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

Austria to ordain more priests in 2025 than in previous years

Jun 20, 2025 / 06:00 am

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

CatholicVote names Kelsey Reinhardt new president 

Jun 19, 2025 / 17:33 pm

CatholicVote has named Kelsey Reinhardt as its new president following the appointment of the group’s co-founder, Brian Burch, as U.S. ambassador to the Holy See.

UPDATE: Classical Catholic high school in DC announces plans for second location

Jun 19, 2025 / 09:36 am

Demand from Catholic families has spurred the St. Jerome Institute, a classical liberal arts high school in Washington, D.C., to announce plans for a second campus.

After 4 months on life support, Georgia woman delivers 1-pound baby boy

Jun 17, 2025 / 16:26 pm

A Georgia woman who was declared brain dead in February has given birth after four months on life support. 

Nearly half of Americans have a connection to Catholicism, new report finds

Jun 17, 2025 / 06:00 am

Nearly 50% of adults in the U.S. have some connection to the Catholic faith, according to new data from Pew Research. 

Up to 200 displaced Nigerian Christians killed in ‘worst’ attack yet

Jun 16, 2025 / 17:01 pm

Islamist militants killed up to 200 Nigerian Christians on Friday in what international aid organizations are calling the “worst killing spree” in the region yet.

House launches probe of Catholic nongovernmental organizations’ role aiding migrants

Jun 13, 2025 / 18:09 pm

Catholic Charities USA and the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops are among those named in the investigation.

Gallup poll says many Americans think U.S. is becoming more religious

Jun 13, 2025 / 15:39 pm

“Thirty-four percent of U.S. adults believe religion is increasing its influence in American life, similar to the 35% measured in December, ...” the latest Gallup poll reads.

China recognizes Pope Leo XIV’s first bishop appointment

Jun 13, 2025 / 07:00 am

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

French president to push social media ban for children under 15

Jun 12, 2025 / 17:08 pm

French President Emmanuel Macron has joined other European and North American leaders in a call for age verification requirements for social media.

Report: Irish Church abuse allegations jumped 50% in 1 year

Jun 11, 2025 / 18:18 pm

Child abuse allegations in the Irish Church reached their highest level since 2009 following a probe into Church-run school abuses.

Fidelity Month kickoff event in Congress promotes renewal of country’s ‘common bonds’

Jun 11, 2025 / 09:54 am

Fidelity Month bills itself as “a positive, grassroots movement to heal division and restore unity in our nation.”

Cardinal Ambongo appeals to Trump: ‘Africa is important to the U.S.’

Jun 10, 2025 / 15:19 pm

Cardinal Fridolin Ambongo, the archbishop of Kinshasa in the Democratic Republic of Congo, asked President Donald Trump this weekend to reinstate foreign aid to Africa.

Pew report: How the global religious landscape changed from 2010 to 2020

Jun 9, 2025 / 18:08 pm

The latest Pew report found that Islam outpaced every world religion in population from 2010 to 2020, though Christianity remained the largest globally.

Pope Leo XIV to leaders of ecclesial movements: ‘Christian life is not lived in isolation’

Jun 6, 2025 / 16:00 pm

Christians must not attempt to live out the promises of Christ alone, Leo told a delegation in Rome for the Jubilee of Ecclesial Movements, Associations, and New Communities.

Petition to Pope Leo XIV to remove German cardinal gains over 60K signatures

Jun 6, 2025 / 08:00 am

Here’s a roundup of Catholic world news from the past week:

Catholic Charities of Chicago uses a pro-abortion lobbying firm: cooperation with evil?

Jun 5, 2025 / 10:00 am

Since 2022, Catholic Charities of Chicago has contracted with Cozen O’Connor Public Strategies to lobby on its behalf before the State of Illinois.

Pope Leo XIV has phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin

Jun 4, 2025 / 17:06 pm

“The pope made an appeal for Russia to take a gesture that would favor peace, emphasizing the importance of dialogue,” Vatican Press Office Director Matteo Bruni said.

Australia’s Archbishop Fisher declares ‘second spring’ of faith in Sydney and beyond

Jun 3, 2025 / 15:20 pm

The Archdiocese of Sydney welcomed a record 384 catechumens and candidates in March, marking a 30% increase from the previous year.

Remembering the Supreme Court case that saved Catholic education in America 

Jun 3, 2025 / 11:01 am

It has been 100 years since the Supreme Court handed down its decision in Pierce v. Society of Sisters, the landmark case that preserved Catholic education in America.