Nation & World

Archbishop Mor Anthimos Jack Yakoub, the Syriac Orthodox patriarchal vicar for Jerusalem, Jordan and the Holy Land, stands in front of the restored ancient altar in the Syriac Orthodox Patriarchal Monastery of St. Mark in Jerusalem Jan. 11, 2026, after an intensive two-year restoration process. (OSV News photo/Debbie Hill)
Historic altar at St. Mark's monastery in Jerusalem unveiled for first time in 350 years
Pope Leo XIV greets visitors in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican as they gather to pray the Angelus, Jan. 11, 2026. (CNS photo/Vatican Media)
Baptism provides light in darkness, gateway to heaven, pope says
Pope Leo XIV greets a mother and child as he baptizes 20 children in the Sistine Chapel at the Vatican Jan. 11, 2026, the feast of the Baptism of the Lord. (OSV News photo/Simone Risoluti, Vatican Media)
Parents can't wait for children to choose baptism, says pope, baptizing 20 infants in Sistine Chapel
Biblical king David, voice of Phil Wickham as an adult, is pictured in a scene from the animated film "David." The OSV News classification is A-I – general patronage. The Motion Picture Association rating is PG -- parental guidance suggested. Some material may not be suitable for children. (OSV News photo/Angel Studios)
Movie Review: David
Religious leaders, including Father Dale Korogi, pastor of Ascension Catholic Church in Minneapolis, next to a broadcast speaker, attend an interfaith news conference in Minneapolis Jan. 8, 2026, at the scene of the fatal shooting of Renee Nicole Good by a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent. The 37-year-old woman was shot in her car Jan. 7, according to local and federal officials. (OSV News photo/Tim Evans, Reuters)
Minneapolis Catholic leaders speak out about community fear after ICE-involved shooting
Pope Leo XIV addresses members of the diplomatic corps accredited to the Vatican at the Apostolic Palace at the Vatican Jan. 9, 2026. (CNS photo/Vatican Media)
Pope delivers fierce defense of the unborn in address to diplomatic corps
Cardinals Pablo Virgilio Siongco David of Kalookan, Philippines; Stephen Brislin of Johannesburg, South Africa; and Luis José Rueda Aparicio of Bogotá, Colombia, participate in a news conference at the Vatican Jan. 8, 2026. The cardinals reflected on the meaning and outcomes of the extraordinary consistory that had just concluded. (CNS photo/Lola Gomez)
Cardinals leave consistory with a clear vision from pontiff: 'A Church that cares' 
Pope Leo XIV gives his homily during Mass for the feast of the Epiphany in St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican Jan. 6, 2026, after closing the Holy Door to mark the official end of the Holy Year. (CNS photo/Lola Gomez)
Christians must resist allure of power, serve humanity, pope says at end of Holy Year
Polish pilgrims from Torun: from left, Iwona, Wioletta and Kasia, are seen on a Jan. 6, 2026 photograph on St. Peter's Square, at the conclusion of the Jubilee Year of Hope. What really visibly stayed with the faithful after the Jan. 6 Epiphany Mass was Pope Leo's urge to keep the church alive. "If we do not reduce our churches to monuments, if our communities are homes, if we stand united and resist the flattery and seduction of those in power, then we will be the generation of a new dawn," the pope said.
As jubilee year ends, the faithful heed Pope Leo's call to keep the church alive
Young Catholics react Jan. 1, 2026, at the SEEK26 conference at the Gaylord Texan in Grapevine, Texas. oung Catholics and attendees of all ages were invited to embrace the conference's theme inspired by St. Pier Giorgio Frassati: "To the Heights," This year SEEK the Jan. 1-5 conference was being held in Denver, Columbus, Ohio, in addition to Fort Worth. (OSV News photo/Juan Guajardo, courtesy North Texas Catholic)
SEEK 2026 summons youth to draw close to Christ, discover his plan for their lives
People hold Venezuelan flags as Venezuelans living in Colombia demonstrate in front of of the Minor Basilica of Our Lady of Lourdes in Bogota Jan. 4, 2026, for a democratic transition, after the U.S. launched strikes on Venezuela, capturing its President Nicolas Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores. (OSV News photo/Sergio Acero, Reuters)
Pope Leo, bishops react to US capture of Maduro with concern for Venezuela
Indiana Hoosiers running back Roman Hemby (1) runs to score a touchdown against Alabama Crimson Tide defensive lineman London Simmons (90) in the second half of the 2026 Rose Bowl and quarterfinal game of the College Football Playoff on New Year's Day at Rose Bowl Stadium in Pasadena, Calif. The Hoosiers defeated Alabama 38-3. (OSV News photo/Mandatory Credit: (OSV News photo/Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images via Reuters)
Indiana University running back carries Catholic values with him into playoffs
A Catholic family is pictured in a file photo sharing a laugh at their farm in Epworth, Iowa. (OSV News photo/Bob Roller)
Tips to strengthen your domestic church in 2026
Jeff Helgeson poses with Bernard Hebda, who is holding the crosier Helgeson found in a scrapyard, during their May 30, 2025, meeting at the Archdiocesan Catholic Center in St. Paul. Finding the crosier has drawn Helgeson into a journey back to the Catholic Church of his youth. (OSV News photo/courtesy Paul Lovino)
Wisconsin man's Catholic faith revived after finding bishop's crosier in scrapyard
A project of the Holy Trinity Church, under preparation since fall 2024, in the central Czech Republic's industrial town of Neratovice is seen on an undated photo of the project. The Archdiocese of Prague has welcomed pre-Christmas plans to build a major new parish church using 3D printing technology, after architects insisted the method would slash costs and offer exceptional decorative and acoustic possibilities. (OSV News photo/courtesy Holy Trinity parish)
Czech archdiocese welcomes pioneering '3D church'
Participants of the Taizé community meeting are seen in front of Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris on an undated photograph. More than 10,000 young Christians from across Europe joined thousands of young French people in Paris Dec. 28-Jan. 1, 2025, to take part in the European meeting of the Taizé community, which is held every year in a different European city around the New Year. (OSV News photo/courtesy Taizé community)
Ten thousand young Christians gather in Paris for Taizé's European New Year meeting
Schoolchildren from St. Mary's Catholic School in Papiri, Nigeria, arrive at the Niger State Government House Dec. 8, 2025, after being freed from captivity following their abduction by gunmen Nov. 21. (OSV News photo/Marvellous Durowaiye, Reuters)
From Nigeria to Belarus, 2025 marks a grim year for religious freedom
Pope Leo XIV greets a child from the popemobile as he rides around St. Peter's Square at the Vatican before his weekly general audience Dec. 31, 2025. (CNS photo/Lola Gomez)
Take time to review the past year with God, pope suggests
Cardinal James M. Harvey, archpriest of Rome's Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls stands in front of the basilica's Holy Door after solemnly closing it Dec. 28, 2025, as the Jubilee Year drew to a close. (CNS photo/Lola Gomez)
As Holy Doors close, cardinals emphasize God's arms are always open
Jillian Whisnant, principal of Christ the King Church in Little Rock, Ark., and associate pastor Father Emmanuel "Manny" Torres poses Dec. 9, 2025, before Father Torres’ kidney transplant with Whisnant's donated kidney. Father Torres got a phone call in early September that he had been hoping for years -- they found the match needed for his kidney transplant. (OSV News photo/Katie Zakrzewski, Arkansas Catholic)
Priest gets kidney from principal - and love, support, prayers from parishes, students
Artist Christopher Santer poses for a photo at his studio in St. Paul, Minn., Nov. 10, 2025. As a professional artist and a Catholic high school art teacher, he still does landscapes and architecture, but he is most sought after for his sacred artwork. (OSV News photo/Dianne Towalski, The Central Minnesota Catholic)
Artist's 'Magnificat' has brought joy, hope to Jubilee pilgrims in Diocese of St. Cloud
Pope Leo XIV greets visitors in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican as they gather to pray the Angelus prayer on the feast of the Holy Family, Dec. 28, 2025. (CNS photo/Vatican Media)
Families fostering Gospel values provide hope in dark world, pope says
Pope Leo XIV celebrates Christmas morning Mass in St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican Dec. 25, 2025. (CNS photo/Vatican Media)
Open your hearts to baby Jesus and one another, pope says on Christmas
A file photo shows people visiting the Nativity scene in St. Peter's Square after Christmas Eve Mass at the Vatican. (CNS photo/Paul Haring)
At Home with Jesus
An art workshop ran by Pawel Dusza and organized for the occassion of World Day of the Poor is seen on an undated photograph in the Betlejem ("Bethlehem") community in Jaworzno, Poland. Betlejem community for the homeless and people in need was funded in 1996 by Polish diocesan priest Father Miroslaw Tosza, who says it brings back dignity of those in need by showing they also have a lot of things to share with the world, such as artistic and handcraft talents. (OSV News photo/courtesy Betlejem community)
A dream of Bethlehem community: A house for the poor in village where St. Francis staged first Nativity
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