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The Vatican Publishing House has released a new book by Pope Leo XIV entitled Disarmed and Disarming: Peace Is a Gift. Edited by Alessandro Banfi, the volume brings together Pope Leo's addresses and reflections on peace since his election on 8 May 2025. The collection, which hits the bookshelves in Italian but will soon be available in English, opens with the following previously unpublished text ... Read More

The Bishop of Plymouth, Rt Rev Nicholas Hudson, Canon John Deeny, Episcopal Delegate for Caritas Diocese of Plymouth, and Simon Giarchi, the Diocese's Head of Caritas, met the King during the visit he and the Queen made to Blandford Forum last Thursday. During the visit, the King and Queen visited stalls showing the work of charities from across Dorset. The King spoke at length with Bishop Nichola... Read More

Caritas Social Action Network (CSAN) has invited the new Prime Minister, the Rt Hon Andy Burnham, and his team to discuss how government, faith groups and charities can work together to build flourishing communities. In a letter to the Prime Minister, Raymond Friel OBE, Chief Executive of CSAN, offers the support and practical experience of the network's 50 member organisations, united by a commit... Read More

On his first morning as the UK's new Prime Minister, yesterday, Andy Burnham visited The Passage to learn more about their work supporting people who are experiencing or at risk of homelessness in London. During the visit, Burnham joined members of The Passage's Engagement and Outreach Team as they met people sleeping rough in the Victoria area. Together, they spoke with individuals currently slee... Read More

New pilgrimage routes across the North of England are inviting people of all backgrounds to step into journeys of reflection, discovery and hope. The routes - including the Kent Estuary Pilgrim Way, Spurn Point Way, Fountains Way, St Paulinus Way and St Bega's Way amongst others - connect churches, historic sites, coastlines, countryside and communities. Together they offer opportunities to explor... Read More

Priests Against Genocide, a global network of more than 2,400 Catholic priests across 62 countries - including two cardinals and 26 bishops - has sent an open letter to An Taoiseach, An Tánaiste, government ministers and members of the Oireachtas, urging Ireland to use its new Presidency of the European Union to press for an end to the conflict in Gaza and for accountability under international l... Read More

Thousands gathered this weekend for the Our Lady of Mount Carmel procession in Clerkenwell, central London, thought to be the oldest post Reformation outdoor expression of the Catholic faith in England. In bright sunshine, people came from all over London and beyond to 'Little Italy' for the procession, the Benediction and Mass at St Peter's Italian church, and to sample the Italian food and drink... Read More

Gospel of 21 July 2026 Matthew 12:46-50 At that time: While Jesus was still speaking to the people, behold, his mother and his brothers and sisters stood outside, asking to speak to him. But he replied to the man who told him, 'Who is my mother, and who are my brothers and sisters?' And stretching out his hand towards his disciples, he said, 'Here are my mother and my brothers and sisters! For who... Read More

On Monday morning, July 20, Pope Leo XIV paid a private visit to the Abbey of Monte Cassino and its monastic community. He paused to pray at the tomb of St Benedict, "entrusting to him his plea for peace in those regions of the world marked by bloodshed and conflict," the Vatican said later in a statement. Pope Leo then had lunch with the religious community and, afterwards, returned to Castel Ga... Read More

The first night of the Proms, 'the World's greatest classical music festival', at the Royal Albert Hall, had a heavenly send-off last Friday with Finzi's 'ceremonial ode' for St Cecilia, the (albeit legendary) patron saint of music, closing the scheduled works of the evening. Cecilia is figured as the divine source of musical inspiration and the ode celebrates English composers as diverse as the C... Read More

Edward Stourton, the prominent Catholic broadcaster, journalist and author, died on 18 July at the age of 68. He had been suffering from prostate cancer. His career included a decade on BBC Radio 4's Today programme and the station's weekly religion and ethics programme Sunday. He was a founding member of Channel 4 News and wrote several books. Cardinal Vincent Nichols, retired Archbishop of Westm... Read More

The Director and CEO of Catholic aid agency CAFOD congratulated Andy Burnham as he was appointed UK Prime Minister on Monday, and noted that his Catholic background and Catholic social teaching will be a valuable guide in the challenges he will face in his new job. Christine Allen said: "Andy Burnham's Catholic upbringing will undoubtedly continue to play an important part in informing his leader... Read More

Archbishop Richard Moth, President of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of England and Wales, has offered his congratulations to new Prime Minister Andy Burnham: "As President of the Bishops' Conference, and on behalf of the Catholic community in our countries, I offer my warm congratulations to Andy Burnham on becoming leader of the Labour Party and now Prime Minister. "We are living in challengin... Read More

Bishop Nicholas Hudson has called on parishioners in the Diocese of Plymouth to ask young men in their parishes if they have ever considered the priesthood. "If you know of a young man in whom you see a potential priest," he writes, "ask him; sow the seed." A simple question could be the first step toward a vocation. In a Pastoral Letter marking his own 40th Priestly Jubilee and the Jubilee of thr... Read More