News & Commentary

Al Jazeera reporter Nour Abu Rokba works as Palestinian emergency personnel celebrate in Khan Younis, in the southern Gaza Strip

Holy Land patriarch welcomes news of initial peace deal

The Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem welcomed "with joy" the announcement of an initial agreement between Hamas and Israel in an Oct. 9 statement, but also stressed the "absolute urgency" for the "immediate" and "unconditional" entry of humanitarian relief and sufficient ...
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Pope Leo XIV signs his first apostolic exhortation, "Dilexi Te" ("I Have Loved You"), in the library of the Apostolic Palace at the Vatican Oct. 4, 2025, the feast of St. Francis of Assisi.

Pope Leo XIV releases apostolic exhortation

Five months into his pontificate, Pope Leo XIV has promulgated his first official document, making as his own the draft of a text unfinished by his predecessor.
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Worshippers attend a noon prayer at Hagia Sophia Mosque in the Turkish northwestern town of Iznik Oct. 8, 2025, which was built by Romans as a place of worship, then converted to a church and later into a mosque by the Ottomans. Pope Leo XIV is expected to visit Turkey in Nov. 27-30 for the 1,700th anniversary of the First Nicaea Council, as part of his first trip outside Italy.

Vatican confirms papal trip to Turkey, Lebanon Nov. 27-Dec. 2

Pope Leo XIV's first papal trip abroad will be to Turkey and Lebanon Nov. 27-Dec. 2, the Vatican press office announced.
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People gather in front of the U.S. Supreme Court in Washington on the first day of its new term Oct. 6, 2025.

Supreme Court begins fall term

The U.S. Supreme Court began its fall term Oct. 6, with cases on its docket that include legal battles over some of President Donald Trump's policies and use of executive authority.
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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

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.
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People attend a protest against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, as he delivers an address at the 80th United Nations General Assembly at the U.N. headquarters in New York City Sept. 26, 2025. (OSV News photo/Carlos Barria, Reuters)

Leaders blame Israel for dwindling number of Christians in Holy Land

Christian leaders in the Holy Land, as well as Palestinian government officials, condemned Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s recent speech at the United Nations General Assembly and blamed the Israeli occupation for the decreasing number of Christians in the area. 
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Members of the Leo High School Choir appear on stage during the 20th season finale of the talent competition series "America's Got Talent" on Sept. 24, 2025. (OSV News photo/Trae Patton, NBC)

Catholic high school boys choir wows in ‘AGT’ season finale

A Catholic high school boys' choir from Chicago made it to the top five on the season finale of "America's Got Talent" Sept. 24, prompting a message of pride and encouragement from Chicago Cardinal Blase J. Cupich.
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