Europe News

Archbishop Stanisław Gądecki, president of the Polish bishops’ conference, pictured in Warsaw Feb. 12, 2020.

Polish Catholic leader to European Parliament: There can be no compromise on the right to life

Dec 3, 2020

A Catholic archbishop spoke out Wednesday after the European Parliament passed a resolution condemning Poland’s pro-life laws.   Read more

Pope Francis blesses an ambulance entrusted to the Office of Papal Charities.

Pope Francis’ ambulance brings free flu shots and coronavirus tests to the homeless

Dec 3, 2020

By Hannah Brockhaus

Pope Francis’ charity brought free flu vaccines and coronavirus tests to homeless people living in a town outside Rome on... Read more

St. Rupert’s Catholic Church in Vienna, Austria.

Vienna terror attack reportedly intended to target church youth group

Dec 2, 2020

A gunman affiliated with the Islamic State had planned to attack a Catholic youth group meeting at a church in... Read more

The Royal Courts of Justice house the High Court and Court of Appeal of England and Wales.

In landmark ruling, U.K. high court says children unlikely to be able to give informed consent to puberty blockers

Dec 2, 2020

By CNA Staff

The U.K.’s high court ruled Tuesday that children are unlikely to be mature enough to give informed consent to medical... Read more

The statue of the Immaculate Conception overlooking the Spanish Steps in Rome.

Rome’s Franciscans to provide ‘blessing from afar’ on Immaculate Conception feast

Dec 2, 2020

By Hannah Brockhaus

Conventual Franciscans said they will be present at a statue of the Immaculate Conception in the center of Rome to... Read more

The interior of the Basilica of Our Lady of Geneva in Switzerland.

Switzerland’s Catholic bishops lament record exodus from Church in 2019

Dec 2, 2020

Bishops in Switzerland lamented Wednesday a record exodus of Catholics from the Church in 2019.  Read more

French President Emmanuel Macron.

French president presses Muslim leaders to embrace 'republican values'

Dec 2, 2020

In the wake of several suspected Islamist attacks in France this year, French President Emmanuel Macron has asked the country’s... Read more

A German police officer in front of a crowd.

Catholic diocese prays for the dead and injured after car plows into pedestrians in Trier

Dec 1, 2020

A German Catholic diocese said Tuesday that it was praying for the dead and injured after a car plowed into... Read more

Cardinal Antoine Kambanda receives the red hat from Pope Francis Nov. 28, 2020.

Rwanda’s first cardinal sees family as key to planting the seeds of peace

Dec 1, 2020

By Courtney Mares

Rwanda’s first cardinal lost seven members of his immediate family in the 1994 genocide. Now he is using his role... Read more

Archbishop Tadeusz Kondrusiewicz of Minsk-Mohilev, pictured in 2014.

Exiled Catholic archbishop to hold virtual Advent retreat for flock

Dec 1, 2020

Exiled Belarusian Archbishop Tadeusz Kondrusiewicz will lead his flock in a virtual Advent retreat this month.  Read more

The Cathedral of Our Lady in Antwerp, Belgium.

No public Masses until January for Belgian Catholics

Dec 1, 2020

Belgium’s Catholic bishops called Tuesday for dialogue with the government after it decreed that public Masses would remain suspended until... Read more

The Palais-Royal in Paris, home of the Council of State.

French Catholic bishops win appeal against 30-person Mass limit

Nov 30, 2020

By Courtney Mares

The French Council of State has ruled that a proposed 30-person limit on Masses and other forms of public worship is... Read more

A red cross ambulance passes in front of the Vatican as Italy prepares for the coronavirus, March 9, 2020.

43 Catholic priests have died in Italy’s 2nd wave of coronavirus

Nov 30, 2020

By Hannah Brockhaus

Forty-three Italian priests died in November after contracting the coronavirus, as Italy experiences a second wave of the epidemic.  Read more

Archbishop Michel Aupetit, pictured in 2015 at Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris.

French bishops launch second legal appeal to reinstate public Masses for all

Nov 27, 2020

By Courtney Mares

The French bishops’ conference announced Friday that it would submit another appeal to the Council of State, calling the proposed... Read more

Sr. Laura Mainetti’s vestition ceremony in 1959.

‘My Jesus’: Martyred Italian nun saw Christ in young people

Nov 27, 2020

By Hannah Brockhaus

A religious sister who knew Venerable Maria Laura Mainetti said the woman, who was murdered 20 years ago as part... Read more

The beheaded statue at the Jesuit church in Straubing, Germany. Photo

Artist offers to restore beheaded statue of Virgin Mary in Germany

Nov 27, 2020

By Courtney Mares

An art restorer in Germany has offered to restore a decapitated statue of the Virgin Mary free of charge.  Read more

The decapitated statue of the Virgin Mary in the municipality of Marghera, Italy.

Patriarch of Venice calls for prayers of reparation after Virgin Mary statue decapitated

Nov 27, 2020

By Hannah Brockhaus

A statue of the Virgin Mary in a public square in a suburb of Venice, Italy, was vandalized Thursday night.  Read more

Cardinal Christoph Schönborn at the Vatican April 8, 2016.

Cardinal Schönborn deplores attack on rabbi in Vienna

Nov 27, 2020

Cardinal Christoph Schönborn deplored Friday an attack on a rabbi in the Austrian capital, Vienna.   Read more

A detail from Timothy P. Schmalz’s sculpture, ‘Angels Unawares.’

Vatican diplomat: Lockdowns revealed ‘glaring contradiction’ in attitudes towards migrants

Nov 26, 2020

Coronavirus lockdowns revealed a “glaring contradiction” in attitudes towards migrants, a Vatican diplomat said Thursday.  Read more

Cardinal Vincent Nichols at Westminster Cathedral, London, on Dec. 21, 2019.

Cardinal Nichols urges UK government to reconsider cut to foreign aid budget

Nov 26, 2020

Cardinal Vincent Nichols urged the U.K. government Thursday to reconsider a proposed cut to its foreign aid budget.   Read more