OLOMOUC, Czech Republic — More than 6,100 donors in the Archdiocese of Olomouc in the Czech Republic have contributed to priests’ salaries through an online crowdfunding platform as the Catholic Church prepares for the end of decades of financial support from the Czech state. The platform, called Donátor, originally launched in the Diocese of Brno…

DHAKA, Bangladesh — Catholic youth across Bangladesh, India, and Nepal are preparing for World Youth Day 2027, scheduled for Aug. 3–8 in Seoul, South Korea, with Church leaders describing the gathering as an opportunity for spiritual renewal, cultural exchange, and witness. Bangladesh, home to roughly 400,000 Catholics, expects to send at least 1,000 young people…

Speaking at a conference in Geneva on March 3, Archbishop Ettore Balestrero, the permanent observer of the Holy See to the United Nations since 2023, decried the fact that Christians are the most persecuted community in the world. His address was titled “Standing with Persecuted Christians: Defending the Faith and Christian Values.” Balestrero, who is…

Pope Leo XIV thanked a 110-year-old priest from the Diocese of Fulda, Germany, for his “long, faithful, and devoted priestly service.” Father Bruno Kant is officially recognized as the oldest priest in the world. “I was delighted to learn that you will be celebrating your 110th birthday on Feb. 26 and send you my warmest…

On the 10th anniversary of the martyrdom of four Missionaries of Charity and members of the laity in Yemen, Bishop Paolo Martinelli, apostolic vicar of Southern Arabia, presided over Mass on March 4 at St. Joseph’s Cathedral in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. In his homily, Martinelli highlighted the sisters’ courage and their offering of…