Catholic church

Pope Leo XIV challenges Illinois governor over end-of-life legislation

The Illinois bill, which takes effect next September, gives terminally ill adults with a prognosis of six months or less the option to request a medical prescription to end their lives.

|ByREUTERS
Pope Leo XIV addresses the crowd during a meeting with bishpops, priests consacrated persons and personal workers at the shrine of Our Lady of Lebanon in Harissa, northeast of the capital Beirut, on December 1, 2025.
President Isaac Herzog meets with Pope Leo XIV at the Vatican, September 4, 2025.

Israel's Herzog, Pope Leo discuss rise in worldwide antisemitism ahead of Christmas

The pope expressed his pride in Israel’s diverse and thriving Christian communities, who will gather at the President’s Residence in Jerusalem for an annual festive meeting in the coming weeks.

|ByESTHER DAVIS
Maronite Patriarch Bechara Boutros Al-Rai receives a chalice from Pope Leo XIV (R) at a Holy Mass during the pope’s first apostolic journey, in Beirut, on December 2.

Pope Leo decries leaders who invoke religion for violence and nationalism

"It has become increasingly common to drag the language of faith into political battles, to bless nationalism, and to justify violence and armed struggle in the name of religion," said the pope.

|ByREUTERS
A woman sits with a veil on a church pew, with others at St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York City, US, December 4, 2025.

New York Catholic Church agrees to mediation for 1,300 sexual abuse claims

The mediation to settle sexual abuse claims could result in one of the largest payouts ever by the church in the United States.

|ByREUTERS

Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem to be made cardinal in September

The new cardinals will come from countries including the United States, Italy, the pope's native Argentina, Hong Kong, and several others. 

JULY 9, 2023ByJERUSALEM POST STAFF, REUTERS
The Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem Pierbattista Pizzaballa arrives to the Church of the Nativity in the West Bank city of Bethlehem, on the eve of the Christmas holiday December 24, 2022.

Ex-nun sues Texas Catholic church after being fired for breaking vow of chastity

The former Catholic Nun is seeking 1 million USD after she was fired for having sexual interactions over the phone with a priest.

JULY 1, 2023ByJERUSALEM POST STAFF
Nuns hold their crosses during a mass to celebrate Pope Francis' 10th anniversary as pontiff, at the Buenos Aires Cathedral, in Buenos Aires, Argentina March 13, 2023.

US Catholic bishop resigns after investigation of abuse cover-up

Pope Francis accepted the resignation of a Tennessee bishop who was facing allegations that he had mishandled a sexual abuse investigation.

JUNE 27, 2023ByREUTERS
Pope Francis blesses attendees after celebrating Easter Mass at St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican April 4, 2021

Pope to meet clergy sexual abuse victims in Portugal

JUNE 6, 2023ByREUTERS
Pope Francis leads the Angelus prayer from a window of the Apostolic Palace at Saint Peter's Square, at the Vatican, February 27, 2022.

Vatican 'foreign minister' talks Middle East, Ukraine, China and antisemitism - interview

Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher discusses foreign policy and antisemitism with a representative from the American Jewish Committee.

JUNE 1, 2023ByLISA PALMIERI-BILLIG
PAUL RICHARD Gallagher, Vatican Secretary for Relations, meets with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the Vatican, earlier this month.

Catholics celebrate 'miracle' as body of long-dead nun found 'incorrupt'

Sister Wilhelmina Lancaster died at the age of 95 but 4 years later, her body seemingly hasn't decayed. This "incorruptibility" has in the past been seen as a sign of sainthood.

MAY 28, 2023ByJERUSALEM POST STAFF
A Catholic nun is seen praying (Illustrative).

Decades of alleged sexual abuse by Maryland priests detailed in report

The report described that history as one of "repeated dismissal or cover up of that abuse by the Catholic Church hierarchy."

APRIL 5, 2023ByREUTERS
Storm clouds pass over a Roman Catholic church in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S. August 14, 2018

Pope Francis has respiratory infection, needs hospital treatment

The Vatican said the 86-year-old pope had complained of breathing difficulties in recent days. It added that tests showed he did not have COVID-19.

MARCH 29, 2023ByREUTERS
Pope Francis attends the weekly general audience in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican, March 29, 2023.

Italian government tells Milan to stop registering same-sex couples' children

Italy legalized same-sex civil unions in 2016, overriding opposition from Catholics and conservatives, yet it fell short of giving them adoption rights

MARCH 14, 2023ByREUTERS
The rainbow flag, commonly known as the gay pride flag or LGBT pride flag, is seen during the first Gay Pride parade in Skopje, North Macedonia June 29, 2019

Widespread child abuse by Catholic Church members in Portugal is tip of iceberg - report

77% of the perpetrators were priests and most of the victims were boys.

FEBRUARY 13, 2023ByREUTERS
Storm clouds pass over a Roman Catholic church in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S. August 14, 2018