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.