Catholic church

Survivors of clergy sexual abuse reach $800m. settlement with New York Archdiocese

In addition to the $800 million settlement, the archdiocese agreed to release documents pertaining to sexual offenders in the Church.

Worshippers walk to a station during the Way of the Cross procession over the Brooklyn Bridge on April 03, 2026 in New York City.
Pope Leo on the day of a candlelight procession, at the Grotto of the Apparitions, also known as the Grotto of Massabielle, at the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes during his four-day apostolic journey to France, in Lourdes, France, September 27, 2026.

Pope Leo pledges action on clergy abuse after meeting French survivors

People attend a Holy Mass for the canonisation of Carlo Acutis, a British-born Italian boy who will become the first millennial to be made a Catholic saint, and Pier Giorgio Frassati, in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican, September 7, 2025

Jewish woman elected president of Catholic Biblical Association of America - interview

A faithful receives a blessing in front of the traditionalist Catholic Society of Saint Pius X (SSPX) in Econe, Switzerland, July 2, 2026.

A future pope will 'welcome us back', says priest from excommunicated antisemitic Catholic sect


'War is always a defeat': Pope calls to end wars in Gaza, Ukraine

"We should never forget that war is always a defeat," Pope Francis said.

 Pope Francis reacts during the weekly general audience in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican, March 20, 2024.

Pope Francis calls for studies into 'ugly' gender theory

"I have asked that studies be carried out into this ugly ideology of our times, which cancels out the differences and makes everything the same," the pope said.

 Pope Francis holds a weekly general audience in Paul VI hall, at the Vatican, August 30, 2023.

In Jerusalem, Catholics commemorate when Jesus was crowned with thorns

According to Christian tradition, Jesus was crowned with thorns on the day of his crucifixion. The thorns were meant to mock him for claiming to be the "king of the Jews."

 Feast of Thorns ceremony in Jerusalem.

Pope sees 'hypocrisy' in those who criticize LGBT blessings

He also stressed that such blessings do not amount to formal Church approval for same-sex unions.

 Pope Francis speaks during a meeting with members of Catholic Charismatic Renewal International Service (CHARIS) at the Paul VI hall at the Vatican, November 4, 2023

Pope says Africans are 'special case' when it comes to LGBT blessings

Blessings were allowed last month in a document called Fiducia Supplicans (Supplicating Trust), which has caused widespread debate in the Catholic Church.

 Pope Francis leads the weekly general audience in Saint Peter's Square at the Vatican, October 11, 2023.

Vatican eases rules on the ashes of the dead

In previous guidance from 2016, the Vatican said the ashes must be kept in "sacred places", and therefore neither at home, divided among family members nor scattered to the wind.

 St. Peter's Basilica in Vatican City.

Spain's Catholic Church to compensate sexual abuse victims

The Church had until now refused to compensate victims in cases where the abuser had died, a frequent occurrence.

 A church is seen on the day Portugal's commission investigating allegations of historical child sexual abuse by members of the Portuguese Catholic church will unveil its report, in Lisbon, Portugal, February 13, 2023.

Pope orders reopening of case of prominent priest accused of abuse

Allegations against Rupnik began surfacing in Italian media late last year, after which the Jesuit headquarters acknowledged that he had been banned in 2019 from hearing confessions.

 Pope Francis reacts as he attends a meeting at Palais du Pharo, on the occasion of the Mediterranean Meetings (MED 2023), in Marseille, France, September 23, 2023.

In a first, a Jewish organization opens an office at the Vatican

WJC said its “Kishreinu” initiative was a response to Nostra Aetate, the landmark 1965 document that modernized the relationship between the Roman Catholic Church, Judaism and other religions.

 World Jewish Congress President Ronald Lauder gives Pope Francis a a “Kishreinu” (Hebrew for “Our Bond”) document marking influence of the Catholic Church's Nostra Aetate declaration on Catholic-Jewish relations, Oct. 19, 2023.

Jerusalem Catholic Patriarch offers to be exchanged for Gaza hostages

Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa made his comment in response to a question during a video conference with journalists in Italy.

 Mgr Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem