Two prominent Catholic cardinals have expressed their profound concern and sorrow over a recently announced decision by the Society of St Pius X — which rejects the authority of the Second Vatican Council — to ordain bishops this summer without papal approval. “The only solution possible in conscience before God is for the Society of…
Category: World Report
Pope Leo will visit four African countries in 2026
The Vatican on February 25 announced a busy and lengthy foreign travel schedule for Pope Leo XIV in the first half of 2026, confirming the pontiff will visit Monaco, Spain and four African nations — Algeria, Cameroon, Angola and Equatorial Guinea. The announcement sets the stage for one of the busiest papal travel schedules in…
‘Hidden glory’: highlights from Bishop Varden’s meditations for papal Lenten retreat
Norwegian Bishop Erik Varden preached a series of meditations for the first Lenten retreat of Pope Leo XIV and the Roman Curia, reflecting on the splendor of truth and the Christian idea of freedom, as well as sin, abuse and Church corruption. Bishop Varden of Trondheim, a Trappist monk, shared wisdom from contemplative life during…
Vatican official tells UN so-called ‘new rights’ can attack religious freedom
Today’s persecution of Christians is one of the most prevalent crises in the world today, a Vatican official has told the United Nations. “This unfortunate situation has deteriorated further in 2025 due to the exacerbating factors of conflict and extremism,” Msgr Daniel Pacho told the UN Human Rights Council on February 25. The priest is…
Pro-abortion professor backs off leadership appointment at Notre Dame after backlash
A pro-abortion professor at the University of Notre Dame is turning down a leadership appointment there after weeks of backlash that included more than a dozen US bishops criticising the school for its decision. Mary Gallagher, the dean of the university’s Keough School of Global Affairs, wrote in an email on February 26 that Prof.…
US ambassador sees potential for ‘Catholic moment’ with Leo
United States Ambassador to the Holy See Brian Burch, in an exclusive sit-down interview with Crux Now, said he sees the potential for a “Catholic moment” in the US given the high-profile Catholics in the current administration, with history’s first US-born pope. According to Ambassador Brian Burch, there is a new kind of conservativism in…
New Bishop Chairman: No special path for Germany in reforms
The new chairman of the Bishops’ Conference, Heiner Wilmer, does not want Germany to go it alone on Catholic Church reforms. Good coordination with the church leadership in Rome and with the World Synod is important to him, said the Bishop of Hildesheim on Thursday in Würzburg. He will travel to Rome soon so that…
St Francis’ relics open to public for first extended veneration in 800 years
For the first time in eight centuries, the mortal remains of St Francis of Assisi are being exposed for an extended period of public veneration, drawing hundreds of thousands of pilgrims from around the world to pray before “the Little Poor Man of Assisi.” The bones of the beloved saint were unveiled for public display…
Polish bishop on trial over alleged delays in reporting claims of child abuse by priests
A Polish bishop went on trial on February 18, accused of not informing authorities immediately about alleged sexual abuse of children by two priests in his diocese. It is the first time a Polish bishop is on trial over sexual abuse allegedly committed by priests under his authority. According to the Polish Press Agency, prosecutors…
Spanish archbishop calls burqa ‘discrimination against women’ while urging respect of religious beliefs
After the Spanish parliament debated on February 17 a controversial bill proposed by far-right party Vox to ban the burqa and niqab in public spaces, a leading Spanish archbishop has said the burqa discriminates against women while he also called for mutual respect among religious groups. Speaking to Crux, Archbishop Joan Planellas of Tarragona said…









