Stories for week of February 01, 2026

Ordered from most to least recent.

Released Saturday, Feb. 7

 Background: World Day of Prayer and Awareness against Human Trafficking
 Sierra Leone’s bishops condemn attacks on priests, missions
 Acknowledge spiritual assistance in addressing mental health needs, Vatican diplomat tells WHO
 New archbishop appointed for Denver
 Pope Leo is ‘very supportive’ of Courage, apostolate’s leader says after papal audience
 Ahead of elections, Nepal prelate welcomes ideals of youth protestors
 Pope renews Church’s ‘urgent call’ to end human trafficking
 Pope Leo issues ‘Life in Abundance,’ the most extensive papal document on sports
 Cardinal Poola, 1st Dalit cardinal, elected president of Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India
 Pope Leo outlines his vision of Christian formation

Released Friday, Feb. 6

 Cardinal Farrell: Changing doctrine, structures is false ‘solution’ to problems in Church
 SSPX leader to meet with DDF prefect
 Pope, in video, prays for children with rare diseases
 Virginia bishop writes pastoral letter on mental health
 Ray Mouton, key figure in early days of clergy abuse crisis, dies at 78
 3 former Catholic Charities employees indicted in $2M fraud scheme
 New statutes approved for John Paul II Foundation for the Sahel
 Pope, Sant’Egidio founder discuss world conflicts, poverty
 Albania’s prime minister meets with Pontiff
 Let us ‘disarm our hearts’ to foster Christian unity, Pope tells Oriental Orthodox delegation
 Continue to speak out on behalf of the voiceless, Pope tells Catholic children’s advocates
 St. Agatha shows us true freedom, Cardinal Grech preaches in Catania

Released Thursday, Feb. 5

 Archbishop Weisenburger: ICE actions put America’s soul at risk
 Vatican diplomat weighs in on bioengineering, transplants of animal organs into humans
 Events announced for World Day of the Sick in Chiclayo, Peru
 Talitha Kum leader describes meeting with Pontiff as ‘sacred moment’
 Amid Russian bombings, Ukrainian Catholic diocese houses families
 USCCB president: New START’s expiration is ‘simply unacceptable’
 Restoration work begins on Michelangelo’s Last Judgment
 Bishop Varden to preach Lenten retreat to Pope, Curia
 Human fraternity is an urgent necessity, Pope writes in Zayed Award message
 Brazilian bishop transferred to smaller diocese
 Pope Leo exhorts pilgrims to read Sacred Scripture
 Pope Leo: St. Agatha recalls God’s goodness

Released Wednesday, Feb. 4

 Pope appeals for prayer for Ukraine, continuance of expiring Russia-US arms treaty
 Do not neglect Scripture’s human dimension or divine origin, Pope says at audience on Vatican II
 US Solicitor General backs Catholic parents and preschools in upcoming Supreme Court case
 Consider the lessons of history, US bishops write in Black History Month statement
 Cardinal McElroy warns that ‘the order of nature is eclipsing the order of grace’
 Vatican spokesman says talks with SSPX continue amid planned bishop consecrations
 California Catholic school holds reparation Mass following vandalism, desecration
 Pope Leo encourages India’s bishops to promote unity, brotherhood
 Nigerian bishop weights in on Christian persecution, US strikes on Islamic State militants
 Pope Francis’s secret decrees in spotlight in Vatican’s ‘trial of the century’
 Vatican announces commemorative medal for Pope Leo’s 1st year
 Bishop laments Russian actions in Central African Republic
 Zambia at a ‘crucial crossroad,’ bishops write in election pastoral letter
 Calendar of papal liturgies announced through Easter
 St. John Henry Newman added to General Roman Calendar as optional memorial

Released Tuesday, Feb. 3

 US bishops applaud expanded ‘Mexico City policy,’ back ‘robust funding’ for foreign assistance
 Catholic school ransacked, tabernacle desecrated in California
 Church attacked in Nigeria
 Cardinal Petrocchi named president of Vatican bank’s Commission of Cardinals
 ‘He felt my pain’: Irish abuse victim meets with Pope Leo
 Pope appoints 54-year-old as archbishop of Prague
 Cardinal Zenari, nuncio in Syria since 2008, retires
 Archbishop Gallagher concludes journey to Slovakia, hails Church-state relations
 Portugal’s president describes Pope Leo as ‘intelligent,’ ‘rational’ following meeting

Released Monday, Feb. 2

 Pope marks World Day for Consecrated Life, calls on religious to be prophets
 SSPX to ordain new bishops
 15 US bishops urge Senate to reject ICE funding
 Pontiff fills see that was vacant for 13 years
 Vatican newspaper laments ‘terrible situation’ in Myanmar, 5 years after coup
 Pope entrusts families of Swiss fire victims to Our Lady of Sorrows
 Cardinal Parolin marks 60 years of diplomatic relations between Malta, Holy See
 Papal prayer for victims of DR Congo mine collapse
 Pope expresses gratitude to his attendants
 Cuban bishops warn of risk of chaos and violence, call for greater political freedom
 Shun polarization, Pope tells Italian newspaper
 Pope sends 80th birthday wishes to Cardinal Christophe Pierre
 Papal prayers, solidarity for Portuguese storm victims
 Pope Leo: Images of saints remind us of universal call to holiness
 Reflecting on peace, Pope Leo says ‘greatest destroyer of peace today is abortion’
 Background: World Day for Consecrated Life

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Thu12 March
Lent

Thursday of the Third Week of Lent

Image for Thursday of the Third Week of Lent

Today, the mid-point of Lent, was celebrated with somewhat joyful spirit in ancient times. This day was a breathing space in the center of Lent’s austerities. Today’s ancient Entrance Antiphon and Opening Prayer express this encouraging spirit. Modern Lent is less austere, less in need of any breathing space.…

Learn more about this day.

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