Europe News

Following his release, Bishop David O'Connell (third from left) joined Father Jean Felicien, Monsignor Thomas N. Gervasio, and Monsignor Sam Sirianni at their hotel in Rome.

Trenton Bishop released from Rome hospital after heart attack 

Jan 9, 2024

By Matt McDonald

Bishop David O’Connell suffered a heart attack while in Rome where he was preparing to lead a pilgrimage of 20... Read more

The Church of St. Julian and St. Basilisa in Horcajo de las Torres, Ávila.

Today is the feast of Sts. Julian and Basilissa, spouses blessed with love and purity

Jan 9, 2024

By ACI Prensa

Every Jan. 9 the Catholic Church commemorates St. Julian and his wife, St. Basilissa, who died around the year 304. Read more

Cardinal Ángel Fernández, 10th successor of St. Don Bosco.

Don Bosco’s successor: Young people need gentleness and love to fulfill their dreams

Jan 9, 2024

By Abel Camasca

Cardinal Ángel Fernández Artime encouraged fostering young people’s dreams but “not with blows,” just as Christ himself asked the Salesians’... Read more

Farmers use their tractors and hold a rally blocking access to the Riebeckplatz on the first day of a week of protests on Jan. 8, 2024, in central Halle (Saale), Saxony-Anhalt, Germany.

Amid farmers’ protests and disruptions, German bishop calls for dialogue 

Jan 8, 2024

By AC Wimmer

Bishop Georg Bätzing appealed for peaceful resolutions on Monday: “Let us approach each other and find solutions together that serve... Read more

Pope Francis delivers a speech to all of the world’s ambassadors to the Vatican on Monday, Jan. 8, 2024.

Pope Francis calls surrogacy ‘deplorable,’ calls for global ban in speech to ambassadors

Jan 8, 2024

By Courtney Mares

Pope Francis called surrogacy “deplorable” and called for a global ban on the exploitative practice of “so-called surrogate motherhood.” Read more

The Saint Peter Cathedral in Rennes, France.

French bishops instruct priests to refrain from blessing homosexual couples

Jan 5, 2024

By Peter Pinedo

Nine bishops from France have instructed priests in their dioceses that they may bless homosexual individuals but should refrain from... Read more

A man walks the Camino de Santiago in Spain.

Pilgrims walking Camino de Santiago broke record in 2023

Jan 3, 2024

By Francesca Pollio Fenton

One of the most famous pilgrimage routes in the world reached record numbers of people in 2023. Read more

A man adorned in the flag of Spain prays the rosary for Spain on Dec. 8, 2023.

Rosary for Spain to join worldwide Confraternity of Our Lady of Fatima prayer crusade

Jan 3, 2024

By Nicolás de Cárdenas

The objective of the initiative is to implore, through the Immaculate Heart of Mary, God’s help and intervention, particularly for... Read more

Tia, Miriam, Emanuel, and Josias (left to right) from the St. Lorenz Catholic Parish in Kempten, Diocese of Augsburg, Germany, December 2023.

Thousands of ‘Star Singers’ continue tradition of bringing Christ’s blessings for new year

Dec 31, 2023

By Emma Silvestri

Every year in Germany, Switzerland, and Austria, thousands of children go from door to door dressed as the three Wise... Read more

Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI is greeted by Pope Francis during the Ordinary Public Consistory at St. Peter’s Basilica on Feb. 14, 2015.

‘Benedict trusted Francis. But he was bitterly disappointed,’ biographer says in new interview

Dec 29, 2023

By AC Wimmer

Pope Benedict XVI’s biographer, Peter Seewald, has raised concerns about how Pope Francis is managing the legacy of his predecessor.  Read more

A 40 Days for Life volunteer tries to pray for the end of abortion in Madrid in front of the police present on Dec. 28, 2023.

20 riot police sent to remove 10 young people praying rosary at abortion clinic in Spain

Dec 28, 2023

By Nicolás de Cárdenas

The Government Delegation in Madrid mobilized approximately 20 riot police officers to prevent about 10 young people from praying the... Read more

Archbishop Victor Manuel Fernandez.

Fernández: ‘It’s proper for each bishop’ to discern application of Fiducia Supplicans

Dec 27, 2023

By Nicolás de Cárdenas

In an interview published in a Spanish newspaper, Dicastery of the Doctrine of the Faith prefect Cardinal Victor Fernández responded... Read more

Susan Agostinelli shows Pope Francis a picture of her great, great uncle, Bl. Grimoaldo Santamaria of the Purification, during a meeting at the Vatican on Oct. 6, 2022. The audience was part of a conference on holiness and sainthood hosted by the Vatican.

Producer shares story of ‘family saint’ with new generation of Catholics

Dec 27, 2023

By Hannah Brockhaus

Susan Agostinelli says her great-great uncle, Blessed Grimoaldo Santamaria, was the “go-to family saint.” Now she is sharing his life... Read more

Pope Francis delivers his general audience address to pilgrims in the Paul VI Audience Hall at the Vatican on Dec. 27, 2023.

Pope Francis: One must never dialogue with the devil

Dec 27, 2023

By Matthew Santucci

Pope Francis inaugurated a new catechetical series on vices and virtues during Wednesday’s general audience by opening with the story... Read more

Pope Francis gives a blessing after he delivers his Angelus address to pilgrims gathered in St. Peter’s Square on Dec. 26, 2023.

Pope Francis: After 2,000 years the persecution of Christians continues

Dec 26, 2023

By Matthew Santucci

During Tuesday’s Angelus on the occasion of the feast of St. Stephen, Pope Francis renewed his call for peace. Read more

The Monastery of Città della Pieve in Italy.

Blind from birth, Sister Chiara Antonella shares her story of music and prayer

Dec 26, 2023

By ACI Stampa

The Poor Clare sister shared in a recent interview about her calling to religious life, life in the monastery, and... Read more

A stamp printed in United Kingdom in 1999 shows image of the dedicated to the Glastonbury Holy Thorn.

The Holy Thorn: In Glastonbury, England, a special hawthorn tree blooms every year at Christmas

Dec 26, 2023

By Jonah McKeown

This special variety of hawthorn grows in and around Glastonbury and the legendary, original tree is said to have sprouted... Read more

Painting of St. Stephen’s martyrdom.

St. Stephen: Visiting the spot where the first martyr died

Dec 26, 2023

By Jonah McKeown

A chapel of one form or another memorializing Stephen’s martyrdom has existed at the site since at least the fifth... Read more

Fresco by Giotto of St. Francis of Assisi embracing the Child Jesus at Christmas Mass in Greccio in 1223, located in the Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi in Assisi, Italy.

St. Francis and the story of the first Nativity scene

Dec 23, 2023

By Hannah Brockhaus

One of the world’s most beloved saints, St. Francis of Assisi, loved Christmas so much that he created the first... Read more

Pope Francis embraces Major Archbishop Sviatoslav Shevchuk, the leader of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, during a meeting with bishops of the Synod of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church at the Vatican on Sept. 6, 2023.

Ukrainian archbishop says same-sex blessings document doesn’t apply to Eastern Churches

Dec 22, 2023

By Joe Bukuras

Major Archbishop Sviatoslav Shevchuk said that his statement was in response to numerous appeals from bishops, clergy, monastics, and individual... Read more