UK & Ireland

The Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland has encouraged people to be signs of peace for each other, and for the world, during 2026. Speaking at Mass in Armagh to welcome in the New Year, Archbishop Martin echoed the words of Pope Leo XIV who, in his 1 January message for the 59th World Day of Peace, calls for a peace that is "unarmed and disarming." Archbishop Martin observed the custom... Read More

A Royal nanny and the businessman who rescued Celtic FC are among the Catholics named In the 2026 New Year Honours list. The Catholic recipients include: Maria Teresa Turrion Borrallo, MVO: The long-serving nanny to Prince William and Catherine, Princess of Wales, was made a Member of the Royal Victorian Order. She is widely recognized as a devout Catholic. Fergus McCann, CBE: The businessman and ... Read More

Rt Rev Mark Davies, Bishop of Shrewsbury writes in his Christmas Message, titled The Summer of Flags and the Lights of Christmas: The national flags which suddenly appeared in communities across the country, were among the most unexpected events of 2025. In some of our most deprived communities the vast number of these flags was something I had never witnessed before. Many commentators offered in... Read More

In his first Christmas message as Bishop of Plymouth, the Right Reverend Nicholas Hudson reflects on the wonder of the Nativity and invites Catholics across Devon, Dorset and Cornwall to embrace Christ's call to "make your home in me as I make mine in you." Bishop Nicholas speaks movingly of the annual return to the manger scene: "Whatever age you are, it's always deeply moving, isn't it, to see t... Read More

Last Christmas, Columban Missionary Fr John McEvoy was invited to celebrate Mass in the ruins of Killoughey's old church and cemetery where 373 years previously 100 people were brutally killed as they attended Christmas Day Mass. It was a strange invitation. At the time I thought it unreasonable and even not possible! Would I consider offering Mass on Christmas morning in a ruined church in the ol... Read More

On 20th December in Cork, Ireland, the Presentation Sisters launched a year of celebrating the 250th anniversary of the founding of the Presentation Congregation by Nano Nagle. On Christmas Eve 1775 in Cork, Nano Nagle, with her three companions - Mary Ann Collins, Mary Fouhy and Elizabeth Burke, founded a religious community in response to God's call to them to become consecrated women who would ... Read More

His Holiness Pope Leo XIV has appointed the Bishop Marcus Stock as Apostolic Administrator of the Diocese of Middlesbrough. Following acceptance of the resignation, in accordance with Canon 401 - 11, of the Rt Rev Terence Drainey as Bishop of Middlesbrough, His Holiness Pope Leo XIV has appointed Bishop Marcus Stock as Apostolic Administrator of the Diocese of Middlesbrough, whilst retaining his c... Read More

Church Leaders: "The gift of hope is as precious as ever ... In our own country there are many who live in fear and uncertainty, struggling to make ends meet and fearful of what the future may bring ... Every life should be lived out in hope" Christmas 2025 message His name will be called Emmanuel, which means 'God with us' (Mt 1:23). For Christians, what happened on the first Christmas night ov... Read More

Christian leaders across Wales have come together to issue a joint Christmas message to the people of Wales. The Most Revd Mark O'Toole, Catholic Archbishop of Cardiff-Menevia, The Most Revd Cherry Vann, Archbishop of Wales (Church in Wales), and Rev Dyfrig Rees, President of the Free Church Council of Wales, reflect on the profound truth of Emmanuel - God with us. Drawing on the witness of theolo... Read More

His Holiness Pope Leo XIV has today, 22 December 2025, appointed Canon Gerard Bradley as an Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Southwark. Welcoming the news, the Most Reverend John Wilson, Archbishop of Southwark, said: "It fills me with great joy to welcome Bishop-elect Gerard Bradley as Auxiliary Bishop of Southwark. I thank the Holy Father, Pope Leo XIV, for his generosity and care in prov... Read More

The latest victim of a fatal stabbing in Islington, north London, 15-year-old Adam John Henry, was remembered today at St Mellitus Church, Finsbury Park. Adam John Henry was attacked at around 1pm last Tuesday. He died later that day in hospital. A 20 year old man has now been charged with murder.. Morning Mass-goers gathered in silence to pray for the young man, his family, and all the victims ... Read More

Since news of the appointment of Bishop Richard Moth as the new Archbishop of Westminster was released this morning, many messages of congratulation have been arriving. Aid to the Church in Need Dr Caroline Hull, director of Aid to the Church in Need (UK), said: "I am delighted to learn of Bishop Moth's appointment as the new Archbishop of Westminster. His help and support of the work of ACN has b... Read More

Guests at Farm Street Jesuit Centre homeless lunch in Mayfair were in for a treat yesterday when they were entertained with a concert by singer Patricia Hammond and instrumentalist Matt Redman and seasonal readings by Gabrielle Lister and Kenneth Michaels from CaAPA - the Catholic Association of Performing Arts. Kenneth read a very heartwarming piece from Charles Dickens A Christmas Carol. Pa... Read More

His Holiness Pope Leo XIV has today, 19 December, appointed the Right Reverend Richard Moth as Archbishop of Westminster. Ordained to the priesthood for the Archdiocese of Southwark on 3 July 1982, Archbishop-elect Moth has served as Bishop of Arundel and Brighton since 2015. Prior to that, he was the Catholic Bishop of the Forces from 2009 to 2015. Archbishop-elect Moth will become the 12th Archb... Read More