Catholic News
- Pope Leo: 'Minimal righteousness is not enough; great love is needed' (CWN)
Speaking to pilgrims gathered in St. Peter’s Square for his Sunday Angelus address, Pope Leo XIV emphasized today that “the Gospel offers us this valuable teaching: minimal righteousness is not enough; great love is needed” (video). - Pontifical academy devotes annual assembly to universal health care; speakers differ on abortion 'rights' (CWN)
The Pontifical Academy for Life is devoting its 2026 assembly to the theme of “Healthcare for all: Sustainability and Equity.” - 4 leading European prelates call on continent to 'rediscover its soul' (Chiesa Cattolica Italiana)
The presidents of the episcopal conferences of France, Germany, Italy, and Poland called upon Europe to “rediscover its soul in order to be able to offer the whole world its indispensable contribution to the ‘common good.’’” “The founding fathers of [post-World War II] Europe, Robert Schuman, Konrad Adenauer and Alcide De Gasperi, inspired by their Christian faith, were not naïve dreamers, but the architects of a magnificent, albeit fragile, building,” the prelates said. “Europe cannot be reduced to an economic and financial market, on pain of betraying the initial vision of its founding fathers.” The prelates added: The world needs Europe. This is the urgency that Christians must make their own in order to be able to commit themselves decisively, wherever they are, to its future with the same lively awareness as the founding fathers ... In the name of their faith, Christians are called to share with all the inhabitants of the European continent their hope for universal brotherhood. - Embody the essence of Christianity and the 'style of the early Church,' Pope tells Rome's military police (Dicastery for Communication)
Pope Leo XIV encouraged members of Rome’s Carabinieri (military police) to “rediscover the essence of the Christian message and the style of the early Church, in order to embody them in our very different, and much more complex world.” “I think of the dawn of Christianity in this city, when the Good News of Jesus began to circulate in various circles, including the army: a new way of living and thinking, a God who is love, mercy, forgiveness; a fraternity among all men and women that transcends every social and ethnic difference,” Pope Leo said during the audience, which took place on February 13 in Consistory Hall of the Apostolic Palace The Pope added: Dear friends, you are military personnel and you know well what hierarchy, command and obedience mean. We also use these words in the Church, transformed by the newness of the Gospel. And, similarly, the Gospel, throughout the centuries, has permeated the structures, criteria, and ways of acting and thinking of the civilizations where it penetrated; it did so not with a violent revolution, but with a peaceful transformation, from within, through consciences, the conversion of hearts. In this way the Gospel has brought the meaning of God and of humanity everywhere: absolute respect for life and for the human person, along with the worship of God, and Him alone. - Archbishop Moth, at Westminster installation Mass, calls for prayer, evangelization (Diocese of Westminster)
Archbishop Richard Moth was installed today as archbishop of Westminster, England’s leading see (video). “It is from the Eucharist and from prayer that our work of evangelization flows, for evangelization is a call to a relationship, the relationship with the person of Jesus Christ,” Archbishop Moth preached. “The seventy-two had walked with Jesus, sat with Him, listened to Him. We must, therefore, walk with Jesus on the journey of prayer, listen to Him in the Scriptures, sit with Him in Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, welcome Him in the Eucharist.” Archbishop Moth, 67, was formerly bishop of Arundel and Brighton (2015–25). He succeeds Cardinal Vincent Nichols, 80, who had governed the see since 2009. - Vatican offers 'dialogue' with SSPX, warns against ordinations [News Analysis] (CWN)
At a February 12 meeting with Father Davide Pagliarani, the superior general of the Society of St. Pius X (SSPX), Cardinal Victor Fernandez proposed a “theological dialogue” with the traditionalist group—but insisted that the SSPX must abandon its plan to proceed with the ordination of new bishops without a papal mandate. - USCCB invites parishes to 250 hours of adoration, 250 works of mercy for nation's anniversary (USCCB)
The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) invited parishes and individuals to contribute to a collective 250 hours of Eucharistic adoration and 250 works of mercy for the nation’s 250th anniversary. “Parishes can participate in 250 hours of adoration together by offering a Holy Hour on a weekly or monthly basis leading up to the July 4 anniversary,” the bishops’ conference explained. “While 250 hours seems like a lot, each person present constitutes an hour prayed.” - Argentinian archdiocese opens canonical investigation into transgender marriage (Catholic Herald)
The Archdiocese of Corrientes, Argentina, has opened a canonical investigation into a wedding of a transgender couple that took place in one of its parishes. One of the spouses is a man who presents himself as a woman; the other is a woman who presents herself as a man. The parish priest said that he had consulted with Archbishop José Adolfo Larregain, OFM, and that the prelate had found no canonical impediment to wedding because they were of opposite sexes. - Federal court orders access for clergy, nun to ICE facility on Ash Wednesday (Religion Clause)
A federal district court ordered US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to permit members of a liberation theology organization and other plaintiffs to distribute Holy Communion at an Illinois ICE facility on Ash Wednesday. The plaintiffs who sought access to the facility include two priests, a religious sister, and the Coalition for Spiritual and Public Leadership, which describes itself as “merg[ing] liberation theology and community organizing.” - Nigerian priests protest against Fulani violence (Fides)
Priests from two dioceses in Nigeria’s Taraba State (map) protested on February 12 against violence perpetrated by members of the predominantly Muslim Fulani people. “More than 80 people have been killed, many more injured, over 200 communities and churches destroyed, and more than 90,000 Christians have been forced to leave their homes,” said Father James Yaro of the Diocese of Wukari. “They have also committed countless atrocities, including rape, and sometimes they block roads and kill innocent farmers.” - Arson attack on German Baroque church (OIDAC Europe)
Two arsonists recently lit fires at the entrance and on the altar of St. Peter’s Church in Huttenheim, a small town in the German state of Baden-Württemberg. The fires were extinguished before they could cause extensive damage. The Baroque church was dedicated in 1763. - Pope Leo abolishes Pontifical Committee for World Children's Day (Vatican News)
In a February 13 chirograph, Pope Leo XIV abolished the Pontifical Committee for World Children’s Day, established by Pope Francis in November 2024, with Father Enzo Fortunato, OFM Conv, as chairman. Pope Leo transferred the committee’s functions to the Dicastery for the Laity, Family and Life. - USCCB president joins other bishops in outcry over Notre Dame appointment (OSV News)
At least nine bishops have joined Bishop Kevin Rhoades of Fort Wayne—South Bend, Indiana, in criticizing the University of Notre Dame for its appointment of an abortion advocate as director of the university’s Liu Institute for Asia and Asian Studies. “I fully support Bishop Kevin Rhoades in his challenge to Notre Dame to rectify its poor judgement in hiring a professor who openly stands against Catholic teaching when it comes to the sanctity of life, in this case protection of the unborn,” Archbishop Paul Coakley of Oklahoma City, the president of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, said on February 13. - Cuba's bishops postpone visit to the Vatican (Conferencia de Obispos Católicos de Cuba)
The Conference of Catholic Bishops of Cuba announced the postponement of the bishops’ long-planned ad limina visit to Rome, scheduled for February 16-20. The bishops cited the “worsening of the socio-economic situation of the country, which has generated instability and uncertainty in large sectors of the population.” The bishops also “reiterated their communion with the Pope and their spiritual closeness to all the people of God, renewing their commitment to prayer and service.” - Baltimore archbishop, in pastoral letter, calls for 'renewed political culture' (Archdiocese of Baltimore)
Archbishop William Lori of Baltimore, the first diocese established in the United States (1789), has issued a pastoral letter, “In Charity & Truth: Toward a Renewed Political Culture,” for the nation’s 250th anniversary. The 29-page letter has 22 sections, including “Charity, Unity, and Patriotism – The Witness of Blessed Michael McGivney” and “The Spiritual Crisis Beneath the Political Crisis.” “May the next 250 years of our nation be marked by greater justice, deeper solidarity, renewed trust, and a profound respect for the dignity of every human person,” he concluded. “May the Church—in the Premier See of Baltimore and throughout the United States—be a leaven of unity and a witness of hope in a world thirsting for both. May God bless you and may God bless the United States of America.” - Croatian sister named deputy director of Holy See Press Office (Vatican Press Office)
Pope Leo XIV appointed Sister Nina Benedikta Krapić, MVZ, as deputy director of the Holy See Press Office. She will succeed Cristiane Murray, the Brazilian journalist whom Pope Francis appointed to the position in 2019. Born in Croatia in 1989, Sister Krapić earned her law degree in 2015 and led the communications office of the Archdiocese of Rijeka. In 2023, she professed her vows as a Sister of Charity of Saint Vincent de Paul and began to work in the Vatican’s Dicastery for Communication. Sister Krapić will assume her new position on March 1. The director of the Holy See Press Office is Matteo Bruni; the office is part of the Dicastery for Communication. Reacting to the appointment, the dicastery’s prefect, Paolo Ruffini, praised Murray’s “dedication and professionalism” and Sister Krapić’s “great professional and human qualities.” - Irish bishops' conference reports 16% rise in couples preparing for marriage (Irish Catholic Bishops' Conference)
The Irish Catholic Bishops’ Conference reported a 16% rise in couples attending marriage-preparation programs, compared to the previous year. In 2025, the Accord marriage-preparation program, “in the Republic of Ireland, outside of the Dublin area, provided 239 programs for 3,612 couples, and increase of 16%, or 505 couples, over 2024,” according to the bishops’ conference. - Vatican newspaper highlights plight of victims of Kenya's environmental redevelopment projects (L'Osservatore Romano (Italian))
L’Osservatore Romano devoted prominent front-page coverage in its February 13 edition to the plight of the victims of environmental redevelopment projects in Nairobi, Kenya’s capital. Father Ettore Marangi, who ministers in a Nairobi slum, spoke with the Vatican newspaper about the government’s destruction of makeshift shacks of at least 40,000 slum inhabitants. Ilaria De Bonis reported: 136 euros: that’s how much a house in Nairobi’s illegal settlements is worth. Or rather, this is the compensation—when it exists, which is almost never—offered by the Nairobi government to citizens who lose their homes, demolished following recent environmental redevelopment projects. Receiving a sum of money after losing one’s home is, however, a rare exception. More often than not, one ends up on the streets. - Vatican to mark 400th anniversary of dedication of St. Peter's Basilica (Vatican Press Office)
The Vatican will commemorate the 400th anniversary of the dedication of St. Peter’s Basilica (November 18, 1626) with special initiatives, the Holy See Press Office has announced. At a February 16 press conference, the basilica’s archpriest, Cardinal Mauro Gambetti, OFM Conv, will present “several activities of a spiritual and cultural nature,” as well as “new services which will be made available to pilgrims and visitors,” according to the announcement. - Ukrainian Catholic leader thanks Pontiff for support (Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church)
Major Archbishop Sviatoslav Shevchuk, the head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, met with Pope Leo XIV on February 12 and thanked him for his support for Ukraine, according to a statement from the Eastern Catholic church. The Major Archbishop also thanked him for the Vatican’s diplomatic efforts, updated him on developments in the life of his church, and handed him lists of prisoners of war and missing persons. The February 12 meeting was the second private meeting between the Pope Leo and the Major Archbishop, and the first since May. - More...