Ukraine War

The Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered a full-scale invasion of Ukraine on Feb. 24, 2022. The Russian offensive triggered the largest refugee crisis since the Second World War. Thousands of people, including many civilians, have died in the war amid heavy fighting in the north, east, and south of Ukraine. The country is home to the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, the largest of the 23 Eastern Catholic Churches in communion with Rome. Pope Francis has said that the Vatican is willing to mediate an end to the conflict between the predominantly Eastern Orthodox nations.

The Latest

Queen Mathilde of Belgium is one of only a few women in the world who can wear white, rather than the customary black, when meeting the pope for an official private audience at the Vatican. She arrived at the Vatican’s Apostolic Palace with her husband, King Philippe of the Belgians, on Sept. 14, 2023, wearing a white mantilla veil and a white dress.

Why the Queen of Belgium can wear white when meeting the pope

Sep 14, 2023

By Courtney Mares

She has the “privilège du blanc,” a papal privilege currently granted only to Catholic royalty from Spain, Luxembourg, Belgium, Monaco,... Read more

Pope Francis and Cardinal Matteo Zuppi at the Vatican on Aug. 24, 2023.

Cardinal Zuppi heading to Beijing to discuss peace efforts in Ukraine

Sep 12, 2023

By Courtney Mares

Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni confirmed on Tuesday that the cardinal will be in the Chinese capital as the pope’s peace... Read more

Major Archbishop Sviatoslav Shevchuk, the leader of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, presides over a Divine Liturgy in St. Peter’s Basilica on Sept. 10, 2023.

Ukrainian Catholic leader offers Divine Liturgy in St. Peter’s Basilica

Sep 11, 2023

By Courtney Mares

Major Archbishop Sviatoslav Shevchuk said Sept. 10 that he wanted to express gratitude to the pope and Catholics everywhere for... Read more

Pope Francis and Major Archbishop Sviatoslav Shevchuk.

Vatican reassures Ukrainian Catholics that pope did not intend to praise Russian imperialism

Aug 29, 2023

By Alexey Gotovskiy, Courtney Mares

Pope Francis made the comment while speaking off the cuff during a live video conference with Russian youth Aug. 25.  Read more

Pope Francis meets with Hungary President Katalin Novák at the Vatican on Aug. 25, 2023.

Pope Francis discusses family values, Ukraine war with Hungarian president

Aug 25, 2023

By Courtney Mares

In the 45-minute meeting on Aug. 25, the pope and Novák spoke about the humanitarian situation in Ukraine and efforts... Read more

Marina Aleykseyeva, 31, from Kiev, Ukraine, (second from left with a pink baseball cap), together with fellow pilgrims from Ukraine, attended World Youth Day in Lisbon, Portugal, Aug. 1–6, 2023. She said they traveled to the international gathering to pray for peace in their country.

Ukrainian Catholics receive warm reception at World Youth Day 2023 in Lisbon

Aug 16, 2023

By Hannah Brockhaus

Marina Aleykseyeva, a Ukrainian pilgrim, said “it was unbelievable” how many people stopped them on the streets to say they... Read more

Pope Francis addresses reporters on Aug. 6, 2023 aboard the papal flight on his return to Rome from his five-day trip to Portugal and World Youth Day.

Pope Francis explains why he skipped Fatima prayer for peace

Aug 6, 2023

By Courtney Mares, Hannah Brockhaus, Daniel Ibañez

During his in-flight press conference, the pope also spoke about his health, youth suicide, and access to the sacraments. Read more

Pope Francis sits quietly during a meeting with students at the Portuguese Catholic University in Lisbon, Portugal, on Aug. 3, 2023.

Pope Francis confirms Vatican envoy’s visit to China in wide-ranging interview

Aug 4, 2023

By Jonathan Liedl

The pope also addressed “rigidity” in the Church and concerns about the Synod on Synodality. Read more

Pope Francis addresses the crowd in St. Peter’s Square in his Sunday Angelus on July 16, 2023.

Pope Francis calls Russia to renew Ukraine grain deal

Jul 30, 2023

By Hannah Brockhaus

“I appeal to my brothers, the authorities of the Russian Federation, that the Black Sea Initiative be restored and grain... Read more

Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher.

Vatican diplomat: Pope Francis ‘stubbornly believes in peace’ 

Jul 18, 2023

By Daniel Payne

Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher last week defended what he described as Pope Francis’ “strong and courageous” push for peace in... Read more

President of the Italian Bishops' Conference Cardinal Matteo Maria Zuppi (center) attends the consistory for the creation of new cardinals at St. Peter's Basilica on Aug. 27, 2022, in Vatican City.

Cardinal Zuppi to meet with President Biden to discuss Ukraine

Jul 17, 2023

By Jonathan Liedl

The visit to Washington comes weeks after the Biden administration announced it would send controversial “cluster bombs” to Ukraine. Read more

Cluster bomb.

Bishop expresses ‘moral concern’ over U.S. provision of cluster munitions to Ukraine

Jul 14, 2023

By Daniel Payne

The Defense Department announced last week it would be sending “additional security assistance to meet Ukraine’s critical security and defense... Read more

A photograph taken on July 3, 2022 shows an tail section of a 300mm rocket which appear to contained cluster bombs launched from a BM-30 Smerch multiple rocket launcher embedded in the ground after shelling in Kramatorsk, amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Biden administration to send cluster bombs to Ukraine: What has the Church said?

Jul 7, 2023

By Peter Pinedo

Cluster bombs are mass casualty arms that present a grave threat to civilians both because of their large impact area... Read more

Pope Francis’ envoy to Ukraine Cardinal Matteo Zuppi on June 6, 2023, finished a “brief but intense” two-day visit to Kyiv, which included a meeting with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

Papal envoy to Ukraine meets with President Zelenskyy, concludes ‘intense’ visit

Jun 6, 2023

By Kevin J. Jones

Pope Francis’ envoy to Ukraine Cardinal Matteo Zuppi on Tuesday finished a “brief but intense” two-day visit to Kyiv. Read more

Cardinal Matteo Zuppi of Bologna, Italy.

Cardinal Zuppi arrives in Ukraine to begin work as Vatican peace envoy

Jun 5, 2023

By Courtney Mares

Cardinal Matteo Zuppi arrived in Kyiv on Monday to carry out the peace mission entrusted to him by Pope Francis. Read more

Cardinal Matteo Maria Zuppi, archbishop of Bologna, was made a cardinal during the consistory of Oct. 5, 2019.

Vatican: Italian cardinal entrusted with Ukraine peace mission

May 20, 2023

By Hannah Brockhaus

Cardinal Matteo Zuppi has strong ties to the influential Sant’Egidio Community, which has helped negotiate reconciliation in countries like South... Read more

Metropolitan Anthony, chairman for external church relations of the Russian Orthodox Church, greets Pope Francis after his weekly general audience in St. Peter's Square on May 3, 2023.

Pope Francis greets Russian Orthodox metropolitan after audience

May 3, 2023

By Hannah Brockhaus

The brief encounter in St. Peter’s Square with Metropolitan Anthony took place days after the pope said secret peace talks... Read more

Pope Francis takes questions from the media aboard the papal flight from Hungary to Rome April 30, 2023.

Pope Francis says he did not lose consciousness before hospitalization in March

Apr 30, 2023

By Hannah Brockhaus

Asked about his health during the in-flight press conference, the 86-year-old pope said he felt bad on March 29 and... Read more

Ukraine Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal meets Pope Francis in a private, 30-minute encounter at the Vatican on the morning of April 27, 2023.

Ukraine’s prime minister asks Pope Francis to help bring back children taken to Russia

Apr 27, 2023

By Hannah Brockhaus

Ukraine’s prime minister told journalists Thursday that he has asked Pope Francis for help getting back children forcibly deported to... Read more

Pope Francis attended a Vatican screening of the 2022 documentary “Freedom on Fire: Ukraine’s Fight for Freedom” on Feb. 24, 2023.

Pope Francis to receive Ukraine’s prime minister on Thursday

Apr 24, 2023

By Hannah Brockhaus

The two last met at the Vatican in March 2021 amid clashes between Ukraine and Russia in the Donbas region. Read more

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The pillars of the South Portico of the White House are decorated in rainbow colors as guests attend a White House Pride Month celebration on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, D.C., on June 26, 2024.

Trump could end Defense Department’s promotion of gender ideology, abortion

Kash Patel speaks at the 2022 AmericaFest at the Phoenix Convention Center in Phoenix.

Trump taps Kash Patel to shake up the FBI

The rose window of Notre-Dame de Paris Cathedral is seen a few weeks before its reopening to the public scheduled for Dec. 7, 2024, on Oct. 25, 2024, in Paris.

U.S. President-elect Trump to attend Notre Dame Cathedral reopening in Paris

Nayib Bukele, president of El Salvador.

Catholic Church in El Salvador calls on president to maintain ban on gold mining

Close to the Pantheon in the heart of Rome, one of the city’s oldest and most popular ecclesiastical tailor shops — Ditta Annibale Gammarelli — is ready for the Dec. 7, 2024, consistory for the creation of new cardinals.

Rome’s famous tailor prepares for the Catholic Church’s new cardinals

A 17th-century Japanese depiction of St. Francis Xavier from the Kobe City Museum collection.

Remembering St. Francis Xavier’s missionary zeal

Missouri’s bishops said citizens can reach out to the governor’s office to express opposition to the pending execution of Christopher Collings, who was convicted of the 2007 abduction, rape, torture and murder of a 9-year-old girl. Collings is scheduled to be executed on Dec. 3, 2024.

U.S. Supreme Court declines to hear Missouri convicted murderer’s death row case

According to Venerable English College, during the Catholic persecution in England, students would gather around the “Martyrs’ Picture” in the chapel to sing the Te Deum — a Latin hymn of thanksgiving — whenever news reached Rome of the martyrdom of a former student. This custom continues today on Martyrs’ Day, Dec. 1, when the relics of the martyrs, preserved beneath the altar, are venerated by the students.

English seminary in Rome commemorates Martyrs’ Day on St. Ralph Sherwin’s feast

Smoke of war rises over a residential area in Aleppo. On Dec. 1, 2024, the Franciscan complex of the Terra Santa College in Aleppo was hit by a strike. No casualties were reported.

As Aleppo’s Christians face new ordeal, Church leaders call for courage and faith

The Reverend Mother Superior Teresa Agnes Gerlach of the Monastery of the Most Holy Trinity in Arlington, Texas.

Vatican suppresses Carmelite monastery following long-running controversy

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St. Francis Xavier
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