On April 10, Pope Leo XIV received French President Emmanuel Macron for the first time since the beginning of his pontificate. Accompanying Macron was his wife, Brigitte. Following the closed-door meeting at the Vatican’s Apostolic Palace that lasted an hour, the French president said he was “very happy” to have met with the Holy Father,…

Catholic organizations are still providing shelter, food, and aid as Israel continues airstrikes throughout Lebanon and Israeli and Hezbollah forces engage in firefights throughout the south. The military carried out its deadliest attack of the war on April 8, killing more than 300 people throughout southern and eastern Lebanon and inside Beirut and its surrounding…

President Donald Trump was elected in 2024 with support from a majority of Catholic voters, but a poll shows his support from Catholics dipping below 50% amid the U.S. war against Iran. The poll, conducted March 20–23 jointly by Republican pollster Shaw & Co. Research and Democratic pollster Beacon Research, found that 48% of Catholic…

Cardinal Dominique Joseph Mathieu, OFM Conv, archbishop of Tehran, shared a message reflecting on his experience celebrating Easter in Rome amid the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. In his April 6 message published in Agenzia Fides, Mathieu emphasized that “in the communion of saints and in the grace of the sacraments, especially in the…

Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey signed legislation this week that strengthens parents’ ability to have their children briefly excused from public school during the school day to receive religious instruction. The Republican governor approved Senate Bill 248, known as the Alabama Released Time Credit Act, on April 8. The new law takes effect July 1. The…

HELSINKI — Thousands of candles illuminated the steps of Finlandʼs Parliament in Helsinki on March 21 as pro-life advocates held a public vigil commemorating children lost to abortion. Organized by the Finnish pro-life group Oikeus elämään ry, the “Muistamme” (“In remembrance”) event featured 8,645 candles, one for each abortion performed in Finland in 2024. Johannes…