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Saturday, 18 May 2026, marks the 78th anniversary of the Nakba, ( catastrophe) which refers to the start of the ethnic cleansing of Palestine by Zionist militias to make way for the creation of Israel in 1948. Peaceful Christian, Jewish and Muslim groups will be marching together with secular organisations in cities around the world for the annual commemoration of this day. Over 700,000 people wer... Read More

Gospel of 6 May 2026 John 15:1-8 At that time: Jesus said to his disciples, 'I am the true vine, and my Father is the vine dresser. Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by ... Read More

On 5 May 2026, in New York, the Delegation of the Holy See to the Eleventh Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) delivered a statement in Main Committee III. Reaffirming its support for the peaceful use of nuclear energy in full compliance with international obligations, the Holy See highlighted the vital role of the IAEA, the importance o... Read More

Pope Leo XIV spoke briefly to reporters this evening as he left Castel Gandolfo to return to Rome, and responded to the latest critical remarks made about him by US President Donald Trump. "The mission of the Church is to proclaim the Gospel, to preach peace," he said. "If someone wants to criticise me for proclaiming the Gospel, let him do so truthfully." Speaking outside Villa Barberini, his re... Read More

Today marks the eve of the feast of Saint George, a moment that carries a special rhythm here in Bethlehem. Every year on May 6, something beautiful unfolds, something that feels both ancient and deeply alive. In our region, the feast is not only a Christian celebration, it is a shared cultural and spiritual gathering. People come from across the area, Muslims and Christians alike, drawn to the Mo... Read More

Mark Etkind, son of a survivor of the Lodz Ghetto and various concentration camps including Buchenwald - and co-organiser of Holocaust survivors and descendants against the Gaza genocide, writes: Thanks for you and your colleagues' coverage of the appalling antisemitic attack in Golders Green. But this horror should not be used to justify more restrictions on British people's right to protest. Sta... Read More

Pope Leo XIV is due to meet US Secretary of State Marco Rubio at 11.15am on Thursday 7 May at the Vatican's Apostolic Palace. They met once before, following the Mass marking the official beginning of the Pope's pontificate a year ago. US Vice President JD Vance also met the Pope that day. Earlier in the day at 9am the Pope will meet the Prime Minister of Poland, Donald Tusk. Born in Miami, Flor... Read More

A senior Church leader has demanded that the murders and mayhem end in northern Mozambique, after a historic church was reduced to rubble during a jihadist attack. Archbishop Inácio Saure of Nampula, president of the Bishops' Conference of Mozambique, made the plea for peace following the assault on St Louis de Montfort Church in Minhoene village, near Meza, Cabo Delgado Province. He said: "Let ... Read More

Gospel of 5 May 2026 John 14:27-31a At that time: Jesus said to his disciples, 'Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. You heard me say to you, "I am going away, and I will come to you." If you loved me, you would have rejoiced, because I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater ... Read More

The 20th annual Mass for Migrants and celebration for the Feast of St Joseph the Worker took place at St Antony of Padua's Catholic Church in Forest Gate, East London on Monday. The vibrant celebration, prepared by the Caritas teams and ethnic chaplaincies of the Dioceses of Brentwood, Southwark, and Westminster, began at midday with a procession of colourful placards and banners. Many participant... Read More

The Cambodian Catholic community celebrated the consecration of a new church in the Apostolic Vicariate of Phnom Penh: the Church of St Joseph the Worker, consecrated and opened for worship on 2 May during a solemn Mass presided over by Bishop Olivier Schmitthaeusler, Apostolic Vicar of Phnom Penh, with the participation of numerous priests, religious, and faithful. With these words, the Vicar ex... Read More

Bishop Kevin Doran gave this homily during Mass at Newman University Church, Archdiocese of Dublin, ahead of the 'March for Life' organised by the Pro Life Campaign. When Jesus told the Roman Governor of Judea that he had come to bear witness to the truth, Pilate's response was: "Truth, what is that?" The heart of the truth that Jesus preached was the mystery of God's love for humanity. This is... Read More

Dear ICN, I recently visited English Martyrs Church in Goring by Sea, Worthing, dedicated to the Forty Martyrs of England and Wales. It is a very welcoming church, there is a window dedicated to the 40 Martyrs and also some very beautiful glass rescued from the demolition of a local convent. Most interesting of all however is the ceiling - an exact copy of the Sistine Chapel, carefully scaled down... Read More

Dr Ian Linden gave this lecture at Queen's University Belfast on Saturday: Since Theodor Herzl encouraged Lord Rothschild and the British Colonial Secretary, Joseph Chamberlain, to embrace a Jewish colonization of Sinai, Palestine and Cyprus in the late 1890s, the historical evolution of Jewish settlement in Palestine was marked by the paired imperial concerns, Ethnicity and Land. As Uganda, propo... Read More