News & Commentary

Pope Leo XIV waves to the crowd from the central balcony of St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican as he leads, for the first time, the midday recitation of the "Regina Coeli" prayer May 11, 2025. (CNS photo/Lola Gomez)

Besides Leo XIII, 12 other popes have shared that name with new pontiff

When Catholics heard on May 8 the new pope had chosen the name Leo XIV, the thoughts of many turned immediately to Leo XIII, the last pope to bear the name.
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Vatican at COP26: Hearts, habits must change fast to care for creation

Even though Pope Francis will not attend the 26th U.N. Climate Change Conference in Glasgow in person, the Vatican delegation and the Catholic Church will be "everywhere" during the two-week summit—from the highest-level private negotiations to the sidelines with grassroots ...
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With numbers growing in U.S., more Hispanics involved in church, community

Catholic Church officials say they are not surprised by the 2020 U.S. census showing Hispanics accounted for 51.1% of the country's growth, rising to 18.7%, or about 62.1 million, of the U.S. population.
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Colin Powell is recalled for priority he put on education, hard work, goals

Colin Powell once visited a Catholic high school in the Archdiocese of Washington to encourage students there to appreciate the Catholic education they are receiving, to dream big and to work hard to achieve those dreams.
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Pope shares survivor’s letter pleading for clergy to face truth of abuse

An adult survivor of abuse by a priest appealed to the world's seminarians to become good priests and to make sure the "bitter truth" always prevails, not silence about scandals and their cover-up.
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Debate, vote on proposed eucharistic document will top U.S. bishops’ agenda

When the U.S. bishops gather for their fall assembly in Baltimore Nov. 15-18, it will be the first in-person meeting of the full body of bishops since November 2019.
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President Biden and Pope Francis scheduled to meet Oct. 29

President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden will have an audience with Pope Francis Oct. 29, the day before the G20 Leaders' Summit starts in Rome, White House press secretary Jen Psaki announced Oct. 14.
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