Franciscan Media

News & Commentary

Henadz Fiadynich, one of the prisoners recently released from Belarus, speaks during a press conference in Vilnius, Lithuania, Sept. 12, 2025. (OSV News photo/Kacper Pempel, Reuters)

Jailed Catholic priests ‘used as hostages’ in Belarus

September 19, 2025
Human rights campaigners have accused the Belarus government of using imprisoned Catholic priests as "hostages," as a Polish Carmelite became the latest detained for alleged espionage.
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Broken utility poles downed by strong wind gusts are seen as Hurricane Milton approaches Fort Myers, Fla., Oct. 9, 2024. As Hurricane Milton bears down on Florida just days after Hurricane Helene, Catholic Charities USA announced Oct. 9 that it has launched a dedicated disaster relief donation campaign at ccusa.online/milton, with 100% of all funds raised to be allocated to local Catholic Charities agencies. (OSV News photo/Ricardo Arduengo, Reuters)

Catholic Charities USA launches Hurricane Milton relief fund

October 10, 2024
As Hurricane Milton takes aim at Florida just days after Hurricane Helene, Catholic Charities USA has launched a dedicated disaster relief donation campaign.
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Children join in Aid to the Church in Need's "One Million Children Praying the Rosary" in Burkina Faso in 2023. (OSV News photo/courtesy Aid to the Church in Need)

Faith of children, power of prayer combine in million-strong rosary

October 9, 2024
As conflict rages worldwide, 1 million children are set to storm heaven with prayer.
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Smoke rises following an Israeli airstrike as displaced Palestinians make their way to flee areas in the eastern part of Khan Younis following an Israeli evacuation order, amid the ongoing Israel-Hamas war, in Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip Oct. 7, 2024. (OSV News photo/Hatem Khaled, Reuters)

As church prepares for Jubilee, ‘Holy Land is bleeding,’ Palestine ambassador says

October 8, 2024
Without a ceasefire, the upcoming Jubilee year in Rome will be marred by the suffering and bloodshed in the Holy Land, Palestine's ambassador to the Holy See said.
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Pope Francis stops in prayer before the icon "Salus Populi Romani" ("health -- or salvation -- of the Roman people") after praying the rosary for peace in Rome's Basilica of St. Mary Major Oct. 6, 2024. (CNS photo/Vatican Media)

As wider war threatens Middle East, pope asks Mary to intercede

October 7, 2024
As fighting in the Middle East intensified and spread, Pope Francis turned to Mary, begging her to "intercede for our world in danger."
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Dikembe Mutombo, an All-American on the men's basketball team at Georgetown University and an NBA Hall of Fame player, who dedicated his life to philanthropic and humanitarian work to advocate for those in need, died Sept. 30, 2024, at age 58 from brain cancer.

Dikembe Mutombo, beloved NBA superstar with Georgetown University roots, dies at 58

October 4, 2024
Dikembe Mutombo, a beloved NBA superstar who got his start on the Georgetown University courts, died Sept. 30.
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Synod participants visit before the start of the first working session of the Synod of Bishops in the Vatican's Paul VI Audience Hall

Pope defends decision to give women, laymen voting rights at synod

October 3, 2024
Pope Francis opened the second session of the Synod of Bishops defending his decision to give women and laymen votes at the assembly, saying it reflects the Second Vatican Council's teaching that a bishop exercises his ministry with and within ...
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