Franciscan Media

News & Commentary

Bishop Alberto Rojas of San Bernardino, Calif., the main celebrant, distributes Communion to a detainee during a Mass on the grounds of the ICE Processing Center near Adelanto, Calif., Dec. 10, 2025. Attendees said the Mass, which took place in the Mojave Desert, was deeply emotional for both the bishops and the roughly 300 detainees present.

California bishops celebrate ‘very powerful’ Mass for detainees in ICE facility

December 19, 2025
A group of seven California bishops celebrated Mass at the ICE Processing Center outside the town of Adelanto in the Mojave Desert on December 10, providing communion to the roughly 300 detainees present.
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Pope Francis arrives at the Catholic Junior College in Singapore for an interreligious meeting with young people Sept. 13, 2024.

Pope thrives, hits main themes of his pontificate during Asia-Pacific trip

September 16, 2024
ABOARD THE PAPAL FLIGHT FROM SINGAPORE (CNS) — The 87-year-old Pope Francis not only survived the longest trip of his pontificate, but he drew energy from the crowds who came to see him, and he seemed to enjoy his 12-day ...
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Parents of pupils who died during a fatal fire react Sept. 6, 2024, at the Hillside Endarasha Academy in Kieni, in the central Kenyan county of Nyeri. (OSV News photo/Monicah Mwangi, Reuters)

Kenya mourns 21 boys killed in academy dormitory fire

September 12, 2024
As Kenya mourned the 21 young boys killed in a school dormitory fire Sept. 6 in Kieni, Archbishop Anthony Muheria of Nyeri said the church was heartbroken and urged Christians to stay close to the affected families.
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Former U.S. President Donald Trump, the Republican presidential candidate, and Democratic presidential candidate and U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris, are pictured in a combination photo taking part in the presidential debate at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia Sept. 10, 2024. (OSV News photo/Brian Snyder, Reuters)

Harris, Trump spar over abortion, migration, economy in first debate

September 11, 2024
Former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris met Sept. 10 for their first — and possibly only — debate of the 2024 presidential cycle.
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A man walks past a banner reading "Stop Human Trafficking!" in 2018 in Valletta, Malta. (OSV News photo/Guglielmo Mangiapane, Reuters)

Missing boy’s case spurs church groups to combat human trafficking in Argentina

September 10, 2024
More than two months after 5-year-old Loan Peña went missing in the northeastern Argentina town of Nueve de Julio, the church continues to promote marches to demand his captors release him.
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Bishop Luis R. Zarama of Raleigh, N.C., hugs an attendee of the XIII Encuentro Católico de Campesinos on Aug. 4, 2024, an annual event for farmworkers in the diocese, many of whom are temporal H-2A agricultural workers. About 300 workers and volunteers participated this year. (OSV News/courtesy of USCCB Public Affairs)

Raleigh Catholics strive to accompany migrant farmworkers

September 9, 2024
The words, "God walks with his people," encapsulate what many volunteers try to show farmworkers in the Diocese of Raleigh through their visits.
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Columbus Blue Jackets left wing Johnny Gaudreau (13) celebrates his goal scored against the against the Anaheim Ducks during the first period at Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif., Feb 21, 2024. Gaudreau and his brother, Matthew, were killed the evening of Aug. 30, 2024, when they were struck by Sean M. Higgins of Woodstown, N.J., a suspected drunk driver, while bicycling in Oldmans Township, close to their hometown in Salem County, New Jersey State Police said.

Tragic death of NHL star, brother leaves family, friends, fans with unspeakable grief

September 6, 2024
As family, friends, teammates, coaches, media, acquaintances and even strangers struggled mightily to make sense of the devastating tragedy Aug. 29 that took the lives of National Hockey League star Johnny Gaudreau, 31, and his brother, Matthew, 29, no expression ...
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