Author Archive
Catholic News Agency
CNA explains: What does it mean to be a doctor of the Church?

By Francesca Pollio Fenton , Jonah McKeown CNA Staff, Aug 1, 2025 / 06:00 am The Vatican announced Thursday that St. John Henry Newman will be declared a doctor of the Church. The 19th-century English saint — a former Anglican priest who converted to Catholicism — will join 37 other saints who have …
Why St. Ignatius of Loyola is a saint for difficult times

By Jessica Pipes National Catholic Register, Jul 31, 2025 / 04:00 am When Ignatius of Loyola found himself bedridden with a shattered leg, all of his big dreams and plans disappeared. Arrogant, stubborn, and hot-tempered, Ignatius was a soldier to his core, and he excelled on the battlefield. Until now, his …
Start of Pope Leo XIV’s pontificate brings surge of interest in papal blessings

By Hannah Brockhaus Vatican City, Jul 31, 2025 / 10:41 am The Vatican has seen a boom in requests for blessings from the new pope, with at least a 30% increase during Leo XIV’s first month reflecting enthusiasm over the start of a new pontificate — and highlighting a traditional practice …
St. John Henry Newman to be declared 38th doctor of the Church

By Kristina Millare Vatican City, Jul 31, 2025 / 09:36 am Pope Leo XIV on Thursday approved the decision to declare St. John Henry Newman the 38th doctor of the universal Church. The decision to confer the title upon the 19th-century English saint — a former Anglican priest who converted to …
Thousands of Vietnamese Catholics gather in Missouri for Marian pilgrimage

By Tessa Gervasini Washington, D.C. Newsroom, Jul 29, 2025 / 12:43 pm Every summer, the small city of Carthage, Missouri, becomes a booming landmark of religion and culture as tens of thousands of pilgrims gather to celebrate family and faith, honor the Blessed Mother, and share in Vietnamese traditions. The Marian …
Vatican communication office urges 2-state solution as France backs Palestinian statehood

By Kate Quiñones CNA Staff, Jul 28, 2025 / 18:34 pm The Vatican’s Dicastery for Communication reiterated its long-standing call for recognition of Palestine statehood amid the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict after France announced last week it would recognize the region’s statehood. The editorial manager for the Vatican’s Dicastery for Communication, Andrea …
Lebanese twin brothers turn tragedy into a call to action for Middle East Christians

By Marguerita Kallassy ACI MENA, Jul 29, 2025 / 08:00 am With a smartphone and an Instagram account, twin brothers Charbel and Giovanni Lteif are closing in on 800,000 followers with their “Eastern Christians” pages on social media. The 20-year-old Maronite Lebanese brothers have built their Christian social media platform in just one …
U.S. bishops invite Catholics to pray for end to taxpayer-funded abortion

By Tessa Gervasini Washington, D.C. Newsroom, Jul 28, 2025 / 13:40 pm The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) has invited Americans to participate in a daily prayer to St. Joseph, defender of life, to stop federal funding of the abortion industry. Archbishop Timothy Broglio, president of the USCCB, and …
‘A voice told me not to be afraid’: The story of Lourdes’ 72nd recognized miracle

By Solène Tadié CNA Newsroom, Jul 26, 2025 / 11:15 am Antonia Raco, a 67-year-old Italian woman long affected by an incurable neurodegenerative illness, was officially introduced to the press on July 25 in Lourdes, where her healing was recognized as the 72nd miracle attributed to the intercession of the Virgin …
Exclusive: Gaza priest injured in Israeli bombing discusses impact on parish community

By Madalaine Elhabbal Washington, D.C. Newsroom, Jul 24, 2025 / 18:13 pm “Thanks be to God more people weren’t harmed,” said Father Gabriel Romanelli in an exclusive interview with EWTN on July 24 in the wake of the July 17 bombing of his parish, Holy Family Church in Gaza, which left …