www.igivecatholic.org/story/USCCB-CCC)

Maggie Murray of OSV News catches you up on the Catholic news of the day for May 12, 2026. Tune in and visit us online at osvnews.com.

Read the stories in this episode:

1.  Religious freedom advocates are urging President Donald Trump to quickly fill a key ambassador role as concerns grow about protecting persecuted faith communities worldwide. 
2.  Israeli soldiers were disciplined after separate incidents involving the desecration of Christian statues in southern Lebanon sparked outrage among local Christian leaders. 
3.  Catholic educators in Indonesia are reviewing child protection policies after a major abuse scandal at an Islamic boarding school exposed failures in oversight and safeguarding. 
4.  Catholic leaders gathered in Detroit for the “Witness to Hope” summit to discuss how the Church can better accompany and protect immigrant communities amid expanded immigration enforcement. 
5.  Chicago-area Catholics marked the first anniversary of Pope Leo XIV’s election with a pilgrimage to his boyhood parish and family home, celebrating the pope’s roots and legacy.

Gina Christian of OSV News catches you up on the Catholic news of the day for May 11, 2026. Tune in and visit us online at osvnews.com. 

Read the stories in this episode:

• President Donald Trump said May 11 he plans to discuss the imprisonment of Jimmy Lai during his upcoming visit to China; however, he suggested the prominent Catholic and pro-democracy campaigner "caused a lot of bedlam."
• A Texas-based bishop, who leads one of the Catholic Church's three "Anglican ordinariates," has seen his pastoral care expanded to Australia, as a fellow prelate has been tapped to lead a Vatican dicastery.
• The Vatican’s dialogue with German bishops over blessings for same-sex couples remains ongoing, and it is too early to discuss sanctions, Cardinal Pietro Parolin said May 6 in Rome.
• Pope Leo XIV thanked the people of Spain’s Canary Islands after authorities allowed a cruise ship carrying passengers exposed to hantavirus to dock in Tenerife.
• During his May 7 visit to St. Mary's Seminary in Baltimore, Bishop Erik Varden of Trondheim, Norway, sat down with OSV News to share his insights on Christian hope, the dangers of AI and weaponizing the Christian faith, and the need for patience in the spiritual life. (Listen to our full podcast interview right here on this channel.)

Gina Christian of OSV News sits down with Bishop Erik Varden of Trondheim, Norway, for his thoughts on a range of topics, including hope amid an angst-ridden world; artificial intelligence (AI); countering -- and healing -- the weaponization of the Christian faith for political gain; and the need for patience. Bishop Varden also shared what he's reading right now, his favorite music, and one pastime he manages to fit into his busy schedule. Tune in and visit us online at osvnews.com, and visit Bishop Varden's website at coramfratribus.com. (Many thanks to St. Mary's Seminary in Baltimore, Maryland, for hosting this interview.)

Read our OSV News interview with Bishop Erik Varden.

Maggie Murray of OSV News catches you up on the Catholic news of the day for May 8, 2026. Tune in and visit us online at osvnews.com.

Read the stories in this episode:

1. Pope Leo XIV marked the first anniversary of his election today with a pilgrimage to the Marian Shrine of Our Lady of the Holy Rosary in Pompeii, celebrating Mass before 20,000 people and entrusting his pontificate to the Virgin Mary on the very feast day that coincided with his election.
2. A lighthearted story about Pope Leo XIV being hung up on during a customer service call to his Chicago bank has gone viral, charming Catholics worldwide with a surprisingly relatable glimpse of life as the first American pope.
3. A photograph of an Israeli soldier appearing to desecrate a statue of the Virgin Mary in Lebanon is drawing international condemnation, adding to a growing pattern of anti-Christian incidents tied to the ongoing regional conflict.
4. Catholic health workers and Caritas Bangladesh are on the front lines of a deadly measles outbreak that has killed at least 336 children since mid-March, with Church-run clinics providing care and public health education despite Christians comprising less than one percent of the population.
5. Hundreds of Catholics in Los Angeles turned out to venerate relics of 36 Cristero War martyrs, with many attendees drawing personal family connections to the conflict and finding in the martyrs a renewed call to live and defend their faith openly and without fear.

Maggie Murray of OSV News catches you up on the Catholic news of the day for May 7, 2026. Tune in and visit us online at osvnews.com.

Read the stories in this episode:

1. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio met with Pope Leo XIV at the Vatican today for more than 45 minutes of talks on Iran, humanitarian aid and global conflicts, amid ongoing public tensions between the pope and President Trump over the war.
2. A Vatican parish hosted a public discussion on UFOs and extraterrestrial life, reflecting the Church's long tradition of engaging timely cultural questions at the intersection of science, philosophy and Catholic faith.
3. The French bishops' conference announced Pope Leo XIV is expected to visit France in late September, with stops likely at the Marian shrine of Lourdes and in Paris — marking his first official trip to the country as pope.
4. The Minnesota Senate narrowly passed a sweeping firearms bill on a 34-33 vote, with debate centering on last August's deadly shooting during an all-school Mass at Annunciation Catholic Church that killed two young children.
5. As the House-passed $390 billion farm bill heads to the Senate, Catholic organizations are urging lawmakers to preserve robust funding for SNAP, arguing that the needs of farmers, rural communities and hungry Americans are fundamentally aligned, not opposed.

Gina Christian of OSV News catches you up on the Catholic news of the day for May 6, 2026. Tune in and visit us online at osvnews.com.

Read the stories in this episode:

• A new poll published the day after President Donald Trump renewed his series of social media and verbal attacks on Pope Leo XIV, showed Americans broadly disapprove. 
• The Catholic Church is the guardian of hope, whose members are called to speak clearly against all evil and in defense of human life, Pope Leo XIV said.
• African Catholic leaders are calling for urgent action to stop rising xenophobic violence in South Africa, where attacks on foreign nationals have left several dead and others injured.
• Several Catholic aid organizations said they remain "united in hope" for Ukraine, as Russia's war on that nation relentlessly rages on. 
• New research shows the number of undocumented immigrants -- if defined as those without long-term authorization to reside in the U.S. including those granted short-term legal status -- reached an estimated 14.6 million in 2024, an "increasingly settled" population that reflects shifts in migration patterns.

Maggie Murray of OSV News catches you up on the Catholic news of the day for May 5, 2026. Tune in and visit us online at osvnews.com.

Read the stories in this episode:

1.  U.S. bishops are urging the FDA to move quickly on a long-promised safety review of the abortion drug mifepristone amid concerns of delay. 
2.  Plans are underway in Illinois for a national shrine honoring Venerable Augustus Tolton, the first recognized Black Catholic priest in the United States. 
3.  Catholic leaders are raising alarm after reports of damage to a Christian school in Lebanon, warning of growing threats to Christians and sacred sites in the Holy Land. 
4.  Federal authorities have charged a juvenile in a cybercrime-linked swatting attack that disrupted Mass at Villanova University, Pope Leo XIV’s alma mater. 
5.  Irish dancer Michael Flatley reflects on faith and vocation after a personal meeting with Pope Leo XIV at the Vatican.

Maggie Murray of OSV News catches you up on the Catholic news of the day for May 4, 2026. Tune in and visit us online at osvnews.com.

Read the stories in this episode:

1. Justice Samuel Alito issued an administrative stay today temporarily blocking a lower court ruling that had sought to restrict mail distribution of mifepristone, restoring the policy until at least May 11th while the Supreme Court weighs next steps.
2. The Archdiocese of New York has proposed an $800 million settlement to resolve approximately 1,300 clergy abuse claims, with each survivor potentially receiving $250,000 if the deal is unanimously accepted — though the risk of bankruptcy looms if any claimants hold out.
3. Pope Leo XIV met with Catholic Charities USA leadership at the Vatican today, praising their mission of compassionate service and offering a word of Gospel encouragement to an organization facing rising demand amid growing economic hardship across the United States.
4. Pope Leo XIV condemned a deadly April 25th bombing in Colombia's Cauca province that killed 20 people, calling on all parties to reject violence and choose peace as the country's bishops echoed his appeal for reconciliation and respect for human life.
5. Poland's Marian sanctuary of Gietrzwałd — the country's only Vatican-recognized apparition site — is preparing to mark its 150th anniversary with hopes of a papal visit, as the Church also advances the sainthood cause of one of the two young visionaries who witnessed Mary's reported appearances in 1877.

Maggie Murray of OSV News catches you up on the Catholic news of the day for April 30, 2026. Tune in and visit us online at osvnews.com.

Read the stories in this episode:

1. The Trump administration's Department of Justice released a report today accusing the Biden administration of "anti-Christian bias" in its policy approach to abortion, marriage and gender — a move critics say is politically motivated ahead of the midterm elections.
2. At an April 30th federal commission hearing, panelists warned that children are among the most defenseless victims of global religious persecution, with governments around the world deliberately targeting youth to erode faith communities across generations.
3. Pope Leo XIV released his May prayer intention today, calling on Catholics worldwide to combat global hunger through practical solidarity, as the World Food Program warns 318 million people face severe food insecurity in 2026.
4. Israeli authorities arrested a suspect in the violent assault of a French nun near Jerusalem's Cenacle, drawing international condemnation amid growing concerns over anti-Christian harassment in the region.
5. Jessica Cox — born without arms and now a record-breaking pilot, martial arts black belt and Catholic speaker — is inspiring audiences around the world with her message that faith can conquer any obstacle, as she sets her sights on building a custom four-seat aircraft she calls "The Impossible Airplane."

Gina Christian of OSV News catches you up on the Catholic news of the day for April 29, 2026. Tune in and visit us online at osvnews.com.

Read the stories in this episode:

• King Charles III appealed to the Christian faith and invoked "shared values" between the United Kingdom and the United States as he called for peace around the globe during an address to a joint meeting of the U.S. Congress April 28.
• The U.S. Supreme Court unanimously ruled April 29 that a group of faith-based pregnancy centers in New Jersey can challenge in federal court an investigation by that state's attorney general alleging they misled people about their services and seeking information about their donors.
• The Vatican Observatory announced in an April 29 press release that an asteroid has been named in honor of Pope Leo XIII, who formally reestablished the observatory in 1891.
• Christians in the Holy Land are dwindling under the pressures of war, economic hardship and emigration, according to Benedictine Father Nikodemus Schnabel, head of Dormition Abbey in Jerusalem.
• Pope Leo XIV said in his April 29 general audience he wanted his journey to Africa to highlight the serious injustices continuing there and propose a message of peace to a world marred by conflict and violations of international law. 

Maggie Murray of OSV News catches you up on the Catholic news of the day for April 28, 2026. Tune in and visit us online at osvnews.com.

Read the stories in this episode:

1. Pope Leo XIV advances five sainthood causes, including Sister Teresia of the Most Holy Trinity, a Dutch Carmelite nun who served and suffered quietly in Missouri. 
2. Seoul organizers announce five patron saints for World Youth Day 2027, highlighting holiness, justice, and faith for a new generation of Catholic youth.
3. Msgr. Robert Coll, the priest behind Catholic Relief Services’ Rice Bowl program, is remembered for a legacy of service that helped raise nearly $350 million for the poor.
4. Catholic leaders in South Sudan renew calls for justice three years after the disappearance of Father Luke Yugue Mbokusa and his driver.
5. Universities across the U.S. report a surge in students seeking confirmation, with many young adults saying they found faith while searching for meaning and belonging.

Gina Christian of OSV News catches you up on the Catholic news of the day for April 27, 2026. Tune in and visit us online at osvnews.com.

Read the stories in this episode:

• At an ordination Mass in St. Peter's Basilica, Pope Leo XIV urged 10 new priests to keep the Church's doors open to a "suffering humanity," emphasizing that their role is to welcome, not block, those seeking Jesus Christ.
• Archbishop Paul S. Coakley of Oklahoma City, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, denounced violence and called for all to resport to prayer after a gunman's attempted assault on the annual White House Correspondents' Association Dinner in Washington April 25 forced the evacuation of the president, first lady and members of the Cabinet.
• A global conversation on marriage and family is gaining urgency as declining birth rates reshape the West. Ahead of an October gathering in Rome convened by Pope Leo XIV, new data highlight the trend: U.S. births fell 1% in 2025 to about 3.6 million, while Europe's fertility rates remain well below replacement levels. 
• As the U.S. and Iran face off over the Strait of Hormuz, Catholic maritime ministries are calling for prayer and support for some 20,000 souls trapped at sea. 
• Pope Leo XIV said Catholics and Anglicans must keep pursuing unity, even as new divisions complicate the path to full communion. 

Gina Christian of OSV News catches you up on the Catholic news of the day for April 24, 2026. Tune in and visit us online at osvnews.com.

Read the stories in this episode:

• Pope Leo XIV has wrapped up his first trip to Africa, closing an 11-day, four-nation visit marked by urgent appeals for peace, justice and unity. 
• Church leaders in Cameroon say Pope Leo XIV's visit could mark a turning point for peace in a nation strained by conflict. 
• At a memorial Mass marking one year since Pope Francis' death, Buenos Aires Archbishop Jorge García Cuerva delivered a sharp message to Argentina's political leaders: stop the infighting and embrace unity.
• A vote for the Right to Recover Act would be a vote to "choose life and not death" and build a civilization that cares, Cardinal Frank Leo said in April 20 letters to Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and all members of Parliament from the Toronto area, amid debate over expansion of that nation's assisted suicide program.
• Supporters of Maryknoll Father Vincent Capodanno's sainthood cause are marking a meaningful milestone with cautious optimism.

Gina Christian of OSV News catches you up on the Catholic news of the day for April 23, 2026. Tune in and visit us online at osvnews.com.

Read the stories in this episode:

• Pope Leo XIV wrapped up an 11-day visit to Africa with a vibrant Mass in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea, urging Catholics to find strength, justice and hope in the Gospel and the sacraments.
• A national garden proposed by survivors of clergy sexual abuse promises to foster healing not only for survivors but also for the Catholic Church as a whole in the nation's capital.
• Lebanese Christians in Debel are celebrating the gift of a new statue of Jesus on the cross after a recent act of desecration by two Israeli soldiers drew global outrage. 
• An Indigenous coalition filed an updated lawsuit in federal district court in Phoenix on April 22, their latest attempt to block a land transfer including their sacred site at Oak Flat, Arizona, and protect the site from destruction by a copper mining giant. 
• This spring, the U.S. will see more than 400 men ordained to the priesthood, and an annual report conducted by the Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate (CARA) at Georgetown University for the U.S. bishops takes a look at what factors shaped the priestly class of 2026.

Maggie Murray of OSV News catches you up on the Catholic news of the day for April 22, 2026. Tune in and visit us online at osvnews.com.

Read the stories in this episode:

1. In Equatorial Guinea, Pope Leo XIV urges citizens and leaders to use their nation’s wealth for the common good while safeguarding human dignity during a major Mass in Central Africa’s largest Catholic church. 
2. Missionaries across Africa say Pope Leo’s first papal trip was not political, but a pastoral message of peace, solidarity, and hope rooted in Christ. 
3. President Donald Trump reads Scripture at a national Bible event amid controversy over past posts targeting Pope Leo and an AI-generated image depicting himself as Jesus. 
4. A federal appeals court narrowly upholds a Texas law requiring Ten Commandments displays in public school classrooms, reigniting debate over religion and public life. 
5. A new Marquette survey finds most Americans believe the U.S. lacked sufficient reasons for the Iran war, even as bipartisan support remains for a ceasefire.

Maggie Murray of OSV News catches you up on the Catholic news of the day for April 21, 2026. Tune in and visit us online at osvnews.com.

Read the stories in this episode:

1. Pope Leo XIV remembers Pope Francis as a shepherd of mercy and closeness to the poor one year after his death. 
2. A Mass at St. Mary Major highlights Pope Francis’ lasting legacy of mercy, peace and pastoral leadership. 
3. Pope Francis’ longtime nurse shares personal memories of the pope’s humility, final moments and quiet holiness. 
4. Catholic leaders condemn Pakistan court's decision upholding the marriage of a 13-year-old Christian girl, warning of threats to religious freedom. 
5. Organizers clarify the “one nation under God” theme as a call to prayer and unity, not a political message.

Gina Christian of OSV News catches you up on the Catholic news of the day for April 20, 2026. Tune in and visit us online at osvnews.com.

Read the stories in this episode:

• Pope Leo XIV has personally donated $100,000 to provide access to clean water in El Salvador, supporting a program launched by the papal nuncio to that nation and by Catholic Relief Services, the official humanitarian and development agency of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.
• The U.S. Supreme Court April 20 agreed to hear a case over a clash between Catholic preschools and the state of Colorado over whether those schools can participate in the state's universal preschool program. 
• Israel's military is investigating after a viral image showed an Israeli soldier desecrating a statue of Jesus in southern Lebanon.
• Pope Leo XIV celebrated an outdoor Mass April 19 in Kilamba, drawing an estimated 100,000 faithful and delivering a message of hope to a nation still marked by civil war. 
• Pope Leo XIV traveled to the heart of Angola's diamond country April 20, urging the tens of thousands gathered at the papal Mass in the country's northeast to trust that "Christ hears the cry of the people" in the face of evil. 

Gina Christian of OSV News catches you up on the Catholic news of the day for April 17, 2026. Tune in and visit us online at osvnews.com.

Read the stories in this episode:

• Pope Leo XIV celebrated Mass for more than 120,000 people in Cameroon’s largest city April 17, urging the "beloved children of the African continent" to respond to hunger with both charity and faith, sharing material food and "the bread of life."
• The Catholic Church's just war doctrine is not "a blank check for violence," and the pope is the "guardian of conscience," said Auxiliary Bishop James Massa of Brooklyn, chair of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops' Committee on Doctrine. 
• An increasing number of the nation's young men say religion is "very important" in their lives, marking a return to levels seen 25 years ago, and edging them ahead of young women on the issue, according to Gallup.
• Pope Leo XIV has warned that artificial intelligence could reshape how humanity relates to truth. Speaking April 17 at the Catholic University of Central Africa in Yaoundé, he urged students to pair technical skill with ethical formation in a rapidly digital world. 
• Ten years after her death in Ecuador's 2016 earthquake, Sister Clare Crockett is being remembered as a joyful witness to the faith whose story continues to resonate worldwide.

Maggie Murray of OSV News catches you up on the Catholic news of the day for April 16, 2026. Tune in and visit us online at osvnews.com.

Read the stories in this episode:

1. Pope Leo XIV arrived in Cameroon this week, calling for peace and dialogue in a nation ravaged by separatist conflict, just days after armed factions announced a temporary ceasefire ahead of his visit.
2. In an emotionally charged gathering in Bamenda, Pope Leo delivered a forceful appeal for an end to Cameroon's decade-long Anglophone crisis, hearing firsthand accounts of violence against worshippers and communities while urging the faithful that "we can always begin anew."
3. A U.S. bishop defended the Church's just war tradition after Vice President JD Vance warned Pope Leo to "be careful" when speaking about theology and pushed back on the pope's characterization of the Iran conflict as unjust.
4. The Trump administration canceled an $11 million federal contract with Catholic Charities of Miami, abruptly ending its shelter program for unaccompanied migrant children and giving the agency just three months to relocate those in its care.
5. A new survey from the Vinea Research Group found that two-thirds of Catholics who haven't been to confession in the past year say they're open to returning, with mercy identified as the primary motivator drawing both regular penitents and the long-absent back to the sacrament.

Gina Christian of OSV News catches you up on the Catholic news of the day for April 15, 2026. Tune in and visit us online at osvnews.com.

Read the stories in this episode:

• More of the nation's Catholic bishops have weighed in after President Donald Trump began denouncing Pope Leo XIV at length on social media, and then posted a now-deleted image of himself as Jesus. 
• More than a year after Donald Trump pardoned 23 pro-life activists convicted for violating the federal Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances, or FACE Act, the Justice Department released a sweeping 882-page report that alleges the Biden administration weaponized those prosecutions.
• Separatist groups in Cameroon's Anglophone regions have announced a temporary ceasefire as Pope Leo begins a high-stakes visit to the country.
• In a letter to the College of Cardinals released April 14, Pope Leo XIV thanked the prelates them for their participation in the January consistory, and he prepared the conversation for their next gathering June 26-27 -- right before the solemnity of Sts. Peter and Paul. 
• A record surge in adult and teen baptisms at France's Easter Vigil is drawing widespread attention, with secular media calling it an “astonishing phenomenon.” 

Maggie Murray of OSV News catches you up on the Catholic news of the day for April 14, 2026. Tune in and visit us online at osvnews.com.

Read the stories in this episode:

1. The Justice Department’s Religious Liberty Commission concluded its final hearing as Christian criticism swirls over President Trump’s recent attacks on Pope Leo and controversial social media posts. 
2. A coalition of 78 pro-life organizations is pressing the Justice Department to back state efforts challenging Biden-era expansions of mifepristone access. 
3. Pope Leo celebrated Mass at the Basilica of St. Augustine in Algeria, calling Catholics to inherit the saint’s legacy of truth, faith and charity. 
4. Church leaders in Cameroon say Pope Leo’s upcoming visit has sparked hope, unity and even practical improvements ahead of his arrival. 
5. Archbishop Amel Shamon Nona has been elected patriarch of the Chaldean Catholic Church, taking leadership at a critical time for Middle Eastern Christians.

Maggie Murray of OSV News catches you up on the Catholic news of the day for April 13, 2026. Tune in and visit us online at osvnews.com.

Read the stories in this episode:

1. President Donald Trump publicly lashed out at Pope Leo XIV after the pontiff condemned threats of mass destruction and continued urging peace amid the Iran conflict. 
2. Pope Leo says he has "no fear" of the Trump Administration and insists his response to war and conflict remains rooted in the Gospel’s call to peace. 
3. Pope Leo arrives in Algeria for the first papal visit to the country, beginning an 11-day Africa trip centered on peace, dialogue and interfaith outreach. 
4. Three U.S. cardinals speak out on national television against the Iran war, mass deportations and the politicization of the Church’s message. 
5. U.S. bishops are urging federal officials to protect pregnant women and nursing mothers in immigration detention, citing reports of miscarriages and family separations.

Gina Christian of OSV News catches you up on the Catholic news of the day for April 10, 2026. Tune in and visit us online at osvnews.com.

Read the stories in this episode:

• Pope Leo XIV will begin his first apostolic journey to Africa on April 13, traveling more than 11,000 miles over 11 days across Algeria, Cameroon, Angola and Equatorial Guinea.
• The Holy See Press Office issued a statement April 10 disputing a report by The Free Press several days earlier that the Vatican's top diplomat in the U.S. was brought to the Pentagon in January for a "bitter lecture" about comments from Pope Leo XIV that some senior U.S. defense officials​​ perceived as criticism of the Trump administration. '
• Pope Leo XIV met Olympic and Paralympic athletes from  the 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Olympics, praising sport as a path to humility, resilience and peace.
• A new pastoral letter from Indiana's Catholic bishops calls on the faithful to see God-given human life and creation as interwoven, and to live "eucharistic lives as we care for both our human community and for God's good world."
• As the Artemis II mission wraps up, OSV News looks at how space exploration has long stirred both curiosity and faith in Catholics.

Maggie Murray of OSV News catches you up on the Catholic news of the day for April 9, 2026. Tune in and visit us online at osvnews.com.

Read the stories in this episode:

1. Conflicting accounts emerge over a January meeting between U.S. defense officials and the Vatican’s ambassador, as both sides downplay reports of a tense exchange over Pope Leo XIV’s criticism of war. 
2. As a fragile U.S.-Iran ceasefire teeters, escalating strikes in Lebanon prompt the Vatican’s nuncio to urge peace, warning that war is “not the right path” amid mounting civilian suffering. 
3. Hungarian Catholics voice concern ahead of a contentious national election, as Church leaders remain largely silent and political tensions raise fears of deeper division. 
4. A Notre Dame peace scholar says rising military threats by global powers are undermining the international order, warning that unchecked force erodes trust and accountability. 
5. Across the U.S., dioceses and parishes are organizing prayer vigils in response to Pope Leo XIV’s appeal for peace, emphasizing spiritual unity amid escalating global conflict.

Maggie Murray of OSV News catches you up on the Catholic news of the day for April 8, 2026. Tune in and visit us online at osvnews.com.

Read the stories in this episode:

1. After threatening Iran’s “whole civilization” with destruction, President Donald Trump backed down hours before his deadline, saying he would suspend attacks for two weeks if Iran reopened the Strait of Hormuz, following condemnation from Catholic leaders including Pope Leo XIV and Archbishop Paul S. Coakley. 
2. A federal judge in Louisiana temporarily halted the state’s challenge to the FDA’s abortion pill rules until the agency completes a promised safety review of mifepristone, though the court indicated the legal fight could continue afterward.
3. At the opening of the National Catholic Educational Association convention in Minneapolis, Bishop Andrew H. Cozzens told educators that Catholic schools must help heal young people’s wounded hearts by guiding them toward truth, love and self-giving. 
4. As Vilnius prepares to host the sixth World Apostolic Congress on Mercy, pilgrims will reflect on the legacy of St. Faustina Kowalska and witness mercy in action at a hospice inspired by the message of Divine Mercy. 
5. One year after the fatal shooting of beloved pastor Father Arul Carasala, parishioners in Seneca, Kansas, gathered in prayer and remembrance, reflecting on grief, faith and the legacy of the priest who served their community for decades.

Maggie Murray of OSV News catches you up on the Catholic news of the day for April 7, 2026. Tune in and visit us online at osvnews.com.

Read the stories in this episode:

1. Catholic leaders, including Archbishop Paul Coakley and Pope Leo XIV, rebuked President Donald Trump after he threatened Iran’s “whole civilization will die tonight,” urging negotiations and prayer for peace instead of further escalation in the war. 
2. Catholic clergy visiting migrant detainees at a Chicago-area ICE facility during the Easter Triduum said the Holy Thursday foot-washing and prayers were received as a powerful sign of care and humanity. 
3. After 17 years evaluating reported healings at the Marian shrine of Lourdes, Dr. Alessandro de Franciscis has retired, emphasizing that physicians assess medical facts while the Catholic Church ultimately determines whether a healing is a miracle. 
4. Amid ongoing violence in the Middle East, a Washington Catholic parish hosted Jewish, Muslim and Christian neighbors for a shared meal inspired by Abraham’s hospitality and aimed at strengthening peace and unity. 
5. During NASA’s Artemis II lunar flyby, astronaut Victor Glover reminded Earth of Jesus’ command to love God and neighbor, sharing a message of faith and unity moments before the spacecraft temporarily lost communication behind the moon.

Gina Christian of OSV News catches you up on the Catholic news of the day for April 6, 2026. Tune in and visit us online at osvnews.com.

Read the stories in this episode:

• From the central loggia of St. Peter's Basilica, Pope Leo XIV delivered an Easter appeal for peace April 5, telling tens of thousands gathered in St. Peter's Square that the risen Christ’s power is "entirely nonviolent."
• Pope Leo XIV on April 6 honored Pope Francis and urged Catholics to follow the late pope’s example by boldly proclaiming the truth in a world clouded by confusion and falsehood. 
• Archbishop Timothy P. Broglio of the U.S. Archdiocese for the Military Services is raising serious moral concerns about the U.S. war in Iran, questioning whether it meets the standards of Catholic just war teaching.
• Pope Leo XIV sent Easter greetings to Catholics in Gaza, offering prayers and support to a community living amid war and uncertainty.
• NASA's first crewed lunar flyby in half a century has sparked wonder, reflection and prayer -- both in space and on the ground -- with pilot Victor Glover sharing his faith as he and his fellow crew members make history.

Maggie Murray of OSV News catches you up on the Catholic news of the day for April 2, 2026. Tune in and visit us online at osvnews.com.

Read the stories in this episode:

1. President Donald Trump defended U.S. military action in Iran during a primetime address citing nuclear threats, while Catholic leaders including Pope Leo XIV and Archbishop Paul S. Coakley urged prayer, dialogue and an end to the war. 
2.  The president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops called on Catholics to “pray ardently” for peace during Holy Week, echoing Pope Leo XIV’s appeal to remember those suffering amid violence in the Middle East. 
3.  Pope Leo XIV marked his first Holy Thursday as pope by washing the feet of 12 priests at the Archbasilica of St. John Lateran, pointing to Christ’s example of humility, service and love at the Last Supper. 
4.  The U.S. bishops’ pro-life chair backed legislation seeking to revoke FDA approval of the abortion drug mifepristone, arguing women deserve compassionate support rather than what he called the isolating effects of chemical abortion. 
5.  Filmmaker Martin Scorsese explores the story and humanity of the Blessed Virgin Mary in a special Easter episode of his docudrama series The Saints, now streaming on Fox Nation.

Gina Christian of OSV News catches you up on the Catholic news of the day for April 1, 2026. Tune in and visit us online at osvnews.com.

Read the stories in this episode:

• Church leaders in Jerusalem are voicing deep concern after Israel’s parliament approved a new death penalty law targeting Palestinians convicted of lethal attacks, calling it a blow to human dignity.
• The U.S. Supreme Court heard oral arguments April 1 on President Donald Trump's executive order limiting birthright citizenship, with the president in attendance. 
• The Trump administration signaled it would provide another year of Title X grant money to Planned Parenthood, the nation's largest abortion provider, the day before those funds were set to expire, prompting condemnation from leaders of pro-life groups.
• In the days ahead of Holy Week, several Catholic leaders issued messages denouncing antisemitism, stressing Church teaching on the issue as the faithful solemnly commemorate Christ's passion and death. 
• Pope Leo XIV is calling on Catholics to pray for priests experiencing crisis, especially those facing loneliness, doubt, and exhaustion. 

Maggie Murray of OSV News catches you up on the Catholic news of the day for March 31, 2026. Tune in and visit us online at osvnews.com.

Read the stories in this episode:

1. Catholic Charities USA has launched a traveling museum titled People of Hope: Faith-Filled Stories of Neighbors Helping Neighbors in New York City, beginning a three-year nationwide tour designed to inspire service and highlight the impact of Catholic charitable work across the United States. 
2. JD Vance will publish a new book, Communion: Finding My Way Back to Faith, this summer recounting his adult conversion to Catholicism and spiritual journey since entering the Church in 2019. 
3. Catholics in Chicago are mourning the killing of Sheridan Gorman, an 18-year-old freshman at Loyola University Chicago, as church leaders and her family urge prayer and remembrance while warning against politicizing the tragedy. 
4. French priest Father Arnaud de Boissieu is sharing his story of abuse and healing in a new memoir, describing decades of silence after being assaulted as a teenager and his ongoing journey toward forgiveness and spiritual recovery. 
5. The Archdiocese of Paris is moving forward with a major architectural project transforming a former convent into housing and community space for vulnerable people and young volunteers in the heart of the French capital. 

Gina Christian of OSV News catches you up on the Catholic news of the day for March 30, 2026. Tune in and visit us online at osvnews.com.

Read the stories in this episode:

• Pope Leo XIV used his first visit to Monaco March 28 to challenge the wealthy principality to center its life on the poor and the protection of human life, warning that the Last Judgment "places the poor at its center." 
• In his first Palm Sunday homily, Pope Leo XIV delivered a strong message of peace, presenting Jesus as the "King of Peace" who rejects violence and stands with all who suffer. 
• Christians in Gaza City marked Palm Sunday with an unexpected sign of hope, gathering at Holy Family Parish for Mass and a procession despite rain, gunfire and ongoing hardship. 
• Georgetown University in Qatar, located in Doha, 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. 
• As the Church enters Holy Week, the story of Japanese sculptor Etsuro Sotoo offers a powerful witness to faith shaped through art. 

Gina Christian of OSV News recently sat down with Basilian Sisters Sevastiana Karvatska, Inokentiia Brattsiv and Lucia Murashko, who serve in Ukraine, to ask the sisters how they bring God's presence to a war-weary nation. The sisters, who spoke during a March 2026 visit to the U.S., shared their fears, their faith and their determination to continue bringing the light of Christ amid the darkness of Russia's ongoing attacks. Tune in and visit us online at osvnews.com.

Read our related story: On front lines of war, Basilian sisters bring the presence of God

Gina Christian of OSV News catches you up on the Catholic news of the day for March 27, 2026. Tune in and visit us online at osvnews.com.

Read the stories in this episode:

• On March 24, to commemorate the feast day of the martyr St. Óscar Romero, hundreds of people joined in a march and vigil calling for an end to mass deportations and mass detention led by El Paso Bishop Mark J. Seitz and other Catholic bishops, clergy and organizations in downtown El Paso. 
• More than 20,000 catechumens in France are preparing to enter the Church this Easter, marking a striking 20% increase over last year.
• Spain's bishops are urging a renewed commitment to care and accompaniment following the March 26 euthanasia death of 25-year-old Noelia Castillo. 
• Cardinal Arthur Roche is urging Catholics to see liturgical debates through the lens of unity, not personal preference.
• As Russia's war in Ukraine rages on, Basilian Sisters Sevastiana Karvatska, Inokentiia Brattsiv and Lucia Murashko shared with OSV News their experiences of ministering in a nation both ravaged and resilient -- a place where faith is tested to the extreme, and proven. 
  
  Make sure to check out our extended podcast with the Basilian sisters which drops Saturday March 28.

Maggie Murray of OSV News catches you up on the Catholic news of the day for March 26, 2026. Tune in and visit us online at osvnews.com.

Read the stories in this episode:

1. Pope Leo XIV prepares for a historic nine-hour visit to Monaco March 28, with Vatican officials describing the wealthy city-state as a “laboratory of peace” where the pope will highlight human dignity and hidden social struggles.
2. As Pope Leo prepares to visit Monaco, attention turns to Princess Grace Kelly, the American-born Catholic princess whose faith shaped her marriage, motherhood, charity work and devotion during her years in the principality.
3. A group of U.S. senators has sent investigatory letters to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and manufacturers of the abortion drug mifepristone seeking information about its manufacturing, sales and online distribution.
4. Pope Leo XIV has urged French bishops to ease tensions over the traditional Latin Mass and find ways to include Catholics attached to the Church’s older liturgy while maintaining unity after the decree Traditionis Custodes.
5. A new document from the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith affirms that the Catholic Church’s Anglican ordinariates continue to make a lasting contribution to evangelization through their distinctive spiritual and liturgical heritage.

Maggie Murray of OSV News catches you up on the Catholic news of the day for March 25, 2026. Tune in and visit us online at osvnews.com.

Read the stories in this episode:

1. The Vatican announces Archbishop Fulton Sheen will be beatified Sept. 24 in St. Louis, marking what Church leaders call a moment of immense grace.
2. The U.S. Supreme Court hears arguments on whether a policy turning away asylum seekers at the border can be reinstated.
3. Cardinal Dolan and Bishop Barron reject claims of anti-Catholic bias tied to the removal of a former Religious Liberty Commission member.
4. Residents of Taybeh, the West Bank’s last all-Christian village, describe growing fear and hardship amid rising violence.
5. Pope Leo XIV urges Catholics to defend life from conception to natural death during a world marked by what he calls the madness of war.

Maggie Murray of OSV News catches you up on the Catholic news of the day for March 24, 2026. Tune in and visit us online at osvnews.com.

Read the stories in this episode:

1. Omaha’s archbishop praises the declaration of Father Edward Flanagan as venerable, highlighting the Boys Town founder’s legacy of charity toward vulnerable youth.
2. War-related restrictions are forcing major changes to Holy Week in Jerusalem, including canceling the traditional Palm Sunday procession.
3. Eastern Catholic bishops in the U.S. issue a call for peace and justice as war and persecution affect their communities’ homelands.
4. Pope Leo XIV meets the head of Israel’s Holocaust memorial center to discuss remembrance, research and rising antisemitism.
5. Catholic priests are using the Reddit forum “Ask a Priest” to answer faith questions and extend ministry into the digital world.

Maggie Murray of OSV News catches you up on the Catholic news of the day for March 23, 2026. Tune in and visit us online at osvnews.com.

Read the stories in this episode:

1. Newly opened Church archives in Poland report that Cardinal Karol Wojtyla acted decisively in abuse cases, challenging claims made in a controversial 2023 documentary.
2. Pope Leo XIV declares Boys Town founder Father Edward Flanagan venerable, advancing the priest known for helping vulnerable youth toward sainthood.
3. Pope Leo calls the suffering caused by war a “scandal for the entire human family” as he urges prayer and peace during his Sunday Angelus.
4. U.S. bishops are urging Congress to pass legislation investigating the legacy and impact of Indian boarding schools on Native American communities.
5. A Catholic television producer is bringing Old Testament stories to life through a new drama series focused on the women of the Bible.

Gina Christian of OSV News catches you up on the Catholic news of the day for March 20, 2026. Tune in and visit us online at osvnews.com.

Read the stories in this episode:

• Catholic dioceses and organizations are canceling events and rethinking initiatives honoring the late civil rights icon César Chávez, following newly reported allegations the activist -- who publicly drew on his Catholic faith in his work -- sexually abused several women and girls.
• The Napa Institute -- the California-based organization dedicated to equipping Catholic leaders "to bring the light of Christ into every sphere of culture" -- held its second Ecumenical Forum on March 18 at the Museum of the Bible, including the first Catholic Mass at the museum.
• About 240 students from the Chesterton Schools Network began a 10-day pilgrimage to Italy with Pope Leo XIV's general audience in St. Peter's Square. 
• Israel has closed Jerusalem's holiest sites -- including the Church of the Holy Sepulcher -- citing security concerns amid escalating conflict with Iran.

Maggie Murray of OSV News catches you up on the Catholic news of the day for March 19, 2026. Tune in and visit us online at osvnews.com.

Read the stories in this episode:

1. Pope Leo XIV announces he will bring the presidents of bishops’ conferences to Rome in October for a global discussion on strengthening the Church’s pastoral response to marriage and family life.
2. At the National Catholic Prayer Breakfast in Washington, House Speaker Mike Johnson defended the role of religion in public life while Pope Leo XIV encouraged prayers for national leaders.
3. President Donald Trump issued presidential messages honoring the Catholic feast days of St. Joseph and St. Patrick, highlighting the saints’ legacy of faith, virtue and cultural heritage.
4. Catholic leaders and pro-life advocates in England are warning that a new amendment advancing in Parliament could create what critics call one of the most extreme abortion laws in Britain.
5. Catholic universities are making a strong showing in the 2026 NCAA basketball tournaments, with a dozen programs competing in March Madness across both the men’s and women’s brackets.

Gina Christian of OSV News catches you up on the Catholic news of the day for March 18, 2026. Tune in and visit us online at osvnews.com.

Read the stories in this episode:

• Registration for public events during the 2026 National Eucharistic Pilgrimage opened March 18, revealing abundant opportunities for Catholics to join the nine "perpetual pilgrims" traveling the East Coast route from Florida to Maine that culminates in an Independence Day weekend celebration in Philadelphia.
• The Vatican's top diplomat to the United Nations called for a "holistic approach" in securing access to justice for women and girls.  
• Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Latin patriarch of Jerusalem, is warning that invoking God to justify war is, in his words, "the gravest sin we can commit at this time." 
• Scotland’s Catholic bishops welcomed a major vote in Holyrood, or the Scottish Parliament. Lawmakers March 17 rejected a bill that would have allowed assisted dying for terminally ill adults, shelving the proposal after a closely watched debate.
• After years of spiritual searching, former professional astrologer Molly Curtis is preparing to enter full communion with the Catholic Church this Easter. 

Maggie Murray of OSV News catches you up on the Catholic news of the day for Mar. 17, 2026. Tune in and visit us online at osvnews.com. Sláinte!

Read the stories in this episode:

1. On St. Patrick’s Day, Ireland celebrates Oscar-winning Catholic actress Jessie Buckley, whose acceptance speech for Hamnet praised mothers, family life and her faith-shaped upbringing at an Ursuline school in Thurles.
2. At a funeral Mass at the University of Notre Dame, family, friends and Church leaders remembered legendary football coach Lou Holtz as a devoted Catholic whose faith, love of family and commitment to excellence defined a Hall-of-Fame coaching career.
3. The U.S. Supreme Court announced it will hear arguments on whether the Trump administration can end Temporary Protected Status for Haitians, a decision that could affect more than 350,000 people as Catholic bishops warn the move is unrealistic given Haiti’s turmoil.
4. Catholic leaders and immigration advocates gathered in Phoenix for a “Witness to Hope” conference to explore how parishes can respond pastorally to mass deportations while upholding Church teaching on the dignity of migrants.
5. Pope Leo XIV told members of the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors that every Church institution must listen to abuse survivors and take direct responsibility for safeguarding children and vulnerable people.

He's the stuff of legends (lots of them), but who was the real St. Patrick, the fifth-century missionary and bishop who became known as the Apostle of Ireland? Gina Christian of OSV News speaks with scholar Philip Freeman of Pepperdine University, author of "St. Patrick of Ireland: A Biography," to find out. Tune in and visit us online at osvnews.com.

Gina Christian of OSV News catches you up on the Catholic news of the day for March 16, 2026. Tune in and visit us online at osvnews.com.

Read the stories in this podcast:

• Pope Leo XIV will travel more than 11,000 miles across four African countries in April on a 10-day apostolic trip highlighting peace efforts, works of mercy, and the Catholic Church's vibrant presence on the continent.
• As the U.S. marks its 250th anniversary, Pope Leo XIV will be honored with the Liberty Medal in the nation's former capital of Philadelphia for his efforts to promote religious liberty as well as freedom of expression and conscience. 
• The University of Notre Dame is awarding the prestigious Laetare medal, an honor reserved exclusively for American Catholics, to Timothy Shriver, chairman of Special Olympics.
• Bishop Mark J. Seitz of El Paso, Texas, called for an end to mass deportation and redoubled efforts to show solidarity with those affected by that policy in a new pastoral message released March 15.
• The war between Israel, Iran and regional militias is leaving Christians in the Holy Land living with fear and economic hardship, according to leaders of the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem.

Maggie Murray of OSV News catches you up on the Catholic news of the day for Mar. 13, 2026. Tune in and visit us online at osvnews.com.

Read the stories in this episode:

1. Edward J. Weisenburger, archbishop of Detroit, said Catholics in southeast Michigan “stand in solidarity” with the Jewish community after a gunman attacked Temple Israel, while synagogue leaders confirmed all children at the nearby early childhood center were safe.
2. The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops is backing continued legal protections for Haitian migrants as the U.S. Supreme Court weighs a request from the Trump administration to allow the end of Temporary Protected Status for more than 350,000 Haitians living in the United States.
3. Speaking at the Vatican, Pope Leo XIV urged Christian leaders responsible for war to undertake a serious examination of conscience and rediscover the sacrament of reconciliation as a path toward restoring peace and unity with God.
4. Scotland’s Catholic bishops warned that proposed assisted suicide legislation could undermine conscience protections for faith-based institutions and health care providers, raising ethical concerns about the Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults (Scotland) Bill.
5. After years of hands-on charity work in Rome, Konrad Krajewski — widely known as the pope’s “Robin Hood” for his service to the poor — is returning to Poland to serve as archbishop of Łódź.

Maggie Murray of OSV News catches you up on the Catholic news of the day for Mar. 12, 2026. Tune in and visit us online at osvnews.com.

Read the stories in this episode:

1. Several U.S. Catholic bishops warn that the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran fails to meet the Catholic Church’s “just war” criteria, urging prayer, diplomacy and moral reflection instead of escalating conflict.
2. Pope Leo XIV met with the evacuated Catholic archbishop of Tehran after ongoing U.S.-Israeli strikes in Iran, renewing his appeal for peace and prayers for civilians across the Middle East.
3. Pope Leo XIV appointed Spanish Augustinian Bishop Luis Marín de San Martín to lead the Vatican’s Dicastery for the Service of Charity, overseeing papal charitable outreach worldwide.
4. As measles cases rise across the United States, a Catholic infectious disease specialist and deacon reminds families that the Church supports vaccination to protect children and communities.
5. After deadly storms and tornadoes swept the Midwest, Catholic school communities in Illinois and Michigan report damage but also signs of hope, prayer and faith amid recovery efforts.

Maggie Murray of OSV News catches you up on the Catholic news of the day for Mar. 11, 2026. Tune in and visit us online at osvnews.com.

Read the stories in this episode:

1. A new Vatican Synod report calls for expanded leadership roles for women in the Catholic Church through a “charismatic path” rooted in baptism and charisms, while maintaining that ordained ministry remains reserved to men.
2. Pope Leo XIV has accepted the resignation of Cardinal Louis Sako as patriarch of the Chaldean Catholic Church after 13 years of leadership during difficult times for Middle Eastern Christians.
3. Escalating violence across the Middle East is forcing hundreds of thousands from their homes in Lebanon and raising fears among Christian communities in both Lebanon and Iraq of renewed displacement.
4. Experts at a University of Notre Dame conference warned that strengthening U.S. peacebuilding efforts is both a strategic and moral imperative as global conflicts intensify.
5. A Catholic farming initiative run by Edmundite Missions in Alabama is helping small Black farmers gain supplies, training and business guidance to sustain their farms.

Maggie Murray of OSV News catches you up on the Catholic news of the day for Mar. 10, 2026. Tune in and visit us online at osvnews.com.

Read the stories in this episode:

• A Chaldean Catholic bishop in California pleaded not guilty to 16 felony counts of embezzlement and money laundering, as the Vatican confirmed Pope Leo XIV had accepted his resignation and appointed an apostolic administrator for the San Diego-based eparchy.
• Wyoming’s governor signed a “heartbeat” abortion ban into law despite concerns it may face legal challenges, while Catholic leaders in the state voiced support for the measure as a step toward protecting unborn life.
• Mexico’s bishops condemned vandalism against churches during International Women’s Day protests, as Catholics formed human chains to protect cathedrals while acknowledging the serious concerns over violence against women driving the demonstrations.
• A Maronite Catholic priest in southern Lebanon was killed by Israeli tank fire while rushing to help neighbors wounded in an initial strike, after publicly declaring he would remain with his parishioners despite evacuation orders.
• Pope Leo XIV encouraged students gathered at Loyola University Chicago for a peacebuilding conference to become “co-workers for peace with Christ,” urging young people to reject despair and work together for the common good across cultures and faiths.

Maggie Murray of OSV News catches you up on the Catholic news of the day for Mar. 9, 2026. Tune in and visit us online at osvnews.com.

Read the stories in this episode:

1. The Vatican’s representative to the United Nations warned that Christians remain the most persecuted religious community in the world, with nearly 400 million believers facing violence, discrimination or pressure for their faith.
2. Catholic leaders are urging caution and continued dialogue after a growing split within the Anglican Communion prompted new doubts about prospects for restored unity between Anglicans and Catholics.
3. Pope Leo XIV appealed for peace and urged world leaders to halt the escalating Iran-linked conflict in the Middle East, warning the growing violence risks plunging the region into deeper instability.
4. Catholic ministry leaders from several U.S. dioceses brought migrants’ stories to Capitol Hill, urging lawmakers to pursue comprehensive immigration reform while sharing the struggles faced by detained families.
5. A national shrine in Wisconsin is planning a nine-day “Catholic Saints of America” celebration this summer, highlighting U.S. saints and causes for canonization as part of the nation’s 250th anniversary.

Maggie Murray of OSV News catches you up on the Catholic news of the day for Mar. 6, 2026. Tune in and visit us online at osvnews.com.

Read the stories in this episode:

• In a March 5 video prayer, Pope Leo XIV urged world leaders to renounce violence, halt the arms race and pursue dialogue as global tensions rise following the outbreak of the U.S. and Israel-Iran war.
• As war spreads across the Middle East, Dormition Abbey in Jerusalem has become a place of shelter, prayer and interfaith solidarity, where Muslim, Christian and Jewish students gathered together during air-raid sirens.
• A six-year investigation by the Rhode Island attorney general identified 75 credibly accused clergy linked to more than 300 abuse victims in the Diocese of Providence between 1950 and 2011.
• Catholic environmental advocates say the rapid growth of AI data centers is straining water and power resources while placing pollution burdens on vulnerable communities.
• A Polish officer saved by the sacrifice of a U.S. soldier in Afghanistan said the experience led him through trauma to a renewed faith and mission to testify to God’s grace.

Gina Christian of OSV News catches you up on the Catholic news of the day for March 5, 2026. Tune in and visit us online at osvnews.com.

Read the stories in this episode:

• President Donald Trump announced March 5 that Kristi Noem is leaving her post as head of the Department of Homeland Security, and that he had chosen Sen. Markwayne Mullin, R-Okla., to replace her.
• Archbishop Gustavo García-Siller of San Antonio told OSV News that politics and profits are helping to drive inhumane treatment of migrants in the U.S.
• Catholic patriarchs and bishops in Lebanon are urging an end to escalating violence across the Middle East and calling for renewed diplomacy. 
• Catholic bishops in Sudan and South Sudan are condemning a deadly attack that left nearly 178 people dead in northern South Sudan on March 2.
• Legendary Notre Dame football coach Lou Holtz, who died March 4, is being remembered for his skills, virtue, example of faith and humor.

Maggie Murray of OSV News catches you up on the Catholic news of the day for Mar. 4, 2026. Tune in and visit us online at osvnews.com.

Read the stories in this episode:

1. A new document from the Vatican’s International Theological Commission warns that unchecked reliance on artificial intelligence and transhumanist ideas could lead society to replace faith in the “living God” with trust in machines.
2. A Catholic University of America law professor is warning that a violent online network known as 764 is exploiting vulnerable youth through coercion and blackmail, highlighting a rapidly growing threat fueled by digital platforms.
3. As war tensions intensify in the region, two Palestinian Christian sisters staying at a Jerusalem hospital say prayer and faith sustain them as missile strikes and air-raid sirens disrupt daily life.
4. A Catholic bishop serving the Gulf region is urging prayer, unity and interreligious dialogue as the expanding Israel-Iran conflict raises fears of broader instability across the Middle East.
5. Nine young Catholics have been chosen to travel thousands of miles as “perpetual pilgrims” during the 2026 National Eucharistic Pilgrimage, inviting Catholics across the U.S. to deepen devotion to the Eucharist.

Maggie Murray of OSV News catches you up on the Catholic news of the day for Mar. 3, 2026. Tune in and visit us online at osvnews.com.

Read the stories in this episode:

• A Melkite Catholic archbishop in Lebanon warns that civilians are “paying the price” as escalating violence between Israel, Iran and Hezbollah triggers displacement and deepens fears for fragile Christian communities across the Middle East.
• Church leaders across Africa say Pope Leo XIV’s upcoming April trip to Algeria, Cameroon, Angola and Equatorial Guinea could bring a powerful message of peace, reconciliation and hope to nations facing conflict and social challenges.
• The U.S. Supreme Court has temporarily blocked California from enforcing policies that generally prohibit teachers from informing parents about a student’s gender identity or sexual orientation while legal challenges continue.
• A Synod on Synodality study group has proposed creating a Vatican “Pontifical Commission for Digital Culture and New Technologies” while another report calls for greater roles for women in the formation of future priests.
• An Irish bishop says many young Catholics today are seeking doctrinal clarity, strong catechesis and sacramental depth rather than a Church that adapts to modern cultural trends.

Gina Christian of OSV News catches you up on the Catholic news of the day for March 2, 2025. Tune in and visit us online at osvnews.com.

Read the stories in this episode:

• Catholics across the Middle East are reeling with shock and sorrow, and responding with prayer, amid joint strikes Israeli and U.S. forces launched on Iran Feb. 28, plunging the region into war. 
• President Donald Trump's decision to initiate major combat operations against Iran in concert with Israel has raised debate within Congress over its war powers prerogatives, and questions about the justice of committing the U.S. to a Middle East war.
• What started out as a Feb. 27 student-led protest at the University of Notre Dame turned into a prayer gathering of thanksgiving, as a pro-abortion faculty member declined an institutional appointment after weeks of outcry.
• Life is a journey that requires trust and reliance on Jesus, who sometimes asks his disciples to leave everything behind, Pope Leo XIV said in a March 1 homily at a small parish in Rome.
• An Ohio mom and social worker has founded a new project to educate others about Catholic social teaching, while fostering conscience formation and spiritual solidarity.

Gina Christian catches you up on the Catholic news of the day for Feb. 27, 2026. Tune in and visit us online at osvnews.com.

Read the stories in this episode:

• The U.S. bishops and a Catholic immigration advocacy group were among those who offered their support to a lawsuit challenging President Donald Trump's executive order limiting birthright citizenship. 
• A Jesuit priest and clergy of other faiths filed a lawsuit Feb. 23 against the Department of Homeland Security over being barred from giving spiritual care to those being detained at an Immigration and Customs Enforcement processing facility in the Twin Cities area. 
• Legislation to legalize assisted suicide in the United Kingdom appears headed for collapse, but local measures are advancing -- drawing sharp criticism from Catholic leaders. 
• Restoration work is underway on Michelangelo’s “The Last Judgement” in the Sistine Chapel. 
• At the Vatican's Lenten retreat, Norwegian Bishop Erik Varden on Trondheim told Pope Leo XIV and senior curial officials that the Church's governance depends less on bureaucratic skill and more on holy, prayerful leaders.

Maggie Murray of OSV News catches you up on the Catholic news of the day for Feb. 26, 2026. Tune in and visit us online at osvnews.com.

Read the stories in this episode:

• A University of Notre Dame professor declined a leadership role at a campus institute after backlash from bishops and Catholic leaders over her public advocacy for legal abortion.
• The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops ended its lawsuit against the Trump administration after recovering more than $24 million in refugee resettlement funds.
• Pope Leo XIV called Our Lady of Guadalupe a model of “perfect inculturation,” urging the Church to proclaim the Gospel without imposing or diluting its truth.
• Spain’s bishops clarified that Pope Leo warned against subjecting faith to ideology, pushing back on reports that he singled out specific political parties.
• Christian family businesses in Jerusalem’s Old City are struggling to survive amid low pilgrim numbers, saying preserving centuries-old traditions is about more than business — it’s family history.

Gina Christian of OSV News catches you up on the Catholic news of the day for Feb. 25, 2026. Tune in and visit us online at osvnews.com.

Read the stories in this episode:

• Pope Leo XIV will travel to six countries over the next four months, including a 10-day tour of Africa and trips to Monaco and Spain, the Vatican announced Feb. 25.
• After calling on the University of Notre Dame to withdraw its appointment of pro-abortion professor Susan Ostermann as head of one of the school's research centers, Bishop Kevin C. Rhoades of Fort Wayne-South Bend joined about 50 students, faculty and staff to pray for life at the university's Marian grotto the evening of Feb. 24. 
• Jonathan Roumie, the actor known for portraying Jesus Christ in the hit series "The Chosen," is calling attention this Lent to the 21 Christian martyrs who died in Libya for their faith in Jesus 11 years ago.
• The Catholic Archdiocese of Sydney announced it is welcoming a record number of catechumens and candidates in 2026. In a Feb. 24 press release, the archdiocese announced that 338 catechumens are preparing for baptism at the Easter Vigil, with another 119 candidates set to be received into full communion.
• Olympic gold medal winner Haley Winn says family and faith are at the heart of her success.
  
  

Maggie Murray of OSV News catches you up on the Catholic news of the day for Feb. 24, 2026. Tune in and visit us online at osvnews.com.

Read the stories in this episode:

• Team USA’s Olympic gold medal victory in men’s hockey became a tribute to late Catholic player Johnny Gaudreau, as teammates honored his memory and lifelong Olympic dream while celebrating with his family present.
• Quick action by an off-duty law enforcement officer and parent volunteers prevented a possible mass shooting at a Sacramento Catholic school Mass when an armed former student was detained before entering the church.
• Newly released Epstein files and the arrest of Andrew Mountbatten Windsor have exposed disturbing revelations, including Epstein’s hostility toward the Catholic Church and alleged efforts to undermine Pope Francis.
• Cardinals Gerhard Müller and Robert Sarah urged the Society of St. Pius X to submit to Pope Leo XIV’s authority and remain in communion with Rome amid plans to ordain bishops without papal approval.
• Pope Leo XIV renewed his urgent call for an immediate ceasefire in Ukraine, urging dialogue, prayer, and peace as civilian casualties continue to mount nearly four years after Russia’s full-scale invasion.

Gina Christian of OSV News catches you up on the Catholic news of the day for Feb. 23, 2026. Tune in and visit us online at osvnews.com.

Read the stories in this episode:

• The 2026 LA Religious Education Congress kicked off Feb. 20 with an emphasis on the healing power of mercy and self-forgiveness -- and a special message from Pope Leo XIV -- as the annual gathering marked its 70th year.
• A new initiative by the University of Mary and the Diocese of Phoenix promises to respond to today's rising mental health challenges by forming mental health professionals who are clinically trained and rooted in the Catholic teaching on human dignity.
• Mexico’s bishops are urging calm and caution after a deadly military operation sparked violence across several states. In a Feb. 22 message, the Mexican bishops' conference called on the faithful to follow safety protocols, avoid unnecessary travel, and shelter at home when needed. 
• For the first time in 800 years, the mortal remains of St. Francis of Assisi are on extended public display. 
• In his first reflection at the Lenten retreat with Pope Leo XIV and the Roman Curia Feb. 22 and 23, Norwegian Trappist Bishop Erik Varden urged Vatican officials to embrace Lent as a season of authentic Christian witness, not culture war combat.

Maggie Murray of OSV News catches you up on the Catholic news of the day for Feb. 20, 2026. Tune in and visit us online at osvnews.com.

Read the stories in this episode:

• The U.S. Supreme Court struck down President Donald Trump’s sweeping tariffs in a 6-3 ruling, finding he exceeded his authority, although economists warn poorer Americans may not see refunds for higher costs passed on to consumers.
• Bishop Peter Dai Bui, a former refugee who fled Vietnam as a child, was ordained auxiliary bishop of Phoenix in a historic ceremony attended by thousands, marking a milestone for the growing diocese.
• As the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics approach, Church leaders and theologians highlight the Catholic tradition of supporting sports as a path to human dignity, virtue and spiritual growth.
• A 20-year-old man performing community service was shot and killed while painting a chapel in Puebla, Mexico, prompting Church leaders to condemn the violence and call for peace and justice.
• Pope Leo XIV will make six pastoral visits across Italy this year, including stops in Pompeii, Assisi and Lampedusa, focusing on themes such as Marian devotion, environmental care and migrants.

Maggie Murray of OSV News catches you up on the Catholic news of the day for Feb. 19, 2026. Tune in and visit us online at osvnews.com.

Read the stories in this episode:

• The Society of St. Pius X announced it will consecrate bishops without papal approval despite Vatican warnings that the move could result in schism and a rupture of Church unity.
• Pope Leo XIV told the Legionaries of Christ that authority in religious life must be exercised as humble service rooted in prayer and respect, not domination, as the order continues its renewal after past abuse scandals.
• Clergy were allowed inside a Chicago-area ICE detention facility for the first time on Ash Wednesday, where they distributed Communion and ashes to detainees and staff following a federal court order.
• The Diocese of Camden announced a $180 million settlement to resolve more than 300 clergy abuse claims, with Church leaders calling the agreement a long-awaited step toward justice, healing and accountability.
• A new U.S. bishops’ report identified political violence, immigration enforcement, and government restrictions as major concerns threatening religious liberty in the United States today.

Gina Christian of OSV News catches you up on the Catholic news of the day for Feb. 18, 2026. Tune in and visit us online at osvnews.com.

Read the stories in this episode:

• The Holy See "will not participate" in President Donald Trump's "Board of Peace" for Gaza, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican's secretary of state, said Feb. 17, citing "points that leave us somewhat perplexed."
• Two Virginia bishops are hailing the halt of legislation that would have legalized assisted suicide in that state. 
• Catholic leaders were among those who praised the legacy of the Rev. Jesse Jackson, a Baptist minister and prominent civil rights leader, who died Feb. 17. 
• Attendance at Ash Wednesday Masses across France is once again expected to surge, with national outlets pointing to an "unexpected return of Lent" and the staying power of 2025's record crowds.
• Pope Leo XIV marked his first Ash Wednesday as pope with a penitential procession and a call for "countercultural" repentance -- not only from individuals, but from institutions and the Church itself.

Maggie Murray of OSV News catches you up on the Catholic news of the day for Feb. 17, 2026. Tune in and visit us online at osvnews.com.

Read the stories in this episode:

• A date for the beatification of five Franciscans known as the Georgia martyrs has been set for Oct. 31, according to the Dicastery for the Causes of Saints’ website. 
• Pro-life leaders from across ideological and religious lines urged the Trump administration to reinstate protections that generally prevent ICE from detaining pregnant and postpartum women, warning that current practices have led to miscarriages, stillbirths, and delayed medical care.
• New research and theologians suggest Ash Wednesday draws high Mass attendance because its physical reminder of mortality, identity as Catholics, and desire for spiritual order resonate deeply in a culture focused on self-improvement.
• Panelists at New York Encounter discussed new survey data showing belief in God and spirituality is rising in the U.S., even as organized religious participation has not surged, signaling a complex shift in American religious life.
• An independent commission report in Poland’s Diocese of Sosnowiec documented at least 50 abuse victims and systemic failures, marking a painful first step toward accountability amid declining trust in the Church.
• The U.S. bishops invited Catholics to mark America’s 250th anniversary with prayer and service, including 250 Hours of Adoration and 250 Works of Mercy focused on unity, healing, and charity.

Gina Christian of OSV News catches you up on the Catholic news of the day for Feb. 16, 2026. Tune in and visit us online at osvnews.com.

Read the stories in this episode:

• Supporters of the traditional Latin Mass are distancing themselves from the Society of St. Pius X after the group announced plans to consecrate bishops without papal approval -- a move that could trigger excommunications.
• Data showing most individuals in immigration detention do not have violent criminal records highlights ongoing concerns expressed by the nation's Catholic bishops over the Trump administration immigration crackdown, said an official with the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. 
• A Harvard University academic whose work focuses on human flourishing has been appointed by Pope Leo XIV to a Vatican research group.
• Four hundred years after its consecration, St. Peter's Basilica is marking the milestone with a 21st-century upgrade.
• Minnesota artist Sheryl Moran -- the artist behind an oil portrait of Pope Leo XIV commissioned for the Pontifical North American College in Rome shortly after his May 2025 election -- prays for the pope intentionally every day after the project.

Gina Christian of OSV News catches you up on the Catholic news of the day for Feb. 13, 2026. Tune in and visit us online at osvnews.com.

Read the stories in this episode:

• As U.S. Border Czar Tom Homan announced on Feb. 12 plans for federal agents to leave the Twin Cities metro area, Catholic leaders in the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis acknowledged the need for hope as they look to next steps in the local community. 
• All Catholics are called to stand together by reaching out to their brothers and sisters in the faith of all ethnicities, especially those of Hispanic heritage, Archbishop Alexander K. Sample of Portland, Oregon, said. 
• Catholic theologians and environmentalists are concerned after President Donald Trump announced Feb. 12 the administration will repeal a landmark scientific finding that was the legal basis for federal greenhouse-gas regulation.
• Gunmen in Nigeria's Kaduna state abducted 32 people, including a Catholic catechist and his pregnant wife, in the latest attack targeting Christian communities.
• Leaders of four major European bishops' conferences are urging renewed unity, warning that global instability and rising nationalism threaten both Europe and the wider world. 

Maggie Murray of OSV News catches you up on the Catholic news of the day for Feb. 12, 2026. Tune in and visit us online at osvnews.com.

Read the stories in this episode:

• The Vatican has proposed structured theological talks with the Society of St. Pius X in hopes of preventing a schism over the group’s planned unauthorized bishop ordinations.
• Catholic leaders across British Columbia are calling for prayer and healing after a deadly mass shooting at a high school in the small town of Tumbler Ridge.
• A new Pew Research Center survey shows declining Catholic support for President Trump’s agenda, with drops in approval among both white and Hispanic Catholics.
• Cuba’s Catholic bishops have postponed their Vatican “ad limina” visit as a worsening fuel crisis linked to new U.S. sanctions disrupts air travel.
• Family members of Venerable Fulton J. Sheen are sharing personal memories that highlight the famed evangelist’s faith, humility, and everyday kindness ahead of his beatification.

Gina Christian of OSV News catches you up on the Catholic news of the day for Feb. 11, 2026. Tune in and visit us online at osvnews.com.

Read the stories in this episode:

• Carrie Prejean Boller has been removed from the Religious Liberty Commission after a commission hearing on antisemitism at which the Catholic conservative commentator. initiated some tense exchanges with Jewish American witnesses.
• Bishop Kevin C. Rhoades of Fort Wayne-South Bend, Indiana, is urging the University of Notre Dame to halt the appointment of faculty member Susan Ostermann, who advocates openly for abortion, as head of one of the school's research centers. 
• A stone from the Porziuncola -- the tiny chapel where St. Francis of Assisi founded the Franciscan order and later died -- has arrived in the Arabian Peninsula, marking a major spiritual moment for Catholics in the Gulf.
• Pope Leo XIV marked the World Day of the Sick on Feb. 11 by praying at the Lourdes grotto in the Vatican Gardens, asking Our Lady of Lourdes to accompany all who suffer around the world. 
• Cardinal Timothy M. Dolan, retired archbishop of New York, is the new co-chief chaplain of the New York Police Department, sharing the role with the Rev. A.R. Bernard of Brooklyn's Christian Cultural Center, a nondenominational megachurch.

Maggie Murray of OSV News catches you up on the Catholic news of the day for Feb. 10, 2026. Tune in and visit us online at osvnews.com.

Read the stories in this episode:

• Pope Leo XIV is expected to visit Australia in 2028 to preside over the International Eucharistic Congress, marking 100 years since the country first hosted the global Catholic gathering.
• Jimmy Lai’s daughter says faith is sustaining their family after the imprisoned Catholic media tycoon was sentenced to 20 years under Hong Kong’s national security law, while calling for a political solution rather than an appeal.
• Senior Catholic bishops are demanding President Donald Trump issue an unequivocal apology after a racist video targeting the Obamas appeared on his social media account and sparked widespread outrage.
• The Vatican has sent generators, food, and medicine to Ukraine to help civilians facing freezing temperatures and power outages as Pope Leo XIV continues efforts to support those suffering in the war.
• Church leaders say Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen’s newly approved beatification highlights a legacy rooted in a deep personal relationship with Christ that fueled his influential ministry and evangelization.

Maggie Murray of OSV News catches you up on the Catholic news of the day for Feb. 9, 2026. Tune in and visit us online at osvnews.com.

Read the stories in this episode:

• The Vatican has approved the long-delayed beatification of Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen, clearing the way for the beloved Catholic broadcaster and evangelist to move closer to sainthood after a six-year pause.
• Hong Kong democracy advocate and Apple Daily founder Jimmy Lai was sentenced to 20 years in prison under China’s national security law, intensifying global concerns about human rights and press freedom.
• Washington, D.C., health officials reported confirmed measles exposure sites tied to the March for Life, the National Shrine, and Catholic University, urging vaccination and medical follow-up for those at risk.
• The Vatican confirmed Pope Leo XIV has no plans to visit the United States in 2026, amid ongoing tensions over immigration policy and the pope’s focus on other international travel.
• Church leaders in Assisi are anticipating a possible papal visit during the Jubilee Year of St. Francis as thousands of pilgrims gather to venerate the saint’s relics and mark major anniversaries.

Peter Jesserer Smith of OSV News catches you up on the Catholic news of the day for Feb. 6, 2026. Tune in and visit us online at osvnews.com.

Read the stories in this episode:

• The world "always has and always will need a missionary Church," said Archbishop Ronald A. Hicks in his first public homily as the new shepherd of the Archdiocese of New York.
•  A video posted on President Donald Trump's Truth Social account that depicted former first couple President Barack and Michelle Obama as apes was deleted after widespread outrage denounced the content as racist. 
•  Two major medical groups backed limitations on certain types of medical or surgical gender reassignment procedures for minors who identify as transgender. 
• Peruvians reacted with a mix of joy and anticipation after Church leaders said there is an "80% chance" Pope Leo XIV will visit Peru later this year, likely between November and early December. 
• Just as the 2026 Olympic Winter Games in Milan-Cortina were about to begin, Pope Leo XIV called on the Catholic Church to recognize sport as an opportunity to offer much-needed human and spiritual guidance. 

Gina Christian of OSV News catches you up on the Catholic news of the day for Feb. 5, 2026. Tune in and visit us online at osvnews.com.

Read the stories in this episode:

• The world continues to fall short of protecting and caring for its children, leaving them with few opportunities to succeed and at greater risk of suffering abuse, Pope Leo XIV said in a speech Feb. 5. 
• As Ukraine approaches four years since Russia's full-scale invasion, intensified attacks on civilian infrastructure are deepening a humanitarian crisis, while faith has become a pillar of national resilience, said Major Archbishop Sviatoslav Shevchuk of the Ukrainian Greek-Catholic Church.
• Catholic leaders, including an official from the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops' migration office, reiterated a pastoral approach to the issue of child detentions by Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
• Pope Leo XIV is urging Catholics worldwide to pray for children living with incurable diseases, highlighting his prayer intention for the month of February in a new Vatican video released Feb. 5. 
• A Catholic church in Rome briefly became a viral sensation after an angel's face appeared to resemble Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, then just as quickly lost its star attraction after church and government officials asked for a do-over.

Maggie Murray of OSV News catches you up on the Catholic news of the day for Feb. 4, 2026. Tune in and visit us online at osvnews.com.

Read the stories in this episode:

• Pope Leo XIV added the feast of St. John Henry Newman to the Church’s universal calendar, inviting Catholics worldwide to celebrate his witness to faith and truth each October 9.
• Catholic high school students in Draper, Utah, walked out of class to protest ICE actions and publicly support immigrants in a peaceful downtown demonstration.
• Haitian Catholic communities in the U.S. expressed relief but ongoing concern after a federal judge temporarily blocked the Trump administration from ending protected status for Haitian immigrants.
• U.S. bishops marked Black History Month by urging Catholics to honor historical memory, confront racism, and become courageous witnesses to human dignity.
• Several Team USA Winter Olympic athletes shared how Christian and Catholic faith are sustaining them as they prepare for the 2026 Milan Cortina Games.

Maggie Murray of OSV News catches you up on the Catholic news of the day for Feb. 3, 2026. Tune in and visit us online at osvnews.com.

Read the stories in this episode:

• Archbishop Paul S. Coakley warned that allowing the New START nuclear arms treaty between the United States and Russia to expire is “simply unacceptable,” urging renewed diplomacy and prayer for lasting peace amid rising global tensions.
• Illinois Catholic and pro-life leaders criticized Gov. JB Pritzker’s launch of a $5 million fund to support abortion services for out-of-state patients, calling the expansion of abortion tourism “macabre.”
• Pope Leo XIV praised consecrated men and women for their courageous witness among the poor and vulnerable, calling them living signs of the sacredness of life during his homily for World Day for Consecrated Life.
• Cardinal Robert W. McElroy urged Catholic colleges and universities to place the “order of grace” at the heart of campus life, saying they have a critical role in renewing society through Catholic social teaching and dialogue.
• Catholics in Wisconsin are remembering retired Bishop Robert J. Banks of Green Bay for his decades of dedicated and pastoral leadership following his death at age 97.

Maggie Murray of OSV News catches you up on the Catholic news of the day for Feb. 2, 2026. Tune in and visit us online at osvnews.com.

Read the stories in this episode:

• A federal judge ordered the release of a five-year-old asylum seeker and his father, citing Gospel verses while sharply criticizing immigration detention practices that traumatize children.
• Pope Leo XIV urged sincere dialogue between the United States and Cuba as rising tensions threaten to deepen suffering on the island amid an ongoing socio-economic crisis.
• Pope Leo prayed for victims of catastrophic flooding in southern Africa, as Church leaders and the U.N. appealed for urgent international aid to help hundreds of thousands affected by extreme weather.
• A Pew Research Center analysis found no reliable evidence of a Christian revival among young adults in the United Kingdom, warning that opt-in surveys can produce misleading results.
• Pope Leo formally recognized Guatemalan Franciscan Father Augusto Ramírez Monasterio as a martyr for refusing to break the seal of confession during the country’s civil war.

Gina Christian of OSV News catches you up on the Catholic news of the day for Jan. 30, 2026. Tune in and visit us online at osvnews.com.

Read the stories in this episode:

• Catholic leaders in Spain are welcoming a new government plan to regularize the legal status of around 500,000 migrants in the country without authorization, calling it a long-overdue act of social justice.
• Amid recent deadly immigration enforcement operations, Catholics in Minneapolis are wrestling with sorrow, anger, fear and faith as they navigate tensions between federal and local authorities, while continuing to serve their communities. 
• The Chesterton Schools Network, a growing consortium of classical Catholic high schools, continues to expand in the U.S. and abroad, tapping what leaders describe as rising parental demand for faithful, rigorous and affordable education.
• During their routine "ad limina apostolorum" -- Latin for "to the threshold of the apostles" -- visit to Rome, Peru's bishops made headlines for an unexpected and personal moment: a surprise lunch visit from Pope Leo XIV, a longtime member of the Peruvian bishops' conference and former bishop of Chiclayo.
• Pope Leo XIV is encouraging the 2026 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games to become a sign of unity, solidarity, and peace among peoples and cultures. 

Gina Christian of OSV News catches you up on the Catholic news of the day for Jan. 29, 2026. Tune in and visit us online at osvnews.com.

Read the stories in this episode:

• A key national pro-life group has accused the Department of Justice of undermining Louisiana's efforts to roll back the Biden administration's eased restrictions on mifepristone when it asked a court Jan. 27 to pause the Pelican State's challenge to that policy. 
• Cardinal Rainer Maria Woelki of Cologne said he is finished with the German Synodal Way and will not attend its sixth assembly, opening Jan. 29. 
• Catholic bishops in South Sudan are warning that the country is edging back toward full-scale war, as fighting intensifies and political tensions rise.
• Cardinal Victor Manuel Fernández, prefect of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, opened the dicastery's Jan. 27–29 plenary with a strong call for humility in thought, theology and online discourse. 
• A Houston-area Catholic school science teacher said the Challenger disaster remains one of the most defining moments of her early understanding of science and human exploration, shaping both her worldview and her vocation as an educator.