Most Popular News Within Last 30 Days
Nuncio, Vatican newspaper pay tribute to slain Congolese prelate, 30 years after assassination
The apostolic nuncio to the Democratic Republic of the Congo paid tribute to the Servant of God Archbishop Christophe Munzihirwa Mwene Ngabo, S.J. (1926-1996), at a conference marking the 30th...
Belarus priest sentenced to 3 years for speaking out against Russian invasion of Ukraine
A 66-year-old Belarusian priest was sentenced to three years in prison in a closed-door trial on charges of “insulting the authorities” and “extremism.”Father Anatoly Parakhnevich, 66, denounced the Russian invasion of Ukraine, advocated for peace, took up a collection to aid Ukrainian refugees, and called on Belarus to repent for its support for the invasion. The priest, jailed in March, has suffered a heart attack.
Vatican newspaper: Haiti’s postponed elections are ‘symbol of a broken promise’
The Vatican newspaper published a front-page article lamenting the postponement of Haiti’s elections amid mounting gang violence. “Haiti is a country balanced on the edge of an abyss,...Brother of slain Catholic official urges West to act against persecution in Pakistan
Peter Bhatti, the brother of the Servant of God Shahbaz Bhatti (1968-2011), said that “neither the U.K. nor any other Western government is doing enough for the persecuted Christians of Pakistan.”Shahbaz Bhatti, Pakistan’s Federal Minister for Minorities Affairs, was assassinated by members of the Taliban. His brother said earlier this week that “the West needs to promote interfaith harmony in Pakistan so everyone can live together. Unless the West talks seriously with the Pakistani government that won’t happen.”
Venezuela’s bishops call for free elections
Citing “polarization, a lack of institutional integrity, and restrictions on democratic guarantees,” the bishops of Venezuela called for “free and transparent elections, with an impartial National Electoral Council (CNE) and an independent Supreme Court of Justice (TSJ), so that due process is guaranteed, disqualifications are brought to an end, and the political rights of all citizens are respected.”Delcy Rodríguez, Nicolás Maduro’s vice president, has been the nation’s acting president since U.S. forces removed Maduro from office in January. The bishops welcomed “greater freedom of expression for the mass media” since January, even as they said that “many actions still need to be taken to restore citizens’ rights.”
Curbing infections, not people—Part I
An exclusive CWN report by Phil Lawler The Covid epidemic exposed a grave weakness—in far too many cases a fatal weakness—in our health-care system. Because public-health experts...5 Franciscan martyrs beatified in Georgia; Pope hails their example
Five Franciscan friars who were martyred in modern-day Georgia in 1597 were beatified on October 31. More than 10,000 people attended the Mass (video, 58:00), which took place in the Savannah...Nigerian police rescue abducted priest
Police in Benue State, Nigeria, rescued Father John Inalegwu Otache from captivity.The priest was abducted on October 13. Police also rescued seven other recent kidnapping victims and arrested two suspects.
Another priest is kidnapped amid Nigeria’s security crisis
The Diocese of Otukpo, Nigeria, appealed for prayers for Father John Inalegwu Otache after he was abducted on October 13.Father Otache is the second priest kidnapped from his parish. The first, Father Anthony Adikwu, was abducted in June 2023 and rescued days later.
Over 200 Nigerian priests have been kidnapped since 2015.
Update (10/20/26): Nigerian police have rescued Father Otache.
Papal prayer for victims of Kraków attack
Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Secretary of State of His Holiness, sent a telegram of condolence to the cardinal archbishop of Kraków, Poland, after a mass shooting left seven dead.“His Holiness Leo XIV, deeply saddened at the news of the victims and injuries caused by the shooting in Krakow, wishes to express his spiritual closeness in the Risen Christ to those who have been affected by this tragedy,” Cardinal Parolin wrote.
“Invoking the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Queen of Poland, the Holy Father implores the gift of Christian hope for families overcome by grief and joins with all those who are mourning during these days,” he added.
