Europe News

A painting depicts 10 members of the Order of the Immaculate Conception who were martyred in Spain in 1936.

Another 4,000 20th-century martyrs in Spain will be beatified in coming years, expert says

Oct 8, 2024

By Nicolás de Cárdenas

Spain has 3,500 beatified martyrs from the religious persecution of the 20th century and another 4,000 could also be beatified... Read more

The tomb of St. Faustina Kowalska (1905–1938) in Łagiewniki, Poland.

10 quotes on suffering and humility from the diary of St. Faustina Kowalska

Oct 5, 2024

By Francesca Pollio Fenton

On Oct. 5 Catholics around the world celebrate the feast of St. Faustina Kowalska, the polish nun who received the... Read more

Children with the Southwark Singing Programme sing the hymn “The Power of the Cross” at St. George's Cathedral in Southwark, London, Wednesday, July 3, 2024.

London archdiocese releases choir videos to share ‘power of worship through music’

Oct 4, 2024

By Daniel Payne

“The Church’s musical tradition is a treasure of inestimable value, and musicians have a duty to preserve this great tradition,”... Read more

Campaigners against assisted dying gather outside the Houses of Parliament ahead of a House of Commons vote that rejected the legislation on Sept., 11, 2015, in London. Members of Parliament have voted 330 to 118 against a bill that would have allowed doctors to help some terminally ill people end their lives. Campaigners from both sides of the debate gathered outside Parliament, holding placards and voicing their opinions ahead of the first House of Commons vote on assisted dying for 20 years.

Church leaders in UK call for ‘no’ vote on assisted dying bill

Oct 4, 2024

By Andy Drozdziak

U.K. Church and pro-life leaders have warned Prime Minister Keir Starmer that plans to introduce assisted suicide will put vulnerable... Read more

Pope Francis and King Philippe listen to a speech by Belgium Prime Minister Alexander De Croo during the pope's trip to Belgium in late September 2024.

Belgian prime minister criticizes Pope Francis for statements on abortion

Oct 4, 2024

By CNA Staff

Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo criticized Pope Francis for comments the pope made on abortion last week when he... Read more

Photos of King Baudouin and Queen Fabiola. When abortion was first legalized in Belgium in 1990, King Baudouin chose to abdicate from his duties as king of the Belgians from April 3 to 5 in order not to sign the bill into law. When Baudouin died at the age of 63 in 1993, he had reigned continuously for 42 years except for those three days.

Who is King Baudouin? Meet the king of the Belgians whom Pope Francis wants to canonize

Oct 4, 2024

By Peter Pinedo

Pope Francis called King Baudouin a man of faith who serves as an example for leaders today. Read more

Spanish theologian Cristina Inogés is among those designated by Pope Francis to participate in the Synod on Synodality.

Theologian participating in Synod on Synodality heralds heterodox views

Oct 1, 2024

By Nicolás de Cárdenas

Spanish theologian Cristina Inogés argued in a recent document that “Christianity should never have become a religion.” Read more

Saint Jerome Writing, a painting by Caravaggio, dated to 1605–06. Public domain.

Are modern Bible translations always better? A Catholic linguist praises St. Jerome’s Vulgate

Sep 30, 2024

By Jonah McKeown

The Vulgate became the predominantly used Bible of the Middle Ages and has endured to this day. Read more

Pope Francis speaks aboard the papal plane on Sunday, Sept. 29, 2024.

Pope Francis responds to critics of comments he made in Belgium about women

Sep 29, 2024

By CNA Staff

“A woman is more important than a man, but it is terrible when a woman wants to be a man:... Read more

Pope Francis prays during Mass at King Baudouin Stadium in Brussels, Belgium, Sunday, Sept. 29, 2024

In Belgium, Pope Francis gives strong warning over scandal of abuse, cover-up

Sep 29, 2024

By Hannah Brockhaus

The Holy Father urged the Belgian bishops to bring the evil of abuse to light and not to cover up... Read more

Pope Francis prays on Sept. 28, 2024, at the tomb of Belgian king who chose to abdicate rather than sign an abortion law.

Pope Francis lauds Belgian king who chose to abdicate rather than sign abortion law

Sep 28, 2024

By Courtney Mares

The pope also expressed hope that the sainthood cause for King Baudouin, who ruled as King of the Belgians from... Read more

Addressing more than 2,500 priests, deacons, religious sisters, seminarians, catechists, and bishops gathered inside the National Basilica of the Sacred Heart in Brussels on Sept. 28, 2024, Pope Francis emphasized the urgency of evangelization in Europe.

Pope Francis in Belgium: ‘Crisis of faith’ in the West requires a return to the Gospel

Sep 28, 2024

By Courtney Mares

The pope addressed more than 2,500 priests, deacons, religious sisters, seminarians, catechists, and bishops gathered inside the National Basilica of... Read more

Pope Francis meets with academics at KU Leuven, a Belgian Catholic research university, on Friday, Sept. 27, 2024.

Pope Francis urges professors to ‘seek the truth’ in visit to 600-year-old Belgian university

Sep 27, 2024

By Courtney Mares

The pope addressed academics at KU Leuven, a Belgian Catholic research university, on Friday afternoon to mark the 600th anniversary... Read more

Pope Francis arrives at Laeken Castle in Belgium on Friday, Sept. 27, 2024, where he is greeted by the Belgian royal family, Queen Mathilde and King Philippe.

PHOTOS: Pope Francis meets king and queen of Belgium at Laeken Castle

Sep 27, 2024

By Courtney Mares

King Philippe ascended the Belgian throne in 2013 and holds the title “Rex Catholicissimus,” or “(Most) Catholic Majesty.”  Read more

Pope Francis sits next to Queen Mathilde and listens as King Philippe (far right) speaks during a meeting between the pope and dignitaries in the Grand Gallery of Belgium’s Laeken Castle on Friday, Sept. 27, 2024.

In Belgium, Pope Francis says ‘Church should be ashamed’ of clerical abuse

Sep 27, 2024

By Courtney Mares

Speaking before approximately 300 dignitaries, the pope remarked that child abuse is “a scourge that the Church is tackling resolutely... Read more

Catholic Cathedral St. Peter and Paul in the Diocese of Tallinn, Estonia.

Catholic Church elevated in Estonia: Pope Francis creates Diocese of Tallinn

Sep 26, 2024

By AC Wimmer

The Vatican made the announcement on Sept. 26, coinciding with the start of the pope’s apostolic journey to Luxembourg and... Read more

Pope Francis arrives at Luxembourg Airport on Thursday, Sept. 26, 2024, the first stop in a four-day tour of Luxembourg and Belgium, two historically Christian countries in Europe, both of which are experiencing steep declines in religious adherence amid the spread of secularization.

In a secularized Luxembourg, Pope Francis tells Catholics to evangelize Europe

Sep 26, 2024

By Hannah Brockhaus

Before flying to the neighboring country of Belgium on the afternoon of Sept. 26, the 87-year-old pope spent one day... Read more

The rector of the Walsingham shrine, Father Robert Billing. The feast day of Our Lady of Walsingham was celebrated Sept. 24, 2024, in England for the first time.

Catholics celebrate first feast day of Our Lady of Walsingham in England

Sep 24, 2024

By Andy Drozdziak

The feast day of Our Lady of Walsingham was celebrated today for the first time in England. Read more

St. Pio of Pietrelcina.

Padre Pio spoke languages ​​he didn’t know: the gift of xenoglossia

Sep 23, 2024

By Walter Sánchez Silva

Various historical testimonies document that the beloved St. Pio of Pietrelcina, whose feast day is celebrated Sept. 23, had the... Read more

Worshippers gather to pray in front of the exhumed body of mystic-saint Padre Pio in the Catholic Church of San Lorenzo fuori le Mura (St. Lawrence Outside the Walls) in Rome on Feb. 4, 2016.

Padre Pio: 13 facts about the saint to know and share

Sep 23, 2024

By Alyssa Murphy

On Sept. 23, the Church celebrates one of the most popular Catholic saints of the 20th century — St. Pio... Read more