Nation & World

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 Oct. 22, 2025. (CNS photo/Lola Gomez)
The risen Christ brings joy, hope along life's journey, pope says
Polish pianist Piotr Pawlak smiles after his 50-minute program Oct. 11, 2025, during the 2025 Chopin Competition semifinals in Warsaw, Poland. Standing in the lobby of the Warsaw Filharmonic, one of the most prestigious stages in the classical music world, before his performance, he reached for his rosary, made the sign of the cross and prayed -- a gesture that has gone viral. Pianists who take part in the International Chopin Competition are considered -- even if young -- the best in the world. (OSV News p
Pianist's sign of the cross goes viral as he enters world's famous Chopin piano competition
Will Threlkeld, left, and Isaac Eggerth greet passersby with a wave and a smile on a street corner in downtown Little Falls, Minn., Sept. 22, 2025. (OSV News photo/Dianne Towalski, The Central Minnesota Catholic)
With street corner ministry, Minnesota man says he's doing what Lord has asked of him
Robby Heil, 26, a liturgical minister at St. James Parish in Novi, Mich., who has Down syndrome, carries the cross during Mass Sept. 8, 2025. Robby is a regular volunteer during parish Masses and is a well-known fixture at St. James, said Father Ed Zaorski, pastor, Robby's friend and mentor. Although Robby's story has been told in several local news outlets, his biggest impact is at his parish, said his father, Charles Heil. (OSV News photo/Gabriella Patti, Detroit Catholic)
With reverence, contagious smile, volunteer with Down syndrome inspires Michigan parish 
Pope Leo XIV incenses the relics of the seven new saints displayed near an image of Mary and the Child Jesus during the canonization Mass in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican Oct. 19, 2025. (CNS photo/Lola Gomez)
Pope asks: When there are cries for help, do Christians respond with love?
Pope Leo XIV greets Qu Dongyu, director-general of the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization, before addressing government leaders during a ceremony marking the agency’s 80th anniversary at its headquarters in Rome Oct. 16, 2025. (CNS photo/Lola Gomez)
World hunger is 'collective failure,' pope says on World Food Day
Providence Sister Barbara Battista, Doris Parlette, Steve Schutte and Mary Winnecke share their personal experiences with the death penalty during a panel discussion held Sept. 29 at Holy Redeemer Catholic Church in Evansville. The discussion was moderated by Alexander Mingus, executive director of the Indiana Catholic Conference (ICC), pictured at right. The ICC, the public policy voice of the Catholic Church in Indiana, was a co-sponsor of the event.
Panelists weigh capital punishment as state executions continue in Indiana
After celebrating a Mass at the Plainfield Correctional Facility in Plainfield, Ind., on March 26, 2023, Indianapolis Archbishop Charles C. Thompson offers a blessing to a man who was soon to be released from the facility. Deacon Martin "Neil" May smiles at left. (OSV News photo/Natalie Hoefer, The Criterion)
New program would 'change the whole paradigm' for those released from prison
A freed Palestinian prisoner hugs his family member in Ramallah, in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, Oct. 13, 2025, after being released from an Israeli jail as part of a hostages-prisoners swap and a ceasefire deal in Gaza between Hamas and Israel. (OSV News photo/Mussa Qawasma, Reuters)
CNEWA director: Sense of relief as hostages freed, ceasefire holds - but peace vulnerable
Pope Leo XIV is seen in a screen grab from his video appeal Oct. 13, 2025, asking Catholic parishes around the world to observe World Mission Sunday Oct. 19 and to support the missions with their prayers and financial contributions. (CNS photo/screen grab, Vatican Media)
Pope asks Catholics to support missions with prayer, donations
Homeless men in 2019 are seen outside their tents under a bridge on in Austin, Texas. (OSV News photo/CNS file, Bob Roller)
Church must 'walk poor with the poor' to serve Christ, says Pope Leo in new exhortation
A person asks for alms near St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican Oct. 8, 2025. (CNS photo/Lola Gomez)
Love for the poor is hallmark of faith, pope says in first exhortation
A woman becomes emotional as she prays with a rosary during Eucharistic adoration following the opening Mass of the National Prayer Vigil for Life Jan. 19, 2023, at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington. (OSV News photo/Bob Roller)
Many Catholics, not just Pope Leo, are praying the rosary every day in October: Here's why
Students from Our Lady of Mount Carmel Academy in Chicago dressed as cardinals, a Swiss Guard and a pope pose in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican Oct. 8, 2025. The students had captured worldwide attention when they held a mock conclave at their school May 6, electing their own “pope,” fourth grader Augie Wilk, who took the name “Pope Augustine,” just days before the election of Pope Leo, a fellow Chicagoan and Augustinian. (CNS photo/Lola Gomez)
Jesus wants to be close, rekindle hope, on life's journey, pope says
Pilgrim prays in Lourdes, France, as part of the Oct. 2-4, 2025, "Rosary Pilgrimage," organized by the Dominican order since 1908. The Marian shrine of Lourdes welcomed a record number of participants this year -- 17,000 pilgrims were present, 2,000 more than in 2024. (OSV News photo/courtesy Lourdes shrine)
Rosary Pilgrimage to Lourdes, with record turnout, highlights brotherhood, martyrs of Algeria
Pilgrims, including religious sisters, priests and laypeople who serve as missionaries around the world, recite the rosary in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican Oct. 4, 2025, as part of the Jubilee of the Missions. (CNS photo/Pablo Esparza)
Mission, migrants make church 'catholic,' cardinal says
A Palestinian child stands between tents Oct. 6, 2025, where displaced Palestinians, who fled northern Gaza due to an Israeli military operation, shelter in the central Gaza Strip. (OSV News photo/Dawoud Abu Alkas, Reuters)
Cardinal Pizzaballa welcomes ceasefire talks as first step, urges prayer, perseverance
Father Alejandro López Cardinale, pastor of St. Benedict Parish in Somerville, Mass., processes into Mass during the meeting of the U.S. National Catholic Council for Hispanic Ministry in Rome in conjunction with the Jubilee for Migrants Oct. 3, 2025. (CNS photo/Lola Gomez)
Walking with migrants in the US: Pilgrims see, want to be signs of hope
Dan Bradley holds a 10-foot cross near the scene of a mass shooting which took place at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, in Grand Blanc, Mich., Sept. 29, 2025. (OSV News photo/Rebecca Cook, Reuters)
US bishops' president begs Americans to see Christ 'in every person,' reject political violence
Volunteers serve meals to guests at Catholic Charities’ St. Maria’s Meals program Aug. 20, 2025. Every Wednesday afternoon outside Catholic Charities headquarters in Washington, the St. Maria’s Meals program serves hot and nutritious meals to people experiencing homelessness or food insecurity. Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Washington has expanded its homeless shelter capacity in the District of Columbia as homeless encampments are being removed across the nation’s capital. (OSV News photo/courte
Catholic groups serving the poor call for action to end federal government shut down
St. Thérèse of Lisieux is pictured in an undated photo. She lived in France's northern Normandy region, where the famous French saint, born Jan. 2, 1873, lived and died. Catholics nationwide are invited to encounter St. Thérèse of Lisieux in a special way during an upcoming visit of her relics to the U.S. this fall beginning Oct. 1, the feast day of St. Thérèse, and concluding Dec. 8, the solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary. (OSV News photo/copyright © Archives du Carmel de Lis
Why St. Thérèse continues to inspire believers today -- especially those who suffer
Pope Leo XIV greets a woman at his weekly general audience in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican Oct. 1, 2025. (CNS photo/Pablo Esparza)
God never gives up on his children, even when they fail, pope says
Emergency personnel work at the scene of a shooting at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saint in Grand Blanc, Mich., Sept. 28, 2025. A gunman opened fire inside the church during a Sunday service and set the building ablaze, killing at least four people and injuring at least eight others. Police shot and killed the suspect, authorities said. (OSV News photo/Rebecca Cook, via Reuters)
At least four killed at church shooting one month after Annunciation attack
Pope Leo XIV, in choosing a theme for World Communications Day 2026, highlights the need to safeguard human voices and faces in the digital era, ensuring technology like artificial intelligence serves humanity rather than replacing it. In this file photo from June 14, 2025, Pope Leo greets people as they hold up cellphones to take photos and videos as he enters St. Peter’s Basilica for an audience with pilgrims in Rome for the Holy Year 2025. (CNS photo/Lola Gomez)
Pope's communications day theme focuses on using media responsibly
A person prays the rosary in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican in this file photo from May 8, 2025. (CNS photo/Lola Gomez)
Pope asks everyone to pray the rosary for peace throughout October
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