Stories for week of February 15, 2026

Ordered from most to least recent.

Released Saturday, Feb. 21

 Adult baptisms surge in Belgium
 Cardinal Dolan, in wide-ranging interview, discusses Trump administration, Mayor Mamdani, synodality
 Argentine archbishop declares marriage between transgender persons null
 USCCB: $38.3B ICE detention expansion is a ‘moral inflection point for our country’
 Pope encourages youth of Los Angeles to open their hearts to God’s love in the Blessed Sacrament
 American bombing of Castel Gandolfo recalled
 New Stations of the Cross on display in St. Peter’s Basilica
 Priest brutally murdered in DR Congo
 Pakistani prelate: Lent and Ramadan call Christians, Muslims to interfaith harmony
 Tanzania’s Cardinal Pengo dies at 81
 Synod establishes commission to propose revisions to Eastern canon law
 Pope fields questions from Roman priests, urges them to avoid AI in preparing homilies
 Franciscan friar describes widespread suffering in Gaza, departure of Christians from Bethlehem
 4 economists, in Vatican newspaper, reflect on Pope Leo’s Dilexi Te

Released Friday, Feb. 20

 Vatican message to Muslims: Do not yield to despair or violence, but seek peace
 Bishops from US, Latin America, Canada call for policies that safeguard migrants
 San Diego Chaldean bishop accused of embezzlement, brothel visits, amid Vatican investigation
 Georgia martyrs, slain for defending marriage, to be beatified in Savannah this October
 Gen Z men, highly educated lead return to religion
 Ghana’s bishops issue ‘urgent call’ to rescue nation’s cocoa sector
 ‘God does not need papers,’ Cardinal Cupich preaches on Ash Wednesday
 Jihadist fighters torch 7 villages in Nigeria
 Vatican prefect: Fast from ‘bulimia’ of words
 Ecumenical Patriarch’s Lenten message emphasizes asceticism
 Exhibit marks 100th anniversary of Pope Benedict’s birth
 Côte d’Ivoire bishop transferred, named auxiliary bishop after fallout with clergy
 Vatican announces 6 papal trips in Italy between May and August, including Lampedusa on July 4
 Cardinal Reina alludes to ‘growing difficulties’ for Rome’s priests
 Vatican spokesman reflects on ‘our sin and the burden of a world that is in flames’
 Rekindle the fire within you, Pope tells Rome’s priests

Released Thursday, Feb. 19

 Be faithful to your charism and exercise authority as service, Pope tells Legionaries of Christ
 SSPX rejects Vatican offer, will proceed with episcopal ordinations
 Cardinal Ruini speaks bluntly in 95th birthday interview [News Analysis]
 Church desecrated in DR Congo
 USCCB issues invitation to ecological conversion
 New Jersey diocese announces $180M abuse settlement
 Cardinal Zuppi issues message to Muslims for Ramadan
 Custos highlights importance of Good Friday collection for the Holy Land
 Papal encouragement for Brazilian bishops’ Lenten campaign

Released Wednesday, Feb. 18

 Pope Leo: Peter’s Successor must retain his sovereign freedom
 Pope Leo recalls Christ’s 1st appearance to St. Faustina
 Ukrainian women tell Pope of prisoners of war
 ‘We recognize our sins so that we can be converted,’ Pope preaches at Ash Wednesday Mass
 Pope, in audience on Vatican II, reflects on the mystery of the Church
 US bishops, in religious liberty report, find 6 areas of ‘critical concern’
 Ohio diocese reports largest number of converts since 2014
 UK abortions at record level
 Remains of St. Francis to be visible for veneration in Assisi
 European bishops announce ‘Eucharistic chain’ for peace
 Holy Land’s Franciscan superior says young people are filling Syria’s churches
 New president of Pontifical Academy for Life defends focus on universal health care
 Cardinal Parolin praises financial giving, organ donation
 Jerusalem cardinal, in Lenten letter, calls for conversion and reconciliation
 Major Archbishop says Ukraine is converting to God, praises Pope Leo’s approach
 Holy See declines invitation to join President Trump’s Gaza Board of Peace
 ‘Still without peace’: Vatican newspaper publishes impassioned plea for Gaza

Released Tuesday, Feb. 17

 Opus Dei leader meets with Pontiff; revised statutes being studied
 Fresno bishop celebrates Mass in ICE detention center
 Vatican unveils initiatives to mark 400th anniversary of St. Peter’s Basilica
 Harvard professor named to pontifical academy
 Cabo Verde cardinal retires; successor named
 Some laity may have charism of authority, Cardinal Ouellet writes in reflection on Roman Curia
 Pope calls for global, preventive approach to health care; decries bombing of hospitals
 Promote public order and act with integrity, Pope tells Italy’s prefects
 Pope Leo: God’s commandments are not oppression, but liberation
 Pope visits Roman parish, meets with young, elderly, parish council

Released Monday, Feb. 16

 9 abducted Catholic children released in Nigeria
 Vatican bank launches stock investment indexes
 Philippine bishops call for ‘digital media fasting’ during Lent
 Pope confirms 30 members of Dicastery for Bishops
 Retired cardinal named administrator of Texas diocese
 Cabo Verde PM discusses climate change with Pope, presses for resident nuncio
 Humanitarian catastrophe looms in South Sudan; Cardinal Mulla, UN plead for reconciliation
 Frequent the sacraments and be active in charity, Pope tells Misericordie movement

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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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