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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

CNA

CNA’s top 10 Catholic stories of 2023

Dec 31, 2023

By Francesca Pollio Fenton

2023 was filled with highs and lows for the Catholic community. Here is a list of our top Catholic stories... Read more

A screen grab from a video shared with ACI Africa that shows the parish house at St. Raphael Fadan Kamantan Catholic Church of the Diocese of Kafanchan in flames Sept. 7, 2023.

Here’s where Christians continued to face persecution in 2023

Dec 30, 2023

By Tyler Arnold

Christians have been persecuted by adversarial groups since the time of the apostles, and in varied parts of the world... Read more

Pope Francis waves at the crowd of 1.5 million people who attended the closing Mass of World Youth Day 2023 in Lisbon, Portugal on Aug. 6, 2023.

What countries did Pope Francis visit in 2023 and what did he say?

Dec 30, 2023

By Peter Pinedo

Despite advanced age and health challenges, the pope visited six countries on three continents in 2023. Read more

Children of Afghan immigrants to St. Louis play during a holiday party on Dec. 9, 2023.

Catholics continue to rally around Afghan refugee families in St. Louis

Dec 30, 2023

By Jonah McKeown

Exhausted Afghan men, women, and children continue to arrive to the United States. In many places, Christians are the ones... Read more

GOP Presidential Candidate Chris Christie at a town Hall in Bedford, New Hampshire on Dec. 19, 2023.

Chris Christie ties his shift on gay marriage to Vatican ruling on same-sex blessings

Dec 29, 2023

By Joe Bukuras

Christie, who identifies as Catholic, told New Hampshire voters: “I don’t have any objection to it any longer. In the... Read more

Cathedral of Managua, Nicaragua.

UPDATE: 4 priests arrested in 2 days by Nicaraguan dictatorship

Dec 29, 2023

By Andrés Henríquez

“We can denote this last year as the year with the most attacks against the Catholic Church in the recent... Read more

Pope Benedict XVI on May 11, 2010.

EWTN to air conference on Pope Benedict XVI one year after his death

Dec 29, 2023

By Matthew Santucci

A conference titled “Remembering Benedict XVI: Life, Teaching, Legacy” will be held in Rome on Dec. 30–31 and will air... Read more

Zubair Simonson, OFS, is a convert who was raised Muslim.

From hatred to love: Christmas reflections of a Muslim convert to Catholicism

Dec 29, 2023

By Andrés Henríquez

For Zubair Simonson, Hamas’ propaganda efforts do great harm to the Palestinian people, who end up paying the price of... Read more

A prayer meeting organized by the Taizé community.

Pope Francis urges young adults at Taizé event to ‘dare to build a different world’

Dec 29, 2023

By Joe Bukuras

The European Meeting is an annual ecumenical Christian event that hosts several thousand young adults from across the world to... Read more

Pope Francis meets with Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the Vatican on May 13, 2023, their first meeting since the start of the full-scale war with Russia.

Pope Francis speaks with Zelenskyy about peace efforts in Ukraine

Dec 29, 2023

By Tyler Arnold

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the pontiff expressed “his wishes of peace — just peace for all of us” during... Read more

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi hosts a Christmas gathering with Christian leaders, including Cardinal Oswald Gracias of Mumbai and Delhi Archbishop Anil Couto, at his residence in New Delhi on Dec. 25, 2023.

India’s Modi hosts Christian leaders for Christmas amid rising persecution

Dec 29, 2023

By Anto Akkara

“Christmas is an occasion to remember Jesus Christ’s life’s message and values,” Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, addressing Christian leaders. Read more

Rev. Eugene F. Rivers III.

Black Pentecostal leader urges pope to withdraw same-sex blessing document

Dec 29, 2023

By Tyler Arnold

A prominent black Pentecostal leader is voicing his “solidarity” with African Catholics and urging Pope Francis to withdraw the new... Read more

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Americans United for Life releases scorecard for most pro-life states in U.S.

Dec 29, 2023

By Daniel Payne

AUL’s list showed Arkansas as the most pro-life state in the country, with other southern states such as Mississippi, Alabama,... 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

Pope Francis meets with Cardinal Raymond Burke on Dec. 29, 2023, at the Vatican.

Pope Francis meets with Cardinal Burke amid salary, apartment controversy

Dec 29, 2023

By Daniel Payne

In a press release, the Holy See Press Office briefly mentioned that the pope had met with Cardinal Raymond Burke... Read more

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‘Your confessional is ready’: Buzzing into confession at a Denver Catholic high school

Dec 29, 2023

By Denver Catholic

Students at Bishop Machebeuf High School in Denver don’t wait in line for confession. Instead, they pick up a buzzer... Read more

Portiuncula chapel on the campus of Franciscan University of Steubenville.

Catholic higher ed in 2023: 3 universities that thrived, 1 that decided to close its doors

Dec 29, 2023

By Kate Quiñones

CNA took a closer look at three Catholic universities that experienced impressive growth in 2023 and one that will be... Read more

“Christ Carrying the Cross” by Titian (1490–1576).

Vatican announces art contest for Stations of the Cross to be displayed in St. Peter’s Basilica

Dec 29, 2023

By Courtney Mares

The Vatican has announced an art competition in which your paintings can be displayed inside of St. Peter’s Basilica. Read more

Vandalism of a pro-life display outside St. Paul Catholic Church in Fenton, Missouri on Oct. 3, 2023.

2023 witnessed continued attacks on pro-life pregnancy centers, churches

Dec 29, 2023

By Joe Bukuras

Attacks on pro-life pregnancy centers only got worse once Roe was officially overturned in June 2022, and they continued throughout... Read more