VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Clerical sexual abuse continues to be "a real crisis," one that the Catholic Church still must learn to deal with, particularly in improving the way it helps survivors while also ensuring the rights of the accused are respected, Pope Leo XIV said."It would be naive for myself or for anyone" to think that dismissing the offender […]

WASHINGTON – The National Catholic-Muslim Dialogue (NCMD) met on Sept 8-9 to continue its multi-year study entitled, “Journeying Together.” The dialogue is staffed by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Secretariat for Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs. This year’s session featured presentations by Sr. Marianne Farina, CSC and Dr. Anas Malik on the ecological crisis in conjunction with the tenth anniversary […]

WASHINGTON – The Catholic Church in the United States will observe National Migration Week from September 22 to 28. This year, as the Universal Church marks its jubilee year, the World Day of Migrants and Refugees will be observed on October 4–5, coinciding with the Jubilee of Migrants.* For 45 years, the U.S. Catholic Church has celebrated National Migration Week by reflecting on […]

WASHINGTON – “With great joy we celebrate October as Respect Life Month amid the Church’s Jubilee Year of Hope,” announced Bishop Daniel E. Thomas of Toledo, chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Committee on Pro-Life Activities, in a statement.“The daily headlines remind us of how desperately our world is thirsting for the hope that only God can provide…. the […]

VATICAN CITY (CNS) — In an overly frenetic world, the Gospel teaches the importance of stopping, resting and trusting in the Lord, Pope Leo XIV said."We rush to produce, to prove ourselves, to keep up," the pope said during his weekly general audience in St. Peter's Square Sept. 17."But the Gospel teaches us that knowing how to stop is an […]

VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Just a few hours after Israel launched a major new ground offensive in Gaza City, Pope Leo XIV called the pastor of the city's only Latin-rite parish to express his concern, his prayers and his closeness, the Vatican press office said.Pope Leo, who was spending the day at Castel Gandolfo, spoke Sept. 16 with Argentine Father […]

ROME (CNS) — In situations where "hatred seemed to have permeated every aspect of life," modern Christian martyrs showed that love is stronger than death, Pope Leo XIV said at an ecumenical prayer service.The prayer service Sept. 14, the feast of the Exaltation of the Cross, commemorated 1,624 Catholics, Orthodox, Anglicans and Protestants who died for their faith between 2000 […]

VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Pain must never give rise to violence, and every Catholic needs to learn to safeguard with tenderness those who are vulnerable, Pope Leo XIV said during a prayer vigil dedicated to people experiencing pain and affliction due to illness, bereavement, violence or abuse.Recognizing that some members of the church "have unfortunately hurt you," the pope said, […]

WASHINGTON – World Mental Health Day is observed on October 10, and the Catholic Church marks the Jubilee of Consolation on September 15. In recognition of the continuing mental health crisis, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) has announced a new component within the ongoing National Catholic Mental Health Campaign focused on amplifying local engagement on mental health.“Healing and […]

VATICAN CITY (CNS) — At a time when people feel powerless to help migrants and refugees, Christians must continue to insist that "there is no justice without compassion, no legitimacy without listening to the pain of others," Pope Leo XIV said.In a video message Sept. 12, the pope gave his full support to a bid by the people of the […]