COVID-19

The Latest

President Donald Trump.

President Trump: Churches should reopen 'right now'

May 22, 2020

By Matt Hadro

President Donald Trump on Friday called on state governors to reopen churches “right now.”  Read more

California can't omit churches from re-opening plans, Justice Department says 

May 20, 2020

California Gov. Gavin Newsom's efforts to lift some anti-coronavirus restrictions cannot single out churches for stricter treatment than other similar... Read more

University of Notre Dame.

Notre Dame to start fall semester early as colleges weigh in-person options

May 19, 2020

By Jonah McKeown

The University of Notre Dame announced this week that students will return to campus in the fall, with the semester... Read more

Catholic Charities in Louisiana appeals for aid after major spike in homelessness 

May 19, 2020

By Mary Farrow

In the wake of the coronavirus pandemic hitting the United States in mid-March, thousands of Americans were either furloughed or... Read more

Federal judge blocks NC coronavirus church limits

May 18, 2020

A federal judge has blocked the North Carolina governor’s order limiting most church services to 10 people or fewer, saying... Read more

Monument Valley.

US bishops highlight plight of native communities as COVID infections surge

May 14, 2020

The coronavirus pandemic is exacerbating health disparities and long-standing social inequalities facing Native and Indigenous communities, the bishops of the... Read more

For Catholics, wearing masks can be an act of charity for neighbor

May 14, 2020

Although some people have raised objections to wearing masks as the U.S. continues to battle the coronavirus pandemic, doing so... Read more

Pope Francis celebrates Mass in the chapel of the Casa Santa Marta May 14, 2020.

Pope Francis calls people of all religions to pray for end of pandemic

May 14, 2020

By Courtney Mares

Pope Francis urged people of every religion to fast and pray Thursday for an end to the coronavirus pandemic and... Read more

A view of the Vatican's Sistine Chapel.

Vatican Museums to reopen with temperature checks, mandatory face masks

May 11, 2020

By Courtney Mares

The Vatican Museums are preparing to reopen by reservation only with new health measures to prevent the spread of the... Read more

Pope Francis offers Mass in Casa Santa Marta on May 11, 2020.

Pope Francis prays for the unemployed after coronavirus layoffs

May 11, 2020

By Courtney Mares

Pope Francis began his morning Mass on Monday by praying for the unemployed after millions of people lost their jobs... Read more

Thousands of Catholic parishes find relief in government payroll loans 

May 8, 2020

As parishes and dioceses across the country deal with a drop in collections and the prospects of layoffs amid the... Read more

How some parishes are slowly bringing back public Masses

May 8, 2020

By Mary Farrow

On Sunday, March 15, Nebraskans in the Diocese of Lincoln still had a choice of whether or not they wanted... Read more

Gold miner in Papua, Indonesia.

Coronavirus hits world’s largest gold mine, operations will continue

May 5, 2020

At least 51 workers have been infected with the novel coronavirus at the Grasberg mine in Indonesia, the world’s largest... Read more

The Sejm, the lower house of the Polish parliament.

Poland’s election planning must bring together all parties, bishops urge

May 5, 2020

Poland’s bishops have intervened in a debate about whether presidential elections scheduled for May 9 should go ahead despite a... Read more

Father Geison Gerardo Ortiz Marín baking bread. Photo courtesy of Father Ortiz.

Priest in Costa Rica bakes bread to help families in need

May 4, 2020

When he was just 15 years old, Fr. Geison Gerardo Ortiz Marín had to quit school and find a job... Read more

How quaran-teens are coping with losses and disappointments 

May 3, 2020

By Mary Farrow

Nikki Shasserre normally gets one, maybe two alerts per week from Bark, a parental monitoring app she uses to track... Read more

The Archbishop of Naples blesses the city with St. Januarius' liquefied blood.

Blood of St. Januarius liquefies in Naples under lockdown

May 3, 2020

By Courtney Mares

The liquefaction of the blood of the early Church martyr St. Januarius occurred Saturday amid the coronavirus lockdown, leading the... Read more

Pope Francis offers Mass in Casa Santa Marta on April 30, 2020.

Pope Francis honors priests and doctors who have died in the coronavirus pandemic

May 3, 2020

By Courtney Mares

On Good Shepherd Sunday, Pope Francis said he was thinking of all the priests and doctors who gave their lives... Read more

Pope Francis offers Mass in Casa Santa Marta on May 2, 2020.

Pope Francis prays for government leaders facing the coronavirus crisis

May 2, 2020

By Courtney Mares

Pope Francis prayed Saturday for mayors, governors, presidents, and legislators at a time when many government leaders are making decisions... Read more

Five COVID deaths at Wisconsin home for religious sisters with dementia

May 1, 2020

Within the past month, a Wisconsin retirement home for religious sisters with dementia has had several sisters die and four... Read more