Franciscan Media

News & Commentary

Pilgrims brave heavy rain to place flowers and pray Sept 8, 2025, at the the National Shrine of Our Lady of Charity in Miami, affectionately known as La Ermita de La Caridad, for the annual feast of Our Lady of Charity and the 25th anniversary of La Ermita's designation as a national shrine by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops in 2000. (OSV News photo/Tom Tracy)

Cuban Americans celebrate feast of Our Lady of Charity

September 17, 2025
Dressed in the customary yellow colors of the event and with umbrellas in hand, elementary school student Aniela Alejandra Garcia and her mother, Yeily Garcia, didn't let the weather stop them from approaching the statue of the Cuban Virgin of ...
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Young people cheer during the annual Youth Rally for Life sponsored by the Archdiocese of Washington Jan. 24, 2020, at the Capital One Arena. The rally was followed by Mass celebrated at the arena by then-Archbishop Wilton D. Gregory of Washington. On Jan. 20, 2023, now-Cardinal Gregory will celebrate the Youth Mass of Celebration and Thanksgiving at the Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle. (CNS photo/Andrew Rozario, Catholic Standard)

Pro-life leaders regroup after post-Dobbs ballot initiative losses

January 4, 2023
After voters in states across the U.S. last November either rejected ballot measures meant to restrict abortion, or voted to codify measures protecting the procedure, some pro-life leaders have called for the movement to regroup.
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Cardinal George Pell of Sydney exchanges greetings with Pope Benedict XVI as the pope meets for the last time with the College of Cardinals at the Vatican Feb. 28. (CNS photo/L'Osservatore Romano) (March 1, 2013) See POPE-CARDINALS Feb. 28, 2013.

U.S. bishops call Catholics to unite in mourning the death of retired pope

January 3, 2023
Across the U.S., Catholic bishops called on the faithful to unite in mourning for retired Pope Benedict XVI, who died on the eve of the new year.
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Migrants from Central America eat at Vino Nuevo church, which gives temporary shelter to migrants released by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) due overcrowded facilities, in El Paso, Texas, U.S., April 18, 2019. (OSV News photo/Jose Luis Gonzalez, Reuters)

‘Help us’: Asylum-seekers cling to hope as Title 42 limbo continues

January 2, 2023
After traveling thousands of miles to flee violence, "Betty" found shelter with the Kino Border Initiative, a Catholic organization that works with migrants in the border town of Nogales, Mexico. She is now waiting.
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Pope Benedict XVI acknowledges pilgrims during his general audience in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican Nov. 4, 2009. Pope Benedict died Dec. 31, 2022, at the age of 95 in his residence at the Vatican. (CNS photo/Paul Haring)

Pope Benedict’s funeral will respect his wishes to be simple

January 1, 2023
In accordance with Pope Benedict XVI's wishes, his funeral and moments of prayer surrounding it will be simple, according to the Vatican press office.
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Retired Pope Benedict XVI's final message to Catholics around the world was: "Stand firm in the faith! Do not let yourselves be confused!"

Pope Benedict’s spiritual testament: ‘Stand firm in the faith’

December 31, 2022
Retired Pope Benedict XVI's final message to Catholics around the world was: "Stand firm in the faith! Do not let yourselves be confused!"
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Pope Benedict XVI greets the crowd as he leaves his final general audience in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican Feb. 27, 2013. The pope emeritus died Dec. 31, 2022 at 95. (CNS photo/Paul Haring)

Pope Benedict XVI Dies; Funeral To Be Jan. 5 In St. Peter’s Square

December 31, 2022
Retired Pope Benedict XVI, who had an impressive record as a teacher and defender of the basics of Catholic faith, is likely to go down in history books as the first pope in almost 600 years to resign.
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