Daily News

Morning must-reads

February 26

Vatican confirms Pope Leo’s trip to Spain, June 6-12

Madrid, Canary Islands, Barcelona; locals hope for 'revival'

IISS: Global defense spending was still rising in 2025

EU’s spending surged by 12.6 %, beating global average

Ivory Coast: Bishop transferred over letter on abuse

Case reveals view that addressing misconduct is scandal

Irish bishop criticizes synodality without doctrine

Says youth are 'not on fire with progressive questions'

Pope reflects on inculturation, Guadalupe as model

She is 'a lesson in divine pedagogy' for imparting truth

Alberta pushes back against Canada’s MAiD regime

Bill to prohibit it for mature minors, the mentally ill, more

February 25

Vatican announces papal trip to 4 African countries

Algeria, Cameroon, Angola, Equatorial Guinea, Apr. 13-23

Cdl. Müller joins Sarah in urging SSPX to submit to pope

Says heresies are overcome by those inside the Church

Wilmer succeeds Bätzing as German bishops' leader

He's been Germany-Rome intermediary for 'synodal way'

U.S. border bishops make immigration policy wish list

For due process, no masks, protected 'sensitive locations'

Pope reestablishes the episcopal hierarchy in Rome

Ends exceptions of episcopal vicars leading city's regions

At Notre Dame, students pray with Bp. Rhoades for life

Student: Campus majority wants strong Catholic identity

February 24

Mexican bishops urge faithful to 'prudence and prayer'

Amid violence in six states after military kills cartel boss

Cdl. Sarah calls SSPX to remain in unity & obedience

Says he who abandons the Chair of Peter leaves Church

Sydney archdiocese sees record number of converts

Echoing trends in some areas of Europe and the U.S.

India high court rules on burial in public cemeteries

Protects Christians' rights after exhumations in villages

Vermont backs down, will allow Christians to adopt

Parents won't be forced to endorse gender ideology

Kuwait Church signals goodwill to Muslims in Ramadan

Priests give out water, dates before sunset call to prayer

February 23

Crowds flock to Assisi to pray before St. Francis's bones

On view in glass box outside crypt where they usually rest

Amb. Huckabee: Israel has right to much of Middle East

13 Arab countries condemn such a 'dangerous' statement

Ash Wed. attack on Sacramento parish is thwarted

Off-duty detective stops gunman from entering church

Retired NY cardinal Dolan: I'm ‘spiritual granddad’ now

Admits anger that mayor didn’t attend Hicks’s installation

Varden warns on weaponizing Gospel in culture wars

At retreat, urges teaching of authentic spiritual warfare

Barcelona: Central tower of Sagrada Família completed

Interior work on structure will continue through 2028

February 20

SSPX rejects DDF offer, will proceed with ordinations

Leaders express mistrust in goals of proposed dialogue

Former head of Anglican seminary received into Church

Ward formed generations of clergy at St. Stephen’s House

San Diego Chaldean bishop accused of embezzlement

And 'questionable behavior,' amid Vatican investigation

St. Peter’s Basilica to deploy real-time Mass translations

In 60 languages, to be accessed by attendees on cellphones

U.S.: Gen Z men, highly educated lead return to religion

But amid budding revival, mainline Protestantism is sinking

Travertine quarries that built St. Peter’s are still in use

New projects incl.: Mormon temple in NYC, Riyadh airport

February 19

Pope: 'We recognize our sins so we can be converted'

Exhorts all to embrace 'missionary significance of Lent'

Latin Mass supporters rue SSPX ordination controversy

As Pope's reconsidering TLM, SSPX threw 'hand grenade'

Asian pilgrims to Fátima outnumber those of Americas

Indonesia, Vietnam among top-ten countries with most

Camden diocese announces $180M abuse settlement

For over 300 victims; bankruptcy process began in 2020

Belgium: Adult baptisms surge again, to 689 in 2026

Uptick does not offset ongoing drop in infant baptisms

Pakistan: Law to halt forced marriage of Christian girls?

Punjab sets minimum age to 18 and firms up penalties

February 18

Holy See declines to join Trump’s Gaza Board of Peace

Parolin: Its setup details 'leave us somewhat perplexed'

Rome: Pope Leo leads traditional 'Aventine procession'

Ash Wed. walk between two basilicas marks start of Lent

Bp. Rick Stika, former bishop of Knoxville, dies at 68

He resigned from office in 2023, citing health problems

Georgia martyrs to be beatified in Savannah Oct. 31

Franciscan missionaries killed by band of natives in 1597

New network offers lifeline to converts from Islam

Quietly provides pastoral care, sacraments, catechesis

8,000 babies have been saved via abortion pill reversal

Inquiries to APR hotline have risen along with pill use

February 17

Philippines bishops urge ‘digital media fasting’ for Lent

To create time for prayer, reading Scripture, works of mercy

Lawmakers to State Dept.: Restore visas for adoptions

Want categorical exemption, which was suspended last Dec.

Fresno bishop celebrates Mass in ICE detention center

Brennan: 70 attendees are 'my people' who need 'presence'

Notre Dame pro-life medal recipients lament 'betrayal'

Join call for president to rescind appointment of pro-abort

Pope names Catholic Harvard prof to Pontif. Academy

VanderWeele is director of Human Flourishing Program

St. Peter’s Basilica gets hi-tech upgrades for 400th anniv.

In translation services, more pilgrim access, conservation

February 16

Pope confirms 30 members of Dicastery for Bishops

Keeping continuity with Francis on episcopal appointments

Charlotte bishop releases video to urge evangelization

Secrecy in its buildup led to undue, avoidable controversy

Pontif. academy devotes assembly to 'Healthcare for all'

Some featured speakers at odds with Church on life issues

Ukrainian Catholic leaders speak of war at NYC conf.

Say amid much suffering, the faithful try to love and help

Newman Guide, NAPCIS merge to rate Catholic schools

NAPCIS certifies growing list of its member K-12 schools

At Munich, Rubio stresses common culture of EU, U.S.

Promotes unity based on 'shared Christian faith, heritage'

February 13

SSPX issues statement on meeting with DDF prefect

Says Fernández offered dialogue, warned on ordinations

Brooklyn diocese enters into mediation to resolve cases

Of 1,100 abuse claims; has already paid $100M since 2017

Cuban bishops postpone Vatican visit amid nat'l crisis

After gov't reported lack of fuel for commercial aircraft

NYC mayor meets Abp. Hicks after skipping installation

Mamdani is first Muslim and socialist mayor of the city

Pope issues 1st Lenten message, ‘Listening and Fasting’

'Place the mystery of God back in the center of our lives'

UK: Moth to be installed as Archbishop of Westminster

In all England & Wales, about 575,000 attend Sun. Mass

February 12

Religious Liberty Commissioner booted after hearing

Catholic asked if not pushing Zionism equals antisemitism

Israel reverses block of Caritas Jerusalem's aid in Gaza

Humanitarian arm of the Church in the Holy Land is back

Bishops join call for Notre Dame to rescind appointment

Of Ostermann, who has ripped pro-life as rooted in racism

Philippines bishop addresses parallel Lent & Ramadan

Invites Catholics, Muslims to 'pray together, work together'

Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria condemns mass killings

Says gov't that can't safeguard population loses authority

Catholics in Colombia bring relief to flood victims

Homes, farms destroyed; rainy season not yet begun

February 11

Religious Liberty Commission tussles over antisemitism

After Catholic member questions term's overbroad use

World Day of Prayer against Trafficking goes interfaith

Official vigil guide includes Muslim, Hindu prayers, more

Miss. diocese sends canonization documents to Vatican

For cause of Servant of God Sister Mary Thea Bowman

Group makes reparation in England’s lost churches

To pray for souls of past worshippers & for unity of Church

Shroud of Turin bas-relief hypothesis is challenged

On scientific grounds, as rebuttal in Archaeometry journal

New Catholic dating app has matchmaking feature

Allows singles to invite friend, family member into role

February 10

Pope outlines vision of the priests the Church needs

Those marked by brotherhood, fidelity to Church teaching

Secretary Rubio denounces Jimmy Lai’s 20-yr sentence

Calls it 'an unjust and tragic conclusion to this case'

Human trafficking continues to escalate in Africa

An estimated 9.2M people on the continent are enslaved

Vatican is sole EU country that still recognizes Taiwan

Taipei fears abandonment but expresses 'new hope' in Leo

Holy See to Peoria: Sheen beatification can proceed

Diocese working with Vatican dicastery to determine details

Brazil: Ban on Carnival costumes that mock Christianity

One of various local efforts to 'combat Christianophobia'

February 9

Pope meets with Courage ministry director Gannon

Leo 'very supportive'; they discussed how chastity heals

Archbishop Ronald Hicks is installed as NYC's shepherd

Sets course for ‘missionary Church, not a country club’

Hong Kong: Catholic Jimmy Lai sentenced to 20 years

Activist publisher of outspoken pro-democracy newspaper

Leo issues 'Life in Abundance' papal document on sports

Includes reflections by saints, popes & conciliar teachings

India's bishops choose Dalit cardinal as conf. president

A milestone for 'outcasts' of age-old four-tier caste system

CO bishop Golka named to lead Archdiocese of Denver

After announced retirement of Abp. Samuel Aquila, now 75