CatholicCulture.org - Catholic World News

Pope hails joy of Angola's people, denounces extractivism (CWN)

Sat, 18 Apr 2026 11:04:40 GMT

Pope Leo XIV arrived this afternoon in Angola, the third nation he is visiting during his apostolic journey to four African nations.

Pope Leo departs from Cameroon, says his remarks there did not refer to President Trump (CWN)

Sat, 18 Apr 2026 11:04:19 GMT

Following a farewell ceremony at Yaoundé Nsimalen International Airport (video), Pope Leo departed from Cameroon for Angola this afternoon.

Draw near to the suffering and the poor, as Jesus did, Pope preaches at final Cameroon Mass (CWN)

Sat, 18 Apr 2026 10:04:02 GMT

Pope Leo XIV traveled this morning from the nunciature in Yaoundé, Cameroon’s capital city, to Yaoundé Airport (video), where he celebrated an outdoor Mass (video)

Justice Department report confirms selective prosecution of pro-life activists [News Analysis] (CWN)

Thu, 16 Apr 2026 07:04:30 GMT

The US Department of Justice has released a report confirming that during the Biden administration, federal prosecutors “weaponized” their enforcement of the Freedom of Access to Clinics (FACE) Act, aggressively pursuing pro-life activists while downplaying criminal offenses by abortion supporters.

Kenya's bishops issue statement on political intolerance, threats to sanctity of life (Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops)

Sat, 18 Apr 2026 08:04:15 GMT

In a wide-ranging statement issued on April 16, the Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops warned against political intolerance and threats to the sanctity of life. The bishops also discussed health care, education, corruption, the defense of the institution of marriage, and voter registration.

The East African nation of 55.8 million (map) is 80% Christian (24% Catholic), 11% Muslim, and 8% ethnic religionist. Pope Francis made an apostolic journey there in 2015.

Societies flourish on the foundation of upright consciences that seek the truth, Pope tells university students (CWN)

Sat, 18 Apr 2026 07:04:38 GMT

Pope Leo XIV met with students and professors at the Catholic University of Central Africa (video) and told them that no society can “flourish unless it is grounded in upright consciences, formed in the truth.”

Vatican drops investigation of Spanish bishop accused of abuse (Crux)

Sat, 18 Apr 2026 11:04:26 GMT

The Dicastery for the Doctrine of Faith closed its investigation into an abuse allegation against retired Bishop Rafael Zornoza Boy of Cádiz y Ceuta, Spain.

A former seminarian alleged that the abuse began when he was 14 and continued for seven years. The dicastery reportedly closed its investigation “because it could not determine whether the victim was underage at the time of the alleged abuse,” Crux reported.

Bishop Zornoza, 76, retired last November and has denied the allegation.

Cuba's bishops defend Pope amid attacks (Conferencia de Obispos Católicos de Cuba)

Sat, 18 Apr 2026 10:04:49 GMT

The Conference of Catholic Bishops of Cuba released a statement of support for Pope Leo.

“At a time when the figure of the Pope has been the object of attacks and questioning, the Cuban bishops have wanted to publicly express their support and closeness,” the bishops’ conference stated. “In the midst of a world wounded by conflicts and wars, the Pope’s voice becomes a prophetic light that invites us to work for peace and to defend the poor and excluded.”

'Bring the bread of life to your neighbors,' Pope preaches in Cameroon's largest city (CWN)

Fri, 17 Apr 2026 07:04:29 GMT

Pope Leo XIV traveled today from Cameroon’s capital city of Yaoundé (video) to its largest city, Douala (video), where he celebrated Mass in Japoma Stadium.

US bishops urge DHS, ICE to avoid arrest, detention of pregnant mothers (USCCB)

Sat, 18 Apr 2026 09:04:44 GMT

The chairmen of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Committees on Pro-Life Activities and Migration asked the secretary of the Department of Homeland Security and the senior official of Immigration and Customs Enforcement to “avoid the arrest and detention of pregnant and postpartum mothers, absent exceptional circumstances.”

“Doing so would be consistent with this Administration’s recent pro-life actions,” said Bishop Daniel Thomas of Toledo, Ohio, and Bishop Brendan Cahill of Victoria, Texas.

Religious Liberty Commission holds final hearing (Religion Clause)

Sat, 18 Apr 2026 10:04:40 GMT

The Religious Liberty Commission, established by President Donald Trump last year, held its seventh and final hearing.

The “capstone hearing of President Trump’s Religious Liberty Commission contained more powerful testimony and discussion about how people of religion are under assault by the secular left,” said Texas Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick, the Commission’s chairman. “Next month, the Commission will deliver our recommendations to President Trump to ensure that Americans’ religious liberty is safeguarded against evil forces seeking to suppress them in our country.”

Two bishops are commissioners: Cardinal Timothy Dolan and Bishop Robert Barron. In addition, Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone, Bishop Thomas Paprocki, and Bishop Kevin Rhoades serve on the commission’s advisory board.

Vatican spokesman recalls papal statements on nuclear weapons (Vatican News)

Sat, 18 Apr 2026 08:04:18 GMT

Andrea Tornielli, editorial director of the Dicastery for Communication, published an editorial, “The Magisterium of the Popes and nuclear weapons.”

Tornielli cited statements by Venerable Pius XII, St. John XXIII, St. Paul VI, St. John Paul II, Pope Benedict XVI, Pope Francis, and Pope Leo XIV.

State of Maryland faces billions in liability from over 12,000 abuse claims (WBFF-TV)

Sat, 18 Apr 2026 11:04:02 GMT

Three years after the State of Maryland passed the Child Victims Act lifting the statute of limitations in child sex abuse cases, 12,305 abuse claims have been lodged against public school teachers, youth detention workers, and other government employees.

Last year, Moody’s downgraded the state’s bond rating amid growing fiscal concerns, and one state senator now estimates that the potential liability could approach $60 billion.

Belarus Supreme Court upholds liquidation of 3 Greek Catholic parishes (Forum 18)

Fri, 17 Apr 2026 10:04:42 GMT

The Supreme Court of Belarus upheld a lower court’s decision to liquidate three Eastern Catholic parishes.

“The three parishes first gained state registration in the 1990s,” Forum 18 reported. “Like all religious communities that wanted to continue to exist under the new Religion Law that came into force in July 2024, they were forced to seek re-registration. Officials of Brest Regional Executive Committee rejected their applications in 2025 and lodged the liquidation suits to court.”

The Eastern European nation of 9.5 million (map) is 82% Christian (63% Orthodox, 17% Catholic). An autocratic president, Alexander Lukashenko, has led the nation since 1994.

USCCB asks Catholics: Urge Congress to press for peace in Middle East (USCCB)

Sat, 18 Apr 2026 10:04:03 GMT

The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) asked the faithful to urge members of Congress to press for peace in the Middle East.

The USCCB suggested the following language in emails to members of Congress:

As a constituent and a Catholic, I echo the call of our Holy Father, Pope Leo XIV, to support an immediate ceasefire and a negotiated end to the conflict with Iran. I ask you to encourage the Trump Administration to avoid any escalation, especially actions that would endanger civilians or expand the war across the region.

Pope Leo XIV and the U.S. bishops have pleaded for peace and warned that targeting civilian infrastructure cannot be morally justified. Please press for diplomacy, a negotiated peace, and humanitarian protection of the innocent not just in Iran, but across the Middle East.

Pope meets with several Muslim leaders in Cameroon (Vatican News)

Fri, 17 Apr 2026 08:04:12 GMT

The director of the Holy See Press Office announced that Pope Leo XIV met with twelve Muslim leaders at the apostolic nunciature in Yaoundé, Cameroon’s capital, on the evening of April 16. The leaders have collaborated with the nation’s bishops in assisting the poor.

The Pope “encouraged those present to continue along this path of dialogue and to bring the same message and dream to others, to Muslims, and to all those who do not understand but can learn to see the beauty of fraternity, bringing great benefit to all of Cameroon,” according to Vatican News, the news agency of the Vatican’s Dicastery for Communication.

The central African nation of 31.8 million (map) is 58% Christian (28% Catholic), 22% Muslim, and 19% ethnic religionist.

Papal message to Italian Church officials: Respect freedom to prevent abuse (CWN)

Fri, 17 Apr 2026 08:04:14 GMT

Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Secretary of State of His Holiness, sent a message in Pope Leo’s name to a meeting of Italian Church officials devoted to abuse prevention.

Peruvian bishops' conference secretary general steps down after abuse allegations surface (OSV News)

Sat, 18 Apr 2026 11:04:24 GMT

The bishop of Huacho, Peru, stepped down as secretary general of the Peruvian bishops’ conference after a former seminarian alleged abuse and a priest who was his assistant alleged sexual harassment.

Bishop Antonio Santarsiero Rosa, O.S.I., 74, appointed bishop of Huacho in 2004, said that he categorically denied the allegations.

Journalist explores shift to 'conversation in the Spirit' at January consistory of cardinals (Diane Montagna's Substack)

Fri, 17 Apr 2026 09:04:02 GMT

In an article on the extraordinary consistory of cardinals in January, Vatican journalist Diane Montagna explored the unexplained shift from the expected traditional format—in which each cardinal can speak freely to the whole group at some length—to the “conversation in the Spirit” format, in which cardinals sat at 20 separate tables.

“What is not widely known is that Pope Leo XIV’s first extraordinary consistory was initially planned to follow the classical format,” Montagna reported. “But it was later reconfigured under somewhat mysterious circumstances, with no official explanation as to why the format changed, who was involved in the decision, or who ultimately organized the meeting.”

USCCB launches America 250 video series (USCCB)

Fri, 17 Apr 2026 09:04:58 GMT

The United States Conference of Catholic launched a video series devoted to the 250th anniversary of the American founding.

In the first episode, Dr. Michael Breidenbach, a history professor at Ave Maria University, discussed Catholics and the founding.