Pope Francis elevated the Final Synod Document to magisterial teaching, stating that discernment on women deacons must continue and “what comes from the Holy Spirit cannot be stopped.” Yet this new commission report attempts to close discussion entirely.

A forgotten priest, a village teacher and a broken organ came together on Christmas Eve 1818 to create “Silent Night.” What began as a simple guitar hymn in a tiny Austrian church became an anthem of hope for generations.

A growing network of Buddhists and technologists is attempting to ensure that wisdom traditions have a voice in shaping artificial intelligence. Their work spans translation projects, ethical debates and deep questions about consciousness that challenge both the limits and possibilities of modern AI.

In an age that shrugs at the sacred, Justine Toh explains how deepfakes still manage to desecrate the dignity of the people depicted in them. Maybe “nothing is sacred” – until it is.

In an address to the Italian bishops, Conference President, Mateo Zuppi , describes a Church that refuses to draw battle lines, sees no enemies to defeat, and only people to love. Stripped of presumed influence, the community rediscovers its true strength: the quiet gift of itself.

The historic site of Nicaea, where Christian doctrine was first unified, now hosts Pope Leo XIV and Patriarch Bartholomew in a gesture of shared faith. Their presence together invites reflection on unity, tradition, and the potential for healing old rifts.

Pope Leo XIV stirred debate by linking pro-life values with treatment of immigrants. His comments challenged American Catholics to rethink the narrow focus on abortion, urging a broader understanding rooted in Church teaching on dignity and human rights.

An urgent message on immigration nearly failed to reach the agenda at the bishops’ meeting in Baltimore. Only behind closed doors did leaders push to address the crisis, ultimately empowering four bishops to draft the hard-won pastoral statement.

A media-shy clergy is failing to meet the moment. In places where injustice and inequality grow louder, the Church’s prophetic voice is too often missing. Here’s why that silence costs more than caution can afford.

German-speaking Churches transformed the Missal by blending theological insight, local culture, and musical tradition. Through translation and reform, a once-Latin liturgy became accessible, participatory, and pastoral—offering a living expression of worship that honours both the universal Church and the richness of local Catholic identity.