OSV News

Five years after the release of Pope Francis' encyclical on fraternal love, and amid a rise in political violence, the leader of the U.S. Catholic bishops is pleading for a rediscovery of — and respect for — a common humanity.

Archbishop Paul Gallagher, who serves as the Vatican's secretary for relations with states and international organizations, shared his thoughts Sept. 29 while addressing the U.N. General Assembly, amid the opening of its 80th session at its New York headquarters.

Many at the Sunday afternoon Mass told Angelus, the news outlet of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, that they felt helpless, hoping that God would intervene in the situation. But being at the cathedral on Sunday, they also felt united in prayer.

Several Catholic bishops are expressing their sorrow over a deadly attack at a Michigan house of worship, which took place just weeks after a mass shooting at a Minnesota Catholic church.

 Construction of the basilica began in 1882, and is considered a masterpiece of Antoni Gaudí, a Catholic whose cause for sainthood is underway. 

"You showed the world what faith, spirit, and brotherhood look like," Chicago Cardinal Blase Cupich told the singers. "Keep singing, leading, believing. God's not done with you."

Diocesan bishops and vocations directors are largely satisfied with their seminaries' formation programs — but some gaps remain between clergy and mental health professionals as to the role of ongoing psychological services in assessing candidates' readiness for ordination, according to a new report.

As fall begins, Catholics are watching closely for Pope Leo XIV's first major Vatican appointments. One of the most urgent vacancies to fill is his own former role — prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops.

On Sept. 22, Archbishop Paul Gallagher delivered an address at the United Nations' New York headquarters during the U.N.'s high-level meeting marking the 30th anniversary of the Fourth World Conference on Women.

One detainee was killed and two others were in serious condition after a shooting Sept. 24 at a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility in Dallas, the Department of Homeland Security said.

With the 30th U.N. Climate Change Conference, or COP30, set for November in Belém, Brazil, Catholic leaders are raising their voices ahead of the global climate summit.

As artificial intelligence evolves at lightning speed, the University of Notre Dame has convened a summit to bring Catholic and Christian values to bear on AI technology.

A recent immigration enforcement raid involving Korean workers in Georgia has rattled the Savannah area's Korean Catholics, according to one spokesman for the community.

The Archdiocese of Chicago is scheduled to present Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., a "Lifetime Achievement Award" for his work on immigration issues in November, but the decision has been criticized by some Catholic bishops over Durbin's public position on abortion.

Clergy and religious along with lay Catholic faithful came out in droves at an anti-corruption rally in the Philippines capital of Manila Sept. 21 that drew tens of thousands of protesters.

At the start of National Migration Week, taking place this year Sept. 22-28, the chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops' Committee on Migration invited the faithful to join "The Cabrini Pledge" and be guardians of hope for migrants and refugees.

"He was the most consistent voice after the death of the Jesuits," said Juan Melendez, country director for the Netherlands Institute of Multiparty Democracy.

Although not religious, many of the more than 70 films in which Redford starred since 1960, and the nine he directed since 1980, explored themes of ethical quandaries, spirituality and moral decisions and were respectful of faith. 

Bishop Daniel Garcia, Central Texas born and raised, delivered an emotional homily condemning racism and the harsh treatment of migrants as he was installed as the sixth bishop of the Diocese of Austin, Texas, on Sept. 18.

Bishop Timothy Senior of Harrisburg said he was "deeply saddened" by a shooting in rural Pennsylvania that claimed the lives of three police officers and injured two others.