After U.S. forces captured Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife Saturday, Pope Leo expressed deep concern over the situation. Global reactions to the developments are split.

Pope Leo XIV on Tuesday closed the Holy Door of St. Peter’s Basilica, bringing the ordinary Holy Year to an end — a time of grace that invited Catholics to conversion, reconciliation, and hope. The pontiff processed toward the Holy Door as the antiphon O clavis David was sung. Reaching the threshold, he knelt before the door and remained for a few minutes in silent prayer...

Apparently, God is a Steelers fan.Baltimore rookie kicker Tyler Loop’s 44-yard field goal attempt sailed wide right as time expired in the Steelers’ 26-24 win Sunday night at Acrisure Stadium. That was dramatic enough. To make it even more so, the critical miss came in the same end zone where, two hours before the game, the Steelers enlisted the help of a higher power.

At the beginning of creation, all of the angels were united in serving God. But a time came when Lucifer, the most senior of all the angels, grew resentful towards God. Catholic tradition holds that this resentment arose when Lucifer realized God’s plan for humanity and the role which human beings, and in particular Our Lady, were destined to play as the crowning glory of all creation.

A good definition of frustration: The difference between the way we want things to be and the way they are. It is the gap between expectations and reality. Expecting others to act well is understandable. Treat me well, as I treat you. You would agree that I treat you well, wouldn’t you? A plea I hear repeatedly as a psychologist...

The ancient commemoration of the birth of our Lord and Savior resounds through the ages and occupies a pivotal place in the Christian life. Faithful around the world mark the solemn occasion of our salvation with extra prayers, Mass attendance, sacramental participation and family traditions...

Feast date: Jan 08

St. Apollinaris was one of the first great martyrs of the church.  He was made Bishop of Ravenna by St. Peter. The miracles he conducted in Ravenna soon attracted official attention, for they and his preaching won many converts to the faith. However, at the same time, his words and works brought upon the fury of the pagan people who beat Apollinaris cruelly on several occasions.

During one beating, Apollinaris was cut with knives, and scalding hot water poured over his wounds, then put on a ship to be sent to Greece. 

In Greece the same course of preachings, and miracles, and sufferings continued. In fact, after a cruel beating by Greek pagans, he was sent back to Italy.

When Emperor Vespasian issued a decree of banishment against the Christians, Apollinaris was kept hidden for some time, but as he was leaving, passing through the gates of the city, he was attacked and savagely beaten.  He lived for seven days, foretelling that the persecutions would increase, but that the Church would ultimately triumph.

The pastor of Greenland’s sole Catholic parish said that “most Greenlanders” do not wish to become part of the United States.

“People are worried, but they are also very clear: this is our land, our culture, our home,” Father Tomaž Majcen, OFM Conv, said in response to American interest in acquiring the island. The priest told OSV News that “we must stand for human dignity, for the rights of the Inuit people, and for dialogue instead of threats.”

Father Majcen invited the faithful to “pray for peace and respect for sovereignty, and to join us in caring for creation, especially our fragile Arctic environment, which is one of God’s most breathtaking but vulnerable masterpieces.”

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Archbishop Edgar Peña Parra, the Substitute for General Affairs of the Secretariat of State, sent a message in Pope Leo’s name to the chairman of the Three Kings Parade Foundation, which organizes Epiphany parades in Poland.

The Holy Father, said the prelate, has been “informed about the idea of the Three Kings Parade organized since 2009 on the Solemnity of the Epiphany in Poland and in many countries worldwide.” The Pope has united himself “spiritually with all those who, together with the Three Kings, bear witness to Christ on the streets of cities and villages.”