Archbishop Timothy Broglio of the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA, spoke positively about a recent initiative launched by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth that seeks to restore the focus of the military chaplain corps toward spiritual ministry. “[Hegseth] definitely wants to return the chaplaincy to responsibility for religious services, religious instruction, and advising the commanders,”…

Cardinal Matteo Zuppi, president of the Italian Bishops’ Conference (CEI, by its Italian acronym), reaffirmed this week the Italian bishops’ opposition to any legislation that would legitimize assisted suicide or euthanasia while also calling for greater investment in palliative care and support for the sick. “The answer to suffering is not to offer death but…

Bishop Abdallah Zaidan of the Maronite Eparchy of Our Lady of Lebanon and Bishop Joseph Kopacz of Jackson, Mississippi, joined an international delegation of bishops to the West Bank earlier this month, after which the delegation released a communiqué calling for peace, security, and a two-state solution. The group included bishops from England and Wales,…

Two committees of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) are urging President Donald Trump’s administration to extend legal protections for Haitian migrants living in the United States. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem announced in November 2025 that the United States would terminate the Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haitian migrants on Feb. 3. It…

The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) is calling on the Trump administration to place Egypt on a watch list after a Christian man was sentenced to five years in prison with hard labor for allegedly violating the country’s blasphemy laws “for his online content critical of Islam.” “Egypt is systematically enforcing laws, policies,…

Philippine bishops opened to dialogue with President Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos Jr. amid ongoing impeachment proceedings and corruption scandals while frankly acknowledging deep internal Church struggles during their 131st plenary assembly held in Manila from Jan. 21–26. Archbishop Gilbert Garcera of Lipa, president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines, told reporters at a Jan….

The Vatican has said it is considering enlarging a small coffee and drinks bar already present on the terrace of St. Peter’s Basilica and has denied reports it plans to open a restaurant atop the historic church, according to Vatican News. Italian newspaper Il Messaggero claimed earlier this week that renovations are being carried out…

Prayer is an integral part of evangelization, Pope Leo XIV said in an audience with members of the Pope’s Worldwide Prayer Network on Jan. 30. The Pope’s Worldwide Prayer Network is a pontifical organization whose mission is to mobilize Catholics in prayer. The group publishes the pope’s monthly prayer intention videos and organizes other prayer…

Pope Leo XIV’s prayer intention for the month of February is for children with incurable diseases. In a video to be released on Feb. 5, the Holy Father prayed that the faithful would realize that “the smiles, even in the midst of pain,” of children suffering from incurable diseases, “are a testimony of [God’s] kingdom.”…

The Conference of Catholic Bishops of Cuba (COCC, by its Spanish acronym) warned that the country risks descending into social chaos and violence if  increasingly urgent structural changes are not implemented. The Catholic Church’s warning came in a message released on Jan. 31, two days after U.S. President Donald Trump’s decision to impose extraordinary tariffs…