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Former Ramallah Friends School student Shadi Khoury has been sentenced by an Israeli military court to 32 months in prison and a 12,000-shekel fine. Palestinian Shadi Khoury was sentenced on unsubstantiated charges of participation in a protest more than three years ago, when he was still a child. Shadi, who has consistently denied all the accusations, must turn himself in on 29 March. Aged 16 whe... Read More

On Thursday 19 February, the School of Church Communications at Rome's Santa Croce University held a webinar with US Catholic media organisation Our Sunday Visitor. Aimed primarily at journalists, the webinar was entitled 'Leo XIV, the North and South American Pope' and billed as a preparation for a residential event for journalists in Rome, 'The Church Up Close 2026', to be held in September. Fr ... Read More

Gospel of 20 February 2026 Matthew 9:14-15 At that time: The disciples of John came to Jesus, saying, 'Why do we and the Pharisees fast, but your disciples do not fast?' And Jesus said to them, 'Can the wedding guests mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them? The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast.' Reflection on the Contemporary Sculpture The g... Read More

Dr Phyllis Zagano, world expert on the question of women deacons and a member of Pope Francis's initial commission on the topic, will be speaking with the National Board of Catholic Women on Thursday, 26 February from 6.30-7.30pm - in a talk entitled: 'The Synod and Women: Which Way to the Future?' Dr Zagano is the author or editor of 27 books, hundreds of academic and general articles. Her month... Read More

Concluding a biennial gathering, the officers and members of the Episcopal Conferences of the Americas met from February 15-17 at a retreat centre to pray and discuss their shared ministry as pastors. The eleven bishops attending included bishops from the Latin American and Caribbean Episcopal Council (CELAM), the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB), and the United States Conference of ... Read More

A new World Council of Churches (WCC) factsheet entitled 'Jerusalem's Old City: A Future in the Balance' details the pressing challenges facing the Old City's Palestinian residents, advocates for a sustainable and just future where its unique cultural and religious identity can thrive, and provides options that can be pursued from a developmental perspective. "The Old City is a place of stark co... Read More

Priests Against Genocide USA-part of a global network of 2,200 priests from 58 countries, along with 22 bishops, archbishops, and two cardinals-issued an open letter to the US Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) calling on Catholic leaders in the United States to speak with moral clarity regarding President Trump's convening of the 'Board of Peace"'on February 19, 2026 in Washington, DC. The gr... Read More

Catholic People's Weeks (CPW) have announced their programme of Holidays with a Difference for the 2026 season, together with unprecedented discounts for new members. The 81-year-old lay-led organisation is running three events this year, including for the first time this September, a pilgrimage: the Augustine Camino in Kent. The popular summer week for people of all ages will be held at St Cassia... Read More

Pope Leo presided over Ash Wednesday Mass in Rome's Basilica of Saint Sabina last night. In his reflection he said the ashes the attendees were about to receive on their forehands, remind us of "the weight of a world that is ablaze, of entire cities destroyed by war." The state of the world, Pope Leo stressed, asks us on this Ash Wednesday "to call death for what it is, and to carry its marks w... Read More

Gospel of 19 February 2026 Luke 9:22-25 At that time: Jesus said to his disciples: 'The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised.' And he said to all, 'If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but wh... Read More

Around 70 Christians gathered outside the Ministry of Defence in Central London today, to take part in the annual Ash Wednesday procession and prayer vigil. This was the 44th year Christians undertook this witness to, "the belief that it is better to risk living by the code of nonviolence, than to live a half-life hiding behind the false security of war and war preparations of all kinds." They rep... Read More

A Jerusalem Voice for Justice - an ecumenical witness for equality and a just peace in Palestine/Israel - have issued the following message for the beginning of Ramadan and Lent. In these days, Christians begin their Lenten fast, which leads us to Holy Week and the glorious celebration of Easter. Our Muslim brothers and sisters also initiate their fast of the month of Ramadan. This means that we a... Read More

Bishop Brendan Leahy, Bishop of Limerick and a member of the Vatican's Dicastery for Interreligious Dialogue writes: This year, Christians and Muslims are marking Lent and Ramadan at the same time. Through its message from the Vatican's department for Inter-religious Dialogue, the global Catholic Church expresses our solidarity with Muslims. The message invites us all to renew our gaze on God who ... Read More

The College of Consultors of the Diocese of Arundel and Brighton have elected Canon Jonathan Martin as Diocesan Administrator to provide stability and continuity, and to serve and guide the faithful of the diocese until a new Bishop is appointed by Pope Leo XIV. The move came a day after the former Bishop of the diocese, the Most Reverend Richard Moth, was Installed the twelfth Archbishop of Westm... Read More