Pope Leo XIV presides over first vespers (evening prayer) in St. Peter’s Basilica in anticipation of the Jan. 1 solemnity of Mary, Mother of God on Dec. 31, 2025. Credit: Vatican Media. Dec 31, 2025 / 15:00 pm (CNA). Pope Leo XIV at a New Year’s Eve prayer service reflected on God’s divine plan of…

2025 was a complex and multifaceted year for Christians in the Middle East, oscillating between supportive initiatives and messages of hope alongside persistent challenges. | Credit: Ismail Adnan/ACI MENA Dec 31, 2025 / 15:30 pm (CNA). 2025 was a complex and multifaceted year for Christians in the Middle East. Across six pivotal countries, the contours…

Credit: Wirestock Creators/Shutterstock Dec 31, 2025 / 16:00 pm (CNA). On New Year’s Eve, Dec. 31, and the first day of 2026, the Catholic Church offers the opportunity to obtain plenary indulgences as a sign of God’s mercy and the desire for the sanctification of all her members. A plenary indulgence is remission before God…

Young people at the 2023 SEEK conference in St. Louis. | Credit: Photo courtesy of SEEK Dec 31, 2025 / 09:00 am (CNA). The annual SEEK conference is set to simultaneously get underway Jan. 1–5 in three U.S. cities: Columbus, Ohio; Denver; and Fort Worth, Texas. “To the Heights!” is the theme of this year’s…

“When I began hearing the confessions of the faithful, I understood that there can be no inner peace without forgiveness,” said Father Pero Miličević.| Credit: Vatican Media Dec 31, 2025 / 10:50 am (CNA). Father Pero Miličević witnessed the cruelest face of war when he was just a child. On July 28, 1993, a group…

Afternoon prayers for the ecumenical youth gathering are taking place in the Accor Arena, which can accommodate more than 20,000 people. Credit: Taizé Community Dec 31, 2025 / 11:58 am (CNA). Thousands of young Catholics and other fellow Christians from various traditions are in Paris this week ushering out 2025 and ushering in 2026 as…