Franciscan Media

News & Commentary

Pope Leo XIV listens during the opening session of an international conference celebrating the 10th anniversary of Pope Francis' encyclical "Laudato Si', on Care for Our Common Home," at the Mariapolis Center in Castel Gandolfo, Italy, Oct. 1, 2025. (CNS photo/Pablo Esparza)

World must come together to fight climate change, Pope Leo says

October 3, 2025
People of faith cannot love God while despising his creatures, and people cannot call themselves Christians without caring for everything fragile and wounded, including the earth, Pope Leo XIV told climate activists and political and religious leaders.
Read More →

Former police officer found guilty on all three counts in death of Floyd

April 21, 2021
A jury found former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin guilty on all three counts April 20 for the death of George Floyd, after deliberating for about 10 hours over two days.
Read More →

Archbishop offers special Mass to pray for jurors, peace in communities

April 20, 2021
As closing arguments began April 19 in the trial of former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin in the death of George Floyd, Archbishop Bernard A. Hebda and priests across the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis offered special Masses "For ...
Read More →

U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan may risk civil war, says priest in Kabul

April 19, 2021
The biggest risk Afghanistan might face with a withdrawal of U.S. troops could be civil war, said the Italian priest in charge of the small Catholic community in Afghanistan.
Read More →

Pandemic blamed for creating conditions for increased human trafficking

April 16, 2021
The pandemic-related economic downturn, business closures, increase in global unemployment and reduced incomes have contributed to greater human trafficking of children, women, domestic workers and migrants without legal status.
Read More →

Faith is bolstered by prayer, not money, power, media, pope says

April 15, 2021
Without prayer, everything crumbles and any initiatives for church reform will just be proposals by some group and not the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, Pope Francis said.
Read More →

Bishop urges unity to find solutions to violence after Knoxville shootings

April 14, 2021
Bishop Richard F. Stika of Knoxville offered prayers for a teenager who was killed and an injured police officer involved in a school shooting.
Read More →