Departmet of State

The Latest

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry speaking during a press conference, Aug. 30, 2013.

Critics: global religious freedom report falls short of action needed

Jul 29, 2014

By Adelaide Mena

As the U.S. State Department releases its annual global religious freedom report, observers say that the government must take more... Read more

Latest news

Georgetown University President John DeGioia attends a ceremony at which an honorary degree was bestowed on AFL-CIO President John Sweeney on Sept. 3, 2009, in Washington, D.C.

Georgetown president John DeGioia to step down after 23 years

Pope Francis addresses pilgrims gathered for his Wednesday general audience on Nov. 20, 2024, in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican.

Pope Francis calls for study of Church history free from ideologies

Indian Christians pay their respects to the remains of St. Francis Xavier during the 17th exposition of the saint's body at the Se Cathedral in Goa on Nov. 22, 2014.

St. Francis Xavier’s relics draw 12,000 in Goa, India, for decennial exposition

Pope Francis signs two bottles of bourbon presented to him by Father Jim Sichko at the Vatican on May 1, 2024.

Bottles of bourbon signed by Pope Francis expected to fetch up to $20,000 for charity

null

No, ‘AI Jesus’ isn’t actually hearing confessions: fact check

Pope Francis meets with the Dicastery for Culture and Education at the Vatican on Nov. 21, 2024.

Pope Francis: Desire and Christian hope can overcome ‘dangerous plague’ of nihilism

From left: John Hinshaw, Jonathan Darnel, Lauren Handy, Joan Bell, and Jean Marshall are among the pro-life activists who are still in prison or awaiting prison sentences on federal charges brought by President Joe Biden’s Department of Justice for protests at abortion clinics — but President-elect Donald Trump has signaled he will likely grant them presidential pardons.

Meet the pro-life prisoners whom Trump is expected to pardon

St. John’s Cathedral in the Netherlands is lit up for Red Wednesday on Nov. 23, 2022.

Churches around the world lit up red in honor of persecuted Christians

Despite an online petition posted to change.org in mid-October that garnered over 53,000 signatures in protest of the evergreen to be used for the Vatican Christmas tree being chopped down, the tree arrived as scheduled in St. Peter’s Square at 7 a.m. on Nov. 21, 2024.

Vatican Christmas tree wreathed in controversy over environmental objections

Father Max Josef Metzger, a Catholic priest executed by the Nazi regime in 1944 for his peace activism and ecumenical work, was beatified Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024, in Freiburg, Germany.

Church beatifies German priest who was executed by Nazis in 1944

Liturgical Calendar Show this year
Nov 21
Feast of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Today's readings

TRENDING