Advertisement The Margaret Beaufort Institute of TheologyThe Margaret Beaufort Institute of Theology Would you like to advertise on ICN? Click to learn more.

Latest News


Gospel in Art: The hour is coming when you will be scattered

Chalk Paths, by Eric Ravilious, 1935 © Alamy

Gospel of 18 May 2026 John 16:29-33 At that time: The disciples said to Jesus, 'Ah, now you are speaking plainly and not using figurative speech! Now we know that you know all things and do not need anyone to question you; this is why we believe that you came from God.' Jesus answered them, 'Do you now believe? Behold, the hour is coming, indeed it has come, when you will be scattered, each to his... Read More


Pope Leo: Care for peace is care for life

St Francis preaches to the birds - Giotto. Wiki Image

Laudato Si' Week runs from May 17 to 24. As he prayed the Regina Caeli on Sunday, Pope Leo noted that the annual event celebrating the anniversary of Pope Francis' encyclical on care for our common home, invites all people to move from hope to action. The Pope encouraged the members of the Laudato Si' Movement and all those who work for an integral ecology to renew their commitment. Referring to S... Read More


Pope Leo: Communication must respect truth of human person

Photo by Vitaly Gariev on Unsplash

The Catholic Church marked the 60th World Day of Social Communications on Sunday, May 17. Speaking at the Regina Caeli prayer, with pilgrims in St Peter's Square, Pope Leo XIV recalled the World Day and encouraged everyone to promote forms of communication that always respect the truth of the human person. He pointed to the vast advances in technology in recent years regarding communication, and c... Read More


Ireland: Bishop Hayes welcomes start of Laudato si Week

Bishop Martin Hayes Image CCO archive

Bishop Martin Hayes, Bishop of Kilmore and Episcopal Coordinator of Laudato Si' for the Irish Catholic Bishops' Conference, issued the following statement today for the start of Laudato Si' Week 2026: "Starting today - and for this week - the universal Catholic Church celebrates the 11th anniversary of Laudato Si', the groundbreaking and bestselling encyclical of Pope Francis on 'Care for our Com... Read More

Mining and Mammon

Brumadinho Dam, Brazil  - toxic sludge covered homes, farmland, livestock and people.

Spring is the season of mining company Annual General Meetings (AGMs) in London, when shareholders gather to hear from Boards of Directors about how much money they have made over the past year, and how, and why. Given that very little mining takes place in Britain any more, you may be surprised at the number of mining companies headquartered here or listed on the London Stock Exchange - that is, ... Read More


Petition: NHS Staff and the Assisted Suicide Bill

Photo by National Cancer Institute on Unsplash

Following the fall of the Leadbeater Assisted Dying Bill, fresh bids to introduce an assisted dying law in England and Wales are anticipated. Any new law would likely pressure NHS staff to be involved and offer even less protection to institutions like hospices. Help protect healthcare workers by signing the Bios Centre online petition to protect conscientious objection rights for religious and pe... Read More


London: Christians in Nakba Day March for Palestine

Passionist worker Paschal Somers reports: The National March for Palestine held on Saturday, 16 May 2026, in London, was a well-supported demonstration that doubled as a commemoration of the Nakba - marking 78 years since the 1948 displacement of Palestinians - and a unified counter - rally against the Far-Right with Tommy Robinson, who had organised a 'Unite the Kingdom' rally in central Londo... Read More


London: Conscientious Objectors' Day vigil

Raised Voices choir with Sue Gilmurray

On Friday, 15 May, campaigners, peace organisations and supporters gathered in Tavistock Square, London, to mark International Conscientious Objectors' Day. The annual ceremony remembers those, past and present, who have refused to take part in war. Around the world, people continue to face imprisonment, exile, punishment and social pressure for refusing military service. This year's event include... Read More


Gospel in Art: And I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world

Holy Spirit by Yeinier Gonzalez  2022

Gospel of 17 May 2026 John 17:1-11a At that time: Jesus lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, 'Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you, since you have given him authority over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him. And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. I glorified you on eart... Read More


Pope approves creation of Commission on Artificial Intelligence

Image:  Vatican Media

Pope Leo XIV has approved the creation of an Interdicasterial Commission on Artificial Intelligence in a rescript dated May 12 and released on Saturday 16 May. The document was signed by Cardinal Michael Czerny, Prefect of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development. Considering "the development in recent decades of the phenomenon of Artificial Intelligence and the most recent accelerat... Read More


Day for Life fund - applications invited

Photo by Glenn Carstens-Peters on Unsplash

The Day for Life Fund provides financial assistance each year to organisations working to support the Church's mission to protect human life from conception to natural death. These include but are not limited to: Start of life; End of life; Grief relating to start or end of life issues; Pregnancy; Miscarriage; Hospice and terminal care and Dementia care. Each year, the money donated by the fai... Read More


Sunday Reflection with Canon Robin Gibbons - May 17th 2026

Folio 184 the Ascension

Seventh Sunday after Easter The period between the Ascension and Pentecost is always a slightly strange one, in that we have celebrated the Lord's leave taking and wait in a kind of vacuum for that great outpouring of the Spirit on the nascent community which becomes in time what we know as the Church. This period may seem slightly artificial as the reality of the experience of the Resurrection, a... Read More


Gospel in Art: Ask, and you will receive

Self portrait by William Hogarth © National Portrait Gallery, London / Creative Commons

Gospel of 16 May 2026 John 16:23b-28 At that time: Jesus said to his disciples, 'Truly, truly, I say to you, whatever you ask of the Father in my name, he will give it to you. Until now you have asked nothing in my name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full. 'I have said these things to you in figures of speech. The hour is coming when I will no longer speak to you in figures of sp... Read More


Holy Land: Desperate plea for solidarity after violent erupts again in Jerusalem

City scape of Jerusalem © Ilona Budzbon

An urgent call for the Church worldwide to redouble efforts to stand in solidarity with the faithful of the Holy Land has come after the latest outbreak of violence in Jerusalem. Palestinian Christians were among those at risk when thousands of militant nationalists swarmed the Old City on Jerusalem Day (yesterday, 14th May), which marks the anniversary of Israel's occupation of the sacred site an... Read More

Mobile Menu Toggle Icon