OSV News

The Vatican released the official schedule of the June 26-27 extraordinary consistory, giving a glimpse into some of the topics and major issues that will be discussed by Pope Leo XIV and the College of Cardinals.

"There will still be several points to settle, but it is always better to do so through dialogue, through negotiations, and not by returning to war," Pope Leo said.

A majority of U.S. Catholics view Pope Leo XIV favorably, and just over half say President Donald Trump has been too critical of the pontiff, according to new data from the Pew Research Center.

Pope Leo XIV met with Peruvian President José María Balcázar at the Vatican June 18 for a nearly two-hour discussion, after which the president revealed details of a possible papal trip to Peru in November.

 "It is impossible today to make the case that the death penalty is a deterrent," the Catholic governor said. "I no longer believe the death penalty is a deterrent to murder."

Pope Leo XIV said that although he is considering a final appeal to the traditionalist Society of St. Pius X, the choice to splinter from the Catholic Church falls on them.

Cardinal Camillo Ruini, the influential churchman who shaped Catholic life in Italy for nearly two decades as both vicar of Rome and president of the Italian bishops' conference, died June 16 at age 95.

A new report shows more countries saw spikes in religious hostility by individuals and groups in 2023, the last year for which data is available — with the rise attributable in part to harassment of religious minorities and the ongoing impact of the Israel-Hamas war. 

Nine Polish Salesian priests killed in German Nazi concentration camps during World War II were beatified June 6 at the Sanctuary of St. John Paul II in Kraków during a Mass that highlighted not only their martyrdom but also their lives as educators, pastors and mentors to young people.

Pope Leo XIV approved new statutes for the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors that seek to balance its integration with the Roman Curia while preserving its independence.

Presidents of Catholic bishops' conferences of the G7 member states called on heads of state and government to root governance in human dignity, as national leaders prepare for the G7 Summit.

Bishop Alan McGuckian of Down and Connor denounced rioters who have targeted migrants following a second night of violent protests in Belfast and parts of Northern Ireland.

Catholics across the United States expressed solidarity with immigrants and other vulnerable communities with Masses and processions on the feast of Corpus Christi as part of a "Season of Faithful Witness," sponsored by several organizations to publicly affirm the dignity of every person. 

Prior to the bill's passage, the U.S. bishops were among those who urged lawmakers to make immigration policy reforms aimed at protecting the dignity of migrants, such as efforts to prevent the separation of families.

Amid the loneliness and despair of life behind bars, God continues to love and encourage the imprisoned to not let the sorrows of their past deter them from the hope of a better future, Pope Leo XIV told prisoners in Barcelona.

In recent years, the U.S. housing crunch has turned into a housing crisis, particularly among economically vulnerable Americans, with the U.S. Catholic bishops expressing significant concern about the consequences for families.

To commemorate the centennial year of the death of famed architect Antoni Gaudí, who designed Spain's Sagrada Família basilica, The Lego Group announced June 4 the release of a new model kit of the church, calling it one of the world's "most recognizable and ambitious" buildings.

As the Indigenous people of Canada and the United States continue to fight for self-governance and for control of their traditional territories, many of them point to the Catholic Church and the "Doctrine of Discovery" as being a prime cause for loss of their full rights.

The pontiff urged young Catholics to become missionaries in today's world, including in digital spaces, and challenged them to be "the salt of the earth and the light of the world."

"This will be, without discussion, the most special flight of my life," Pablo Martínez Núñez said. He and the crew have some surprises planned for the prelate.