Madalaine Elhabbal

Madalaine Elhabbal

Madalaine Elhabbal is a staff reporter for Catholic News Agency, based at the Washington, D.C. headquarters of EWTN News.

Articles by Madalaine Elhabbal

Jerusalem Church leaders welcome Gaza ceasefire

Oct 17, 2025 / 06:00 am

Here is a roundup of Catholic world news from the past week that you might have missed.

Ecumenical coalition urges Trump to crack down on Nigeria

Oct 16, 2025 / 13:18 pm

Christian leaders urged President Donald Trump on Oct. 15 to redesignate Nigeria as a country of particular concern.

Georgetown University taps Eduardo Peñalver as new president

Oct 15, 2025 / 18:22 pm

Georgetown University has named Eduardo Peñalver, president of Seattle University and former dean of Cornell Law School, as its 49th president. 

Latin patriarch of Jerusalem speaks out after first phase of peace deal completed

Oct 15, 2025 / 17:51 pm

The Latin patriarch of Jerusalem said Catholics in Gaza “still cannot believe they were able to sleep through the night without hearing the sound of bombs.”

Israelis, Gazan Christians, Catholics in U.S. weigh in on historic peace deal

Oct 11, 2025 / 08:00 am

Former Israeli government officials, representatives for the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem, and Catholic advocates for Israel spoke with EWTN News this week.

Ancient traces of St. Mark reveal Christianity’s deep roots in Libya

Oct 10, 2025 / 06:00 am

Here is a roundup of Catholic world news from the past week that you might have missed.

Report to UN calls for global ban on surrogacy

Oct 9, 2025 / 17:41 pm

The U.N. Special Rapporteur on Violence Against Women and Girls with ADF International opposed surrogacy at an Oct. 9 U.N. event hosted by the Italian government.

Pope Leo XIV to supporters of migrants in U.S.: ‘You stand with me, and I stand with you’ 

Oct 8, 2025 / 17:13 pm

Pope Leo XIV became “visibly emotional” upon receiving messages on Oct. 8 from immigrants fearing deportation in the United States, a member of a U.S. delegation said. 

Members of Congress, USCIRF push to designate Nigeria as country of particular concern

Oct 6, 2025 / 17:43 pm

Members of Congress and the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) are pushing to designate Nigeria as a country of particular concern.

Milwaukee archbishop open to granting Mass dispensation for migrants

Oct 3, 2025 / 17:16 pm

Milwaukee could become the third U.S. diocese to lift Mass obligations for immigrants fearing deportation.

Seminary administrators weigh in on downward trends 

Oct 3, 2025 / 13:35 pm

Seminaries are rethinking what formation should look like in the U.S. following reports that enrollment at graduate-level seminaries is continuing to decline.

Black Catholic leader condemns threats, ‘loss of civility’ after Kirk’s assassination

Oct 3, 2025 / 12:32 pm

The president of the National Association of Black Catholic Administrators decried the “loss of civility and respect” in public discourse.

Patriarch Raï praises Lebanon border communities for staying on their land

Oct 3, 2025 / 07:00 am

Here is a roundup of Catholic world news from the past week that you might have missed.

Cardinal McElroy calls for solidarity with immigrants lacking legal status

Sep 30, 2025 / 18:42 pm

Cardinal Robert McElroy described the Trump administration’s approach to immigration as “a comprehensive campaign to uproot millions of families.”

UPDATE: Pope Leo XIV wades into Durbin debate

Sep 30, 2025 / 15:36 pm

Pope Leo XIV said U.S. Sen. Richard Durbin’s record should be considered in its totality and that Americans should search together for the truth on moral questions.

Former Philippines president Rodrigo Duterte charged with murder

Sep 26, 2025 / 14:36 pm

Here is a roundup of Catholic world news from the past week that you might have missed.

Cardinal Vincent Nichols condemns words and symbols ‘co-opting Christianity’

Sep 25, 2025 / 16:48 pm

Cardinal Vincent Nichols, president of the Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales, and other English faith leaders condemned the “co-opting” of Christianity.

Study finds gaps in psychological screening of priesthood candidates

Sep 25, 2025 / 06:00 am

The Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate at Georgetown University conducted the study in collaboration with the McGrath Institute for Church Life at Notre Dame.

Opposition mounts to Archdiocese of Chicago plan to fete Durbin

Sep 24, 2025 / 18:08 pm

Opposition is mounting against Chicago Cardinal Blase Cupich’s decision to honor U.S. Sen. Richard Durbin, D-Illinois, with a “lifetime achievement award.”

Bishop Seitz kicks off National Migration Week’s ‘Cabrini Pledge’

Sep 23, 2025 / 17:59 pm

The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops has launched the “Cabrini Pledge” intended to help Catholics in “witnessing to the God-given dignity of every person.”