“Above all, I urge you never to close yourselves off: Don’t be afraid to talk to others, even about your fatigue and your crises,” Pope Leo said to Rome’s priests in a February 19 meeting with clergy of the Roman diocese. During the meeting in the Paul VI Hall at the Vatican, the Holy Father…
Category: World Report
Breakaway Catholic group rejects Vatican talks, indicating collision course for pope
A breakaway Catholic traditionalist group rejected the Vatican’s offer of talks, suggesting a collision course with Pope Leo XIV over its planned consecrations of new bishops without his consent. In a letter to the Vatican’s doctrine chief, the Society of St Pius X said the Holy See’s threat of sanctions and schism if it goes…
Vatican extends olive branch to breakaway SSPX society
In a bid to stop members of a breakaway traditionalist society from incurring excommunications through the illicit ordination of new bishops, the Vatican has offered a path forward based on theological dialogue. A February 12 communique published by the Vatican’s Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith and signed by its prefect, Argentine Cardinal Victor…
Cuban bishops postpone Vatican visit amid worsening economic and social crisis
The Catholic Bishops of Cuba announced on February 12 that they have asked Pope Leo XIV to postpone their upcoming visit to Rome due to the country’s grave situation, which is generating “so much instability and uncertainty.” The bishops had been scheduled to meet Pope Leo XIV on February 20 as part of their periodic…
Trump’s Religious Liberty Commission member ousted in antisemitism dispute
A member of the federal Religious Liberty Commission has been ousted after a hearing this week that featured tense exchanges on the definition of antisemitism. The ousted member, Carrie Prejean Boller, had defended prominent commentator Candace Owens, who routinely shares antisemitic conspiracy theories. Prejean Boller, a model turned conservative activist who converted to Catholicism last…
Catholics in Colombia bring relief after floods
At least 69,000 families have been affected and 22 people have died in flooding triggered by extraordinarily heavy rains in northern Colombia. The Church has been working since the beginning of the crisis to deliver food and clothing to people who have lost everything, as well as to provide spiritual and emotional support. About 9,000…
Kohlgraf: Synodal conference focusing on passing on the faith
At the planned synod conference in Germany, Bishop Peter Kohlgraf of Mainz would like to broaden the thematic horizon. It will be about “addressing questions of passing on the faith and evangelisation,” said the bishop at the Mainz event ‘One Church, Many Paths,’ over the weekend. He hopes that ideas will be formed “that are…
New York’s incoming archbishop will focus on evangelising and reengagement
The incoming archbishop of New York said on February 5 that he plans to emphasise the importance of evangelising as he takes charge of one of the biggest US archdioceses. “How do we actually be disciples, who do we make disciples?” Archbishop Ronald Hicks said during a news conference at St Patrick’s Cathedral, where his…
Following the last meeting of the Synodal Path, Bishop Stefan Oster rejects key reform demands
Passau Bishop Stefan Oster rejects key reform demands of the Synodal Path and the planned monitoring of their implementation. In his opinion, implementing the decisions would accelerate the disintegration of the Church in Germany, the bishop wrote in a blog post on February 4. Therefore, he cannot and will not go along with “essential ‘reform…
A long-suppressed issue: Jesuit Hans Zollner sees initial successes in the fight against abuse of nuns
Jesuit and abuse expert Hans Zollner sees the sexual abuse of nuns as “a burning issue.” At a press conference held by the Catholic charity Missio Aachen on Friday, Zollner said that, unlike ten years ago, the issue can now be discussed openly in many countries. Missio has contributed to ensuring that today, the discussion…









