US & Canada

Catholic bishops and Church leaders in the United States have responded with grief and appeals for peace following the killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, who died yesterday, 10 September, at the age of 31, after being shot during a speaking event at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah. Kirk leaves behind his wife and two young children. His assassination comes amid a series of violent... Read More

The following statement is offered by the Pax Christi USA Gun Violence Prevention Working Group. Our faith tells us that every life is sacred. But the lives of children seem particularly blessed given the incredible potential that resides in each beautiful soul. This is one of the many reasons why the indiscriminate and horrific shooting of the children and adults at the Annunciation Catholic Scho... Read More

Cardinal Vincent Nichols has written to the Most Reverend Bernard A Hebda, Archbishop of Saint Paul and Minneapolis, to express his deepest sympathy and prayerful solidarity in the aftermath of the "tragic and senseless" shooting at the Annunciation Church in the US city. Two young pupils were killed and 18 others injured in the attack on Wednesday, 27 August. Cardinal Nichols, President of the B... Read More

Pope Leo XIV has expressed his profound sorrow over the murder of two children and the injuring of 17 others at the Annunciation Catholic school in the US city of Minneapolis, Minnesota, yesterday. In a message sent to Archbishop Bernard Hebda of Minneapolis, the Pope expressed his "heartfelt condolences and the assurance of spiritual closeness to all those affected by this terrible tragedy, es... Read More

The Archbishop of Los Angeles, Most Rev José H Gomez, has got together with local business leaders to launch the Family Assistance Program - a new fund aimed at helping families affected by recent immigration raids, Los Angeles Diocesan paper Angelus reports. Speaking at a press conference at St Patrick's Catholic Church yesterday, Archbishop Gomez said: "This program will provide direct support ... Read More

US-based Churches for Middle East Peace (CMEP) has condemned the brutal settler attack in the West Bank on July 11, 2025 where Sayfollah "Saif" Musallet, a 20-year-old Palestinian-American, was beaten to death, and Mohammad Shalabi, a 23-year old Palestinian was fatally shot. Saif was in the village of al-Mazra'a ash-Sharqiya visiting family and defending his ancestral land when he was assaulted. ... Read More

Bishop Alberto Rojas of San Bernardino Diocese issued a statement on Tuesday freeing the faithful from the obligation to attend Sunday Mass, after two Catholic parishes in his diocese were raided by ICE agents. Multiple people were detained in the parking lot of St Adelaide Church in Highland, California. The director of communications for the Diocese of San Bernardino, John Andrews, said those de... Read More

At the conclusion of the Angelus on Sunday, speaking in English, Pope Leo offered his sincere condolences "to all the families who have lost loved ones. - in particular their daughters who were at summer camp - in the disaster caused by the flooding of the Guadalupe River in Texas in the United States. We pray for them." Waters rose approximately eight metres (26 feet) in just 45 minutes shortly b... Read More

Following the passage of the 'One Big Beautiful Bill Act' by the US Congress today, the President of the US Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) have expressed serious concerns about its impact on the poor and vulnerable. Reacting to the final passage of the Act by the United States Congress, Archbishop Timothy Broglio, said the ruling would have harmful consequences for the most vulnerable m... Read More

"As your shepherds, your fear echoes in our hearts and we make your pain our own. Count on the commitment of all of us to stand with you in this challenging hour," said Archbishop Timothy P Broglio, president of the US Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), addressing the surge in immigration enforcement actions. He offered a reflection on behalf of the bishops of the United States and acknowled... Read More

On Tuesday, 24 June 2025, Catholic sisters from across the United States will gather on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, for a public witness event titled 'Sisters Speak Out: A Prayer and Public Witness for Immigrants and a Just Economy.' The event is being led by the Justice Conference of Women Religious, with support from over 30 congregations of women religious and Catholic organisations. The de... Read More

Thousands of young people gathered at Rate Field, home of the Chicago White Sox Major League Baseball team, on Saturday, June 14, for a joyful celebration organised by the Archdiocese of Chicago to honour the recent election of their native son, Pope Leo XIV. In a video message, the newly elected Pope, formerly Archbishop of Chiclayo, Peru, expressed gratitude and encouragement to the young people... Read More

Archbishop José H Gomez led prayers for those "hurting" in the wake of ongoing federal immigration sweeps and clashes between protestors and law enforcement in Los Angeles and other cities at a special Mass at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels on Tuesday. Pablo Kay Editor-in-Chief of the Los Angeles Diocesan paper Angelus writes: The noon Mass was part of a designated "Day of Prayer for Pe... Read More

The following is a statement from Pax Christi USA in response to the current unrest unfolding in Los Angeles and across the country, particularly as a result of the raids from the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency. We are also concerned about the upcoming parade scheduled to be held in Washington DC on Saturday, June 14, purportedly in celebration of the US military. Pax Christi USA, the ... Read More