Catholic News Service

Catholic leaders expressed disappointment with a June 6 ruling by a federal judge in Oklahoma calling the state's three-drug lethal injection method constitutional.

U.S. Cardinal Kevin Farrell, prefect of the Dicastery for Laity, the Family and Life, will chair the Vatican's new Investment Committee, the Vatican press office announced.

In response to the multiple mass shootings in recent weeks, the chairmen of four U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops' committees sent a letter to Congress urging lawmakers to "stop the massacres of innocent lives."

Sitting in a wheelchair in the courtyard of the Apostolic Palace, Pope Francis allowed himself to be grilled by a group of youngsters, including one who asked when he would go to Ukraine "to save all the children who are suffering there."

This year's Society of Catholic Scientists conference was an intimate gathering with the theme of environmental stewardship linked to the papal encyclical "Laudato Si'." Speakers discussed Catholic environmentalism going back to the fourth century, and topics such as soil conservation, the preservation of tropical forests, the importance of bees and genetic advances used to conserve wild animal populations.

The Philadelphia Archdiocese has paid close to $78.5 million of a total of more than $81 million awarded to 438 victims of sexual abuse by archdiocesan clergy under the Independent Reconciliation and Reparations Program, which released its final report June 2.

Pope Francis on June 5 appealed to world leaders to start "real negotiations" to end to the war on Ukraine and avoid bringing the world to ruin.

When the Vatican announced Pope Francis would travel to L'Aquila in central Italy Aug. 28 to open a seven-centuries-old celebration of forgiveness, people on social media began speculating that the pope would resign. But the L'Aquila archdiocese has been clear that the papal sojourn is more about expressing care for the people in the earthquake-prone region.

Pope Francis expressed his solidarity and closeness with Catholics in Nigeria after gunmen stormed a church and reportedly killed at least 50 people during a Pentecost Mass.

The Vatican updated its COVID-19 protocols, allowing most employees and visitors to enter Vatican City State without a vaccination certificate or proof of recovery and easing the Vatican's mask requirements.

The Vatican stamp and coin office has released several commemorative coins, including one promoting the importance of vaccinations and a silver medal for peace in Ukraine; proceeds from sales of the medal will be used to help victims of the war.

Pope Francis sent well-wishes to Queen Elizabeth II for the 70th anniversary of her coronation as well as the public celebration of her birthday.

Pope Francis has appointed new members of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Sacraments, including Chicago Cardinal Blase Cupich.

Commentary: The very notion of dialogue has atrophied throughout our American culture, as partisan, racial, economic and ideological divisions have undermined civility and the basic proposition that we can learn from a dialogue with those with whom we disagree.

The drought in Kenya — which the United Nations described as the worst in 40 years — is believed to be a consequence of climate change. The lack of rain in the fourth consecutive season has snuffed out livelihoods, leaving millions of people on the verge of starvation.

The COVID-19 pandemic not only caused a one-year delay in holding the World Meeting of Families, it also prompted a look at new ways to involve Catholic families from around the world and to ensure that they take the lead in ministering to each other.

After setting white flowers at a statue of Mary, Queen of Peace, Pope Francis prayed the rosary and asked Mary to intercede to bring peace to Ukraine and to every place in the world torn by violent conflict.

Of all the Catholic clergy who have made significant scientific contributions, more than half of them have been Jesuits. Br. Guy Consolmagno, director of the Vatican Observatory, gave a recent lecture in New York City that highlighted some of these standout figures.

As a "first choice," members of the Italian bishops' conference decided to focus their study of clerical sexual abuse in the country on cases reported to the Vatican Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith from 2000 to 2021.

As Italian bishops debated how to respond to calls for a nationwide investigation into clerical sexual abuse and the way accusations have been handled, U.S. Cardinal Seán P. O'Malley of Boston encouraged them to move forward.