By Ruadhan Jones OSV News DUBLIN — Baptisms in the Catholic Church in Ireland have fallen by almost a third since 2015, with just one Irish diocese seeing any positive change, a new report shows. While around 60% of the 30% collapse can be attributed to declining births, the rest is accounted for by “rising […]
Preparations underway to mark 2,000 years since Jesus’ baptism
By Dale Gavlak OSV News Jordan announced the start of its preparations for the historic 2,000th anniversary of the baptism of Jesus Christ in 2030 at the site where it took place at Bethany Beyond the Jordan, also known as Al-Maghtas. So far, four popes have visited the site of great religious importance, including St. […]
Sunday Mass is ‘essential’ part of faith life, Pope Leo says
By Josephine Peterson Catholic News Service VATICAN CITY — Pope Leo XIV urged Catholics to gather in person for Sunday Mass and called for working conditions that allow people to attend, saying Sunday is “the foundation and kernel of the whole liturgical year.” “To sanctify Sunday, it is essential to celebrate the Eucharist,” the pope […]
Pope joins young people to celebrate St. Francis’ jubilee year
By Courtney Mares OSV News Pope Leo XIV traveled to Assisi Aug. 5 to celebrate the Jubilee Year of St. Francis with 2,500 young people, urging them to become the “new saints” the world needs today. The pope celebrated Mass at the Basilica of St. Mary of the Angels on the feast of the Transfiguration […]
South American nations added to Pope Leo’s apostolic itinerary
By Courtney Mares OSV News ROME — Pope Leo XIV will make the first apostolic journey to South America of his pontificate Nov. 6-17, visiting 10 cities in Uruguay, Argentina and Peru, the Vatican has announced. The trip will take him from one of Latin America’s least religious countries to the homeland of the late […]
In visit to Lampedusa, Pope Leo XIV urges faithful to show compassion
By Courtney Mares OSV News LAMPEDUSA, ITALY — Pope Leo XIV traveled to the tiny Italian island of Lampedusa July 4, laying a wreath at the graves of migrants who drowned trying to reach Europe and celebrating an open-air Mass in which he called on Catholics to be good Samaritans offering compassion to those who […]
Traditionalist group ‘in schism’ after unauthorized consecration
The Society of St. Pius X elevated four priests to bishops despite warnings from the Vatican By Paulina Guzik OSV News The Vatican has declared the Society of St. Pius X to be “in schism” after the traditionalist group consecrated four bishops without the papal mandate, marking the most serious rupture in the church since […]
2033 offers major chance for Christian unity, Pope Leo says
By Courtney Mares OSV News ROME — Pope Leo XIV has called on all Christians to work together toward the celebration of 2033, when the Catholic Church will mark an extraordinary Jubilee Year commemorating 2,000 years since the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. The pope expressed this hope during a June 30 audience with […]
Migration tops pontiff’s agenda in Canary Islands
By Carol Glatz Catholic News Service ARGUINEGUIN, Spain — Standing at the edge of the Atlantic Ocean, where thousands of migrants arrive each year after dangerous journeys from Africa, Pope Leo XIV recalled the biblical sea monsters Leviathan and Rahab. Yet the greatest threats lurking in these waters, he said, are not creatures of Scripture. […]
Iconic basilica’s newest tower receives blessing
By Courtney Mares OSV News BARCELONA, Spain — Pope Leo XIV blessed the newly completed Tower of Jesus Christ at Barcelona’s Sagrada Familia basilica June 10, inaugurating the crowning spire that makes the iconic church the tallest Catholic church the world and urging people to lift their gaze to Christ “who alone reveals to us […]