News & Commentary

The childhood home of Pope Leo XIV is pictured in the Dolton suburb of Chicago May 9, 2025. The Village of Dolton intends to purchase the childhood home of Pope Leo, hoping to turn the property and its surroundings into a historical site. (OSV News photo/Carlos Osorio, Reuters)

Town officials vote to buy Pope Leo’s childhood home as ‘historical site’

An Illinois town intends to purchase the childhood home of Pope Leo XIV, hoping to turn the property and its surroundings into a historical site.
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Church’s history is key to confronting racism, say panelists

Racism and systematic racial injustice "are the issues our people are trying to navigate and are struggling with," said Father Robert Boxie III, a priest of the Archdiocese of Washington.
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Conversations on racism are key to change, says speaker

The annual Ignatian Family Teach-in for Justice, the largest Catholic social justice gathering in the United States, is known for dispensing sharp opinions.
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Transcript shows pope’s distinction between gay marriage, civil unions

When Pope Francis said gay people have a right to be in a family and that gay couples needed some form of civil law to protect their rights, he was not saying that gay couples should have a right to ...
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Pope announces new cardinals, including U.S. Archbishop Gregory

Pope Francis announced he will create 13 new cardinals Nov. 28, including Archbishop Wilton D. Gregory of Washington.
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HHS ensures hospital patients have access to spiritual care amid pandemic

The chairman of the U.S. bishops' Committee on Religious Liberty praised the Department of Health and Human Services for resolving discrimination complaints over two hospitals' refusal to let patients have access to the sacraments of baptism and the anointing of ...
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Pope has history of defending marriage, but being open to some civil unions

Pope Francis often has expressed openness to the idea of laws recognizing civil unions, including for gay couples, to protect their rights.
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