Europe

Church leaders call for dialogue over confrontation amid turbulent protests in France

Caroline de Sury · October 7, 2026

Just days after Pope Leo XIV's Sept. 25-28 apostolic visit to France, scenes of unrest have replaced the atmosphere of unity and peace that marked the papal trip.

New nuncio appeals for unity, cautions German bishops against diverging from Rome

Junno Arocho Esteves · October 1, 2026

The new apostolic nuncio to Germany, Archbishop Hubertus van Megen, warned the country’s bishops against charting a separate course for the local Church, reminding them that Catholic unity relies on fidelity to the papacy and the Eucharist.

Pope Leo urges Europe to stave off increased nationalism, barbaric relations

Josephine Peterson · September 28, 2026

In a French city that changed hands between France and Germany through two world wars, Pope Leo XIV used the final day of his apostolic journey to France to call on Europe to resist a return to nationalism and conflict and recommit itself to cooperation, dialogue and peace.

Pope Leo XIV to make historic first veneration of 'holy tunic,' highlighting Christian unity

Caroline de Sury · September 23, 2026

Pope Leo XIV will make history during his Sept. 25-28 visit to France as the first pope to venerate the Holy Tunic of Argenteuil, the relic long believed to be the seamless robe worn by Christ during his Passion.

Serbian cardinal pleads against country's exclusion

Controversy arises over ‘Butcher of Bosnia’s’ burial

Jonathan Luxmoore · September 22, 2026

Cardinal Ladislav Nemet of Belgrade is urging Western governments not to let recent controversy over the funeral of convicted Bosnian Serb wartime leader Ratko Mladic derail Serbia's ties with Europe.

Trump backs Irish unification, bucking US neutrality, drawing US Irish Catholic praise

Kate Scanlon · September 15, 2026

President Donald Trump backed Irish unification during a meeting Sept. 12 with Irish Prime Minister Micheál Martin in Dublin, a move that drew praise from a U.S. Irish Catholic fraternal organization.

Life advocates welcome defeat of assisted suicide bill in England and Wales

‘A remarkable victory’

Simon Caldwell · September 14, 2026

The Catholic Church in England and Wales has welcomed the defeat of a bill to legalize assisted suicide.

Latin Mass supporters flock to British shrine looking for 'firm convictions'

Jonathan Luxmoore · September 3, 2026

British supporters of the traditional Latin Mass have welcomed an unprecedented youth turnout at their annual pilgrimage, three months after record participation was also reported at a larger event in France.

'Let us be clear: this war must end,' Archbishop Gallagher tells Russian authorities in Moscow

Junno Arocho Esteves · August 27, 2026

The Vatican foreign minister urged Russian officials to end their war with Ukraine and to begin negotiations with the help of the international community.

Baptisms in Ireland see dramatic drop of 30% in a decade

Ruadhán Jones · August 25, 2026

Baptisms in the Catholic Church in Ireland have fallen by almost a third since 2015, with just one Irish diocese seeing any positive change, a new report shows.