Pope Leo XIV commemorates Nostra Aetate anniversary with interfaith celebrations

Approximately 300 representatives of world religions and cultures joined the Holy Father for an evening ecumenical prayer service for peace, organized by the Community of Sant'Egidio, on Oct. 28, 2025, at the Colosseum in Rome. / Credit: Vatican MediaVatican City, Oct 29, 2025 / 05:00 am (CNA).Pope Leo XIV joined faith leaders on Tuesday to commemorate the 60th anniversary of Nostra Aetate, the Church's declaration on building relationships with non-Christian religions. Approximately 300 representatives of world religions and cultures joined the Holy Father for an evening ecumenical prayer service for peace organized by the Community of Sant'Egidio and held at the Colosseum in Rome."Peace is a constant journey of reconciliation," the Holy Father said at the Oct. 28 event. Thanking religious leaders for coming together in Rome, he said their interfaith meeting expressed their shared "conviction that prayer is a powerful force for reconciliation.""This is our witness: o...

Boston exhibit features in-depth look at ancestry of Pope Leo XIV

Jari Honora and Henry Louis Gates Jr. at the opening of the exhibit at American Ancestors headquarters in Boston. / Credit: Claire Vail, VP of Communications & Digital Strategy for American AncestorsWashington, D.C. Newsroom, Oct 29, 2025 / 06:00 am (CNA).A Boston exhibit is inviting guests to explore Pope Leo XIV's family tree in depth, spanning 14 generations of history tracing the pontiff's connections to noblemen, freedom fighters, enslaved men and women, and even modern-day pop culture stars.American Ancestors, a national center for family history, heritage, and culture, created the "The Ancestry of Pope Leo XIV: An American Story" exhibit for people to discover the first American pontiff's lineage by reading stories, searching records, and exploring his family tree.The exhibit presents information compiled by expert genealogists to highlight the pope's history, because "the diversity of his ancestry is as layered as the history of America itself," Ryan Woods, CEO of A...

Protestant congregation in Michigan fights township over fines, limits on religious activity

A Protestant congregation in Michigan is facing $4,500 in fines and ongoing restrictions on their religious activity imposed by Windsor Township, according to their lawyers. / Credit: Roman Zaiets/ShutterstockWashington, D.C. Newsroom, Oct 28, 2025 / 17:45 pm (CNA).A Protestant congregation in Michigan is facing $4,500 in fines and ongoing restrictions on their religious activity imposed by Windsor Township, according to their lawyers.The Sanctum of One God Church asserts the township has delayed permit processing and has imposed restrictions on the congregation that curtail its religious activity. The congregation's lawyers at First Liberty Institute argue that the township is violating First Amendment protections and other federal laws related to religious land use, and that the government's actions could affect any religious organization trying to establish a parish or ministry.The township approved a "temporary certificate of occupancy," which restricts operating hours to T...

Conference recalls papal declaration on Catholic-Jewish relations

Rabbi Joshua Stanton attends "Called to Friendship: Nostra Aetate at 60," an event organized by the Philos Project and the National Shrine of Pope John Paul II on Oct. 28, 2025. / Credit: Jack HaskinsWashington, D.C., Oct 28, 2025 / 18:21 pm (CNA).Calls to deepen Jewish-Catholic relations echoed at an event marking the 60th anniversary of Nostra Aetate, the Vatican II declaration by Pope Paul VI on the relation of the Church to non-Christian religions. At "Called to Friendship: Nostra Aetate at 60," an event organized by the Philos Project and the Saint John Paul II National Shrine, Jews and Catholics from across the country gathered on Oct. 28 to remember Nostra Aetate, a document many believe permanently altered the course of Catholic-Jewish relations."One of the challenges of Catholic-Jewish collaboration is getting more people in the room," Rabbi Joshua Stanton told CNA on the sidelines of the conference. "And getting more people asking new and challenging questions of...

Runners carry torch from Mexico to New York praying for immigrants, honoring Our Lady

Scene from the 2023 Guadalupan Torch Run, arriving in South Carolina. / Credit: Courtesy of Guadalupan Torch RunHouston, Texas, Oct 28, 2025 / 18:45 pm (CNA).The Carrera Antorcha Guadalupana (the "Guadalupan Torch Run") is an annual pilgrimage where runners honor the Blessed Mother and pray for immigrants as they carry a torch from the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico City to St. Patrick's Cathedral in New York City. Pilgrim runners began their journey on Aug. 30 in Mexico City and so far have carried it through nine Mexican states and over 30 cities. Altogether, they will pass through 14 U.S. states as they journey over 3,000 miles before arriving in New York on Dec. 12, the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe. As they pass through each town, the runners are joined by locals, who accompany them for a portion of the route.The running pilgrims arrived in San Antonio, Texas, on Oct. 27, where they will remain for three days. Catholics at several parishes ther...

Christian investors' meeting focuses on aligning stewardship with values

Archbishop Timothy Broglio told investors at the Christian Institutional Investors Conference at The Catholic University of America on Oct. 27, 2025, that investing should be "wise, prudent, and faithful." / Credit: Tessa Gervasini/CNAWashington, D.C., Oct 28, 2025 / 15:25 pm (CNA).Archbishop Timothy Broglio told investors at the Christian Institutional Investors Conference (CIIC) at The Catholic University of America (CUA) that investing should be "wise, prudent, and faithful."Broglio, who serves as archbishop of the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA, and president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), welcomed guests as the keynote speaker for the annual conference, highlighting the faithful's place in investing.Broglio asked that throughout the conference participants pray together, study together, and share tools and frameworks, because there needs to be an "integration of principle morals into how companies invest their funds."The two-day conference ...

Secret euthanasia house raises alarm in Canada

The British Columbia Parliament Buildings in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada / Credit: Ryan Bushby (HighInBC), CC BY 2.5, via Wikimedia CommonsVictoria, Canada, Oct 28, 2025 / 15:55 pm (CNA).The furtive establishment of a stand-alone, private euthanasia house in Victoria, the capital city of the Canadian province of British Columbia, has sparked criticism from pro-lifers and exposed yet another way in which medical assistance in dying (MAID) is spreading throughout America's neighbor to the North.A Toronto-based nonprofit called MAiDHouse opened the euthanasia facility at an undisclosed location in the provincial capital in February. It launched a Toronto MAID house in 2021.Euthanasia opponents are troubled by the under-the-radar expansion of MAID facilities, especially since the unidentified houses may be in residential neighborhoods.The MAID houses appear to have the full backing of the federal government. Not only has the Canada Revenue Agency granted MAiDHouse, also know...

Syrian transitional president visits Greek Orthodox patriarch in Damascus

Greek Orthodox Patriarch John X Yazigi of Antioch and All the East (right) receives Ahmad al-Shar'a, the head of Syria's transitional administration, on Oct. 26, 2025, at the patriarchal residence in Damascus. / Credit: Syrian PresidencyACI MENA, Oct 28, 2025 / 11:32 am (CNA).In a sign of diversity and coexistence in post-transition Syria, Greek Orthodox Patriarch John X Yazigi of Antioch and All the East on Sunday received Ahmad al-Shar'a, the head of Syria's transitional administration, at the patriarchal residence in Damascus.Al-Shar'a was accompanied by Maher al-Shar'a, secretary-general of the presidency, and Maher Marwan Idlibi, governor of Damascus, at the Oct. 26 meeting.According to a post published on the official X account of the Syrian presidency, the purpose of the visit was to "learn about the situation of the Christian community." The presidency added that the visit "reflects the shared commitment to strengthen national values and foster unity among the people of...

St. Paul Center to kick off 'largest Bible study in America'

The St. Paul Center in Steubenville, Ohio, is a nonprofit research and educational institute that promotes life-transforming Scripture study from the heart of the Church. The center serves clergy and laity, students, and scholars with research and study tools. / Credit: St. Paul CenterWashington, D.C. Newsroom, Oct 27, 2025 / 15:53 pm (CNA).The St. Paul Center for Biblical Theology is launching a new Bible study program to help Catholics prepare for the Advent and Christmas seasons. The Bible study, titled "Bible Across America," is set to begin Nov. 5 and aims to gather Catholics "around God's Word to prayerfully study Scripture, grow in discipleship, and build one another up in the Lord," the organization announced. The course represents the latest addition to the St. Paul Center, whose offerings include online courses, academic books on Scripture and theology, and in-person events for clergy and laity across the country.Based in Steubenville, Ohio, the St. Paul Center i...

Putin signals concern for 'falling birth rates' in Russia, seeks state solutions

Vladimir Putin, president of Russia expressed concern about the ongoing internal problem of "falling birth rates" in October 2025. / Credit: FotoField/ShutterstockWashington, D.C. Newsroom, Oct 27, 2025 / 17:08 pm (CNA).Russian President Vladimir Putin is voicing concern about the ongoing internal problem of "falling birth rates" in his own country and suggesting state action to address the issue.Putin said in an Oct. 23 meeting with the Council for the Implementation of State Demographic and Family Policy that drops in birth rates have become "a global trend and a global challenge in the modern world" that is especially affecting economically developed countries, "and Russia is unfortunately no exception."Russia, he noted, has had "demographic pitfalls" from losses in World War II and problems that coincided with the collapse of the Soviet Union. Though he did not mention the ongoing war with Ukraine, Russia has also lost between 137,000 and 228,000 soldiers in the war approac...