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Pax Christi USA joins major interfaith call for closure of Guantanamo Bay

Pax Christi USA has called for the closure of the Guantánamo Bay prison since it was established decades ago. Now on the 24th anniversary of the prison's opening, we are proud to be one of 115 organizations that have signed this statement led by the Center for Victims of Torture and the Center for Constitutional Rights which reaffirms that it must be closed, without repurposing it for any future ... Read More


Pope Leo: Failure to welcome abuse victims is a scandal

Image: Vatican Media

The full text of Pope Leo XIV's speech at the conclusion of the January 7-8 Consistory, published yesterday, insists that victims and survivors of abuse "need to be accompanied with the closeness of authentic pastors." Although it was not a specific topic of the Extraordinary Consistory, Pope stressed that "abuse itself causes a deep wound, which may last a lifetime; but often the scandal in the ... Read More


Stroud: Monastery of Our Lady and St Bernard 2026 programme

Scriptorium at Monastery or Our Lady and St. Bernard, Brownshill, Stroud

Founded just 20 years ago, the Monastery of Our Lady and St Bernard is the home of a community of Bernardine Cistercian Nuns, who follow the Rule of St Benedict and are part of the Cistercian family. Situated in the hills of the south Cotswolds, in a designated area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, the Cotswold valleys and hills enhances the peace of the monastery which is conducive to their life o... Read More


India: St Devasahayam declared 'Patron Saint of the Laity'

St Devasahayam

Rev Dr Merlin Rengith Ambrose DCL writes: In an historic move that has sent ripples of joy through the subcontinent and the global Catholic community, the Conference of Catholic Bishops of India (CCBI) has officially announced that St Devasahayam has been declared the Patron Saint of the Laity in India. This confirmation, issued via a Vatican decree in July 2025 by the authority of Pope Leo XIV, ... Read More

Gospel in Art: Feast of the Baptism of the Lord

Baptism of Christ by Andrea del Verrocchio and Leonardo da Vinci, painted 1472-1475. © Uffizi Gallery, Florence

Gospel of 11 January 2026 Matthew 3:13-17 At that time: Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John, to be baptised by him. John would have prevented him, saying, 'I need to be baptised by you, and do you come to me?' But Jesus answered him, 'Let it be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfil all righteousness.' Then he consented. And when Jesus was baptised, immediately he went up from t... Read More


Pope advises young people: First of all, pray

Image: Vatican Media

Pope Leo received an enthusiastic welcome when he arrived in Pope Paul VI Hall for a meeting with young people of the Diocese of Rome on Saturday. In his reflection the Holy Father advised them not to be content with superficial relationships, but to seek the truth, goodness and communion that arise from encountering God and one's neighbour. Pope Leo said that shortly before the meeting he had re... Read More


Petition to save the only football pitch in Bethlehem

Israel recently ordered the demolition of a football pitch in Palestine! This field is the only green space that is used by young people in Aida Refugee Camp in Bethlehem - .the only place children feel free, where they play, belong - even with the Separation Wall looming. FIFA and UEFA can stop this, but only if the world is watching. Bulldozers could come any day now. More than 300,000 people ar... Read More


Sunday Reflection with Canon Robin Gibbons: Baptism of the Lord

Piero della Francesca - The Baptism of Christ

11th January 2026 Though our Liturgy has its structures, its rubrics, its scriptures, poetry, prayer texts and its chants, it can never really be tidied up according to human desires, because perfection is not something we, as humans, will ever achieve in this life. And that is all for the good, because the messiness of our worship, the untidiness of each one's vocation of prayer and Christian lif... Read More


Ireland: Archbishop Martin welcomes RTE move to broadcast Sunday Mass from parish churches

Archbishop Martin celebrating Mass in St Peter's Church, Drogheda,  Armagh, for 400th anniversary of birth of St Oliver Plunkett (CCO archive)

Starting this Sunday, 11 January 2026, RTÉ (Raidió Teilifís Éireann) will broadcast all Sunday Mass and worship transmissions directly from churches, marking a significant move away from studio-based broadcasting to parish church locations and worship settings. Sunday's Mass will be broadcast live at 11am from St Mary's Church, Navan, Co Kildare, in the Diocese of Meath, and the celebrant wil... Read More


Gospel in Art: Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing

Christ Teaching at Capernaum,  by Maurycy Gottlieb 1878-79   © National Museum, Warsaw

Gospel of 10 January 2026 Luke 4:14-22a At that time: Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit to Galilee, and a report about him went out through all the surrounding country. And he taught in their synagogues, being glorified by all. And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up. And as was his custom, he went to the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and he stood up to read. And the scroll o... Read More


Pope Leo warns "war is back in vogue"

Screenshot

In his New Year meeting with members of the Diplomatic Corps on Friday, Pope Leo XIV warned that human rights and freedoms are under strain, as diplomacy in the world is giving way to the logic of power and war. Warning that "war is back in vogue" and that peace is increasingly sought through force rather than justice, Pope Leo XIV issued a strong appeal for humility, dialogue, and a renewed co... Read More


Christian aid agencies in coalition urging UK Government to keep its commitment to Sudan + petition

Today, 9 January, marks 1000 days of conflict in Sudan - one of the world's most severe humanitarian crises - where more than 33.7 million people are in urgent need of humanitarian assistance. That is nearly two in three people. 13 of the UK's leading aid agencies, including CAFOD, World Vision, Christian Aid and Tearfund, have united to call on the UK government to act now to prevent further cat... Read More


Sudan: 1,000 days of failure

Image Pax Christi USA

As Sudan marks 1,000 days of war, the international community is failing to prevent mass atrocities and the targeting of minorities such as Christians and Black Africans by both sides. The Sudan conflict is the world's largest humanitarian crisis, but according to British parliamentarian Lord Alton, there is "a lack of concerted diplomatic engagement, and no end to the suffering of Sudanese civil... Read More


Pope pledges to hold a Consistory every year

At the end of the second day of the Extraordinary Consistory, yesterday, Pope Leo XIV expressed his desire to continue along this path, "in continuity" with what was requested in the pre-Conclave general congregations, and confirmed the Ecclesial Assembly of October 2028. Speaking at a press conference Cardinal Stephen Brislin of South Africa, Cardinal Pablo David of the Philippines, and Cardinal ... Read More

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