Nation & World

A member of the National Guard packs food at a Los Angeles Regional Food Bank facility Oct. 29, 2025, as nearly 42 million Americans face a potential lapse in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, known as food stamps, due to the second-longest U.S. government shutdown. (OSV News photo/Daniel Cole, Reuters)
Catholic ministries brace for millions of hungry Americans as SNAP deadline looms
A car drives near debris on a road in Kingston, Jamaica, Oct. 27, 2025, as Hurricane Melissa approached. The slow-moving hurricane, a Category 5 storm with winds of ranging from 175-185 mph, had already killed at least seven - three in Haiti, one in the Dominican Republic and three in Jamaica - ahead of making landfall Oct. 28 in southwestern Jamaica at about 1 p.m. ET. (OSV News Octavio Jones, Reuters)
Bishop: Jamaicans trust 'God is with us' through planet's worst storm of 2025
Some of the 100-plus Catholic pilgrims from the Diocese of Wilmington, Del., are headed to Italy from Philadelphia International Airport Oct. 26, 2025 for a pilgrimage led by Bishop William E. Koenig. Pictured from left to right are Father John Solomon and his mother and sister, Mary Solomon and Sister of Life Gianna Maria Solomon; Catholic American Airlines pilot Carol Stone; Sister of Life Amata Filia Dierschke; and Fathers James Gebhart, Joseph W. McQuaide IV and Joseph Piekarski. (OSV News photo/Bob Kre
Globe-trotting pilot says flying over 100 fellow Catholics to Rome a career highlight
This is the cover of Anthony DeStefano's new book "All Hallow's Eve." (OSV News screenshot/Sophia Press)
Children's book illustrates Catholic origins of Halloween
Pope Leo XIV presides over Mass as part of the Jubilee of Synodal Teams and Participatory Bodies in St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican Oct. 26, 2025. (CNS photo/Vatican Media)
Catholics must build a more humble church, seeking truth together, pope says
Charles Niece, the director of human rights and supply chain transparency, a Maryknoll project based in Taiwan, talks with workers as they leave work at a camera lens factory in Taichung, Taiwan, Oct. 24, 2024. (OSV News photo/Paul Jeffrey)
Maryknoll missionary trains migrant workers in Taiwan to defend their rights
Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh reacts during the first half of a pre-season game against the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, Aug. 16, 2025. (OSV News photo/Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images via Reuters)
For Baltimore Ravens head coach, faith is his anchor amid highs, lows of pro sports
A mother and her son kneel before a first-class relic of St. Carlo Acutis that was on display during St. Carlo Acutis Youth Day Oct. 18, 2025, at the National Shrine of Our Lady of Champion in Wisconsin. St. Carlo, who died Oct. 12, 2006, at age 15, was canonized by Pope Leo XIV on Sept. 7, 2025. (Sam Lucero photo)
At Wisconsin shrine, students encounter Lord through St. Carlo Acutis' example of holiness
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
St. Mark
Gospel of Matthew serves as bridge to Old Testament
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
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