News & Commentary

Leaders of local Catholic Charities agencies from around the country traveled to Washington for a Nov. 18, 2025 summit organized by Catholic Charities USA, to share firsthand insights and experiences in serving those experiencing homelessness in their communities.

Catholic agencies strategize how to serve homeless amid major US policy change

The major change in federal policy on homelessness and its potential impact on the people Catholic Charities agencies serve was among the issues discussed at a summit of Catholic Charities' leaders and local politicians on Nov. 18.
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A tapestry depicting St. Carlo Acutis hangs from the facade of St. Peter’s Basilica during the Mass for his canonization at the Vatican Sept. 7, 2025. (CNS photo/Lola Gomez)

Monastery where Carlo Acutis received first Communion in ruins after fire

A 17th-century monastery in northern Italy where recently canonized St. Carlo Acutis received his first Communion was in ruins after a massive fire ravaged the historic building.
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People hold placards with pictures of hostages who were kidnapped in the deadly Oct. 7, 2023, attack by Hamas, after a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip went into effect, at "Hostages Square" in Tel Aviv, Israel, Oct. 11, 2025. (OSV News photo/Ronen Zvulun, Reuters)

Amid historic deal, Gaza pastor says little is left after ‘tsunami’ of destruction

Historic momentum is felt across the Middle East as thousands gathered Oct. 11 in Tel Aviv, Israel, for the last mass gathering before the hostage release expected to take place Oct. 13, and tens of thousands of Palestinians started to ...
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Sister Jean Dolores Schmidt, longtime chaplain of the Loyola University Chicago men's basketball team and campus icon, smiles after the team won in the first round game of the NCAA Tournament against the University of Miami 2018 at the American Airlines Center in Dallas. Sister Jean died at age 106 Oct. 9, 2025. (OSV News photo/courtesy Loyola University Chicago)

Sister Jean, Loyola icon and chaplain of men’s basketball team, dies at 106

She prayed with college basketball players before games, counseled them after losses, and reminded them that faith, not fame, was the real victory.
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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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