Europe News

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.

Over 500 Belgians demand removal from baptismal registry after Pope Francis remarks

Oct 17, 2024

By Thomas Philipp Reiter

After the pope’s visit to Luxembourg and Belgium in late September, 524 people have signed a declaration published Oct. 16... Read more

Palazzo Madama, the seat of the Senate of the Italian Republic in Rome.

Italy criminalizes surrogacy sought by Italian citizens abroad

Oct 17, 2024

By Hannah Brockhaus

With the Oct. 16 vote, Italy will amend its law to extend its jurisdiction to criminalize even surrogacy “committed abroad.” Read more

St. Ignatius of Antioch with the child Jesus.

St. Ignatius of Antioch: the early Church Father who longed for union with Christ

Oct 17, 2024

By CNA Staff

On Oct. 17, the Catholic Church remembers the early Church Father, bishop, and martyr St. Ignatius of Antioch. Read more

Adam Smith-Connor on Oct. 16, 2024, was found guilty of praying silently outside of an abortion clinic, with the pro-life advocate facing a near-$12,000 fine over the verdict. 

British army veteran convicted of praying silently near abortion clinic

Oct 16, 2024

By Daniel Payne

A British army veteran and Christian has been found guilty of praying silently outside of an abortion clinic, facing an... Read more

English Catholic anti-euthanasia campaigner Matthew Schellhorn talks with “EWTN News Nightly” anchor Tracy Sabol on Oct. 14, 2024.

UK leaders hit back at plan to introduce assisted suicide

Oct 16, 2024

By Andy Drozdziak

Catholic leaders in the U.K. have hit back at plans to introduce assisted suicide in England and Wales in a... Read more

Apparition of St. Margaret Mary Alacoque of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.

St. Margaret Mary Alacoque and devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus

Oct 16, 2024

By Francesca Pollio Fenton

St. Margaret Mary Alacoque was a French nun responsible for spreading the devotion of the Sacred Heart throughout the Western... Read more

An image of St. Hedwig in Wroclaw, Poland.

This princess saint was not Harry Potter’s owl: St. Hedwig of Silesia

Oct 16, 2024

By Hannah Brockhaus

St. Hedwig of Silesia was a princess, wife, mother, and builder of bridges between the German and Polish people. Read more

Pluscarden Abbey in Scotland where 15 Benedictine monks pray and welcome visitors.

Scotland’s Pluscarden Abbey: the northernmost Benedictine monastery in the world

Oct 14, 2024

By Emma Silvestri

In northeast Scotland, six miles southwest of Elgin in Moray, stands Pluscarden Abbey, the northernmost Benedictine abbey in the world. Read more

Ana Finat said writing her conversion story “was very scary,” especially because of the implications for her husband and daughters.

Ana Finat — aristocrat, influencer, and convert: Trusting in God gives immense freedom

Oct 12, 2024

By Nicolás de Cárdenas

The Spanish influencer and aristocrat Ana Finat, a descendant of St. Francis Borgia, has just published the story of her... Read more

Cardinal Vincent Nichols celebrates a Pontifical Votive Mass of the Blessed Sacrament at Corpus Christi Church, Maiden Lane, London, Sept. 11, 2021.

UK bishops urge Catholics to contact legislators ahead of assisted suicide vote

Oct 11, 2024

By Madeleine Teahan

Bishops in the United Kingdom have issued pastoral letters in advance of a vote next month to legalize assisted suicide.  Read more

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