2+ day, 11+ hour ago (228+ words) (ZENIT News / Vatican City, 11.27.2025).- On the afternoon of Wednesday, November 26, Pope Leo XIV received in audience, in the Synod Hall of Bishops in Vatican City, the superiors of male religious orders and congregations in the context of their Fourth Plenary Assembly. Below is ZENIT's English translation of Pope Leo XIV's address: I am pleased to meet you on the occasion of your one hundred and fortieth General Assembly. As you know, I too carried out the ministry that has been entrusted to you, and I know the importance of coming together to listen and to discern, in the light of the Holy Spirit, what the Lord asks of you and your Orders and Congregations for the good of the Church. For this assembly, you have chosen the theme: "Connected Faith: Living Prayer in the Digital Age. It touches on three…...

2+ day, 11+ hour ago (232+ words) (ZENIT News / Vatican City, 11.27.2025).- On the afternoon of the first day of his pastoral trip to Turkey, Pope Leo XIV visited the President of the Republic at the Presidential Palace in Ankara and delivered the speech below, translated into English. Mr President, Distinguished Authorities, Members of the Diplomatic Corps, Ladies and Gentlemen, Thank you very much for your kind welcome! I am pleased to begin the Apostolic Journeys of my Pontificate with a visit to your country, for this land is inextricably linked to the origins of Christianity, and today it beckons the children of Abraham and all humanity to a fraternity that recognizes and appreciates differences. The Holy See, with only its spiritual and moral strength, wishes to cooperate with all nations that have at heart the integral development of each and every person. Let us walk together, then,…...

2+ day, 11+ hour ago (206+ words) The choice of the trees was not random. Forest stewards conducted a meticulous selection process, prioritising sustainability and the life cycle of the woodland Forty smaller trees accompany the main one, destined for offices and institutions across Vatican City. Their presence is quieter, perhaps, but together they form a network of Alpine greens meant to bring a sense of mountain serenity into the daily work of the Holy See. The choice of the trees was not random. Forest stewards conducted a meticulous selection process, prioritising sustainability and the life cycle of the woodland. Mature trees, whose removal aids overall forest health, were identified for harvest. This approach has long been central to the forestry philosophy of the region: intervention not as intrusion, but as a measure of protection. Address of the Pope during the Meeting with Authorities, Civil Society, and…...

2+ day, 12+ hour ago (488+ words) The initiative comes at a time when Gaza's already overstretched health system has been shattered by more than two years of war (ZENIT News / Belem, 11.27.2025).- The vehicle that once carried Pope Francis through the streets of Bethlehem has returned to the city'this time transformed. What was a symbol of pastoral closeness during the pontiff's 2014 visit now stands ready as a mobile clinic for Gaza's children, though it remains stalled at the threshold of the conflict-torn enclave pending Israeli authorization. Its second life, Vatican officials say, was among the late pontiff's final personal wishes. After the death of Francis in April, Church representatives disclosed that he had expressed a desire to see the popemobile repurposed for medical service in Gaza, where years of warfare have devastated health infrastructure and left children among the most vulnerable. Cardinal Anders Arborelius of Stockholm, who…...

2+ day, 12+ hour ago (176+ words) What troubles Church leaders most is not simply the technical manipulation, but the pastoral impact (ZENIT News / Seoul, 11.27.2025).- The Catholic bishops of South Korea have issued an unusually stark warning: do not trust every episcopal face or sermon circulating online. Behind the calm cadence of well-produced video clips, they say, may lie neither a bishop nor the Church's teaching, but an algorithm trained to imitate both. The digital environment may evolve, but the obligation to speak truthfully'and to listen wisely'remains unchanged. On the eve of his departure for T'rkiye and Lebanon, the Pope invites us to pray for Christian communities who live in war-torn or conflict zones. Leo XIV invites them to not feel abandoned and to be "seeds of peace, reconciliation and hope." He then asks all Christians in the world "to not fall into indifference" and to be…...

2+ day, 12+ hour ago (318+ words) The Supreme Court's decision closes one legal chapter but opens a much larger social conversation. Whether that conversation becomes a source of conflict or a bridge toward a more confident and inclusive future will depend on how schools, churches, parents and policymakers choose to respond Removing the girl from religious activities, her parents argued, would have left her visibly isolated'the lone pupil excused while her classmates prayed or sang. The court agreed, calling the withdrawal mechanism a false safeguard that effectively penalized families who did not share the school's religious frame of reference. The ruling's significance has been felt across Northern Ireland's civic and ecclesial circles. Some see the judgment as a long overdue acknowledgment of the region's changing social fabric; others as a capitulation to secular pressures or, worse, an erosion of a Christian heritage that has shaped generations....

3+ day, 8+ hour ago (342+ words) Pope Leo XIV approved the awarding of the 2025 Ratzinger Prize to Maestro Riccardo Muti. The award ceremony, presided over by Leo XIV, will take place on the afternoon of December 12, during the Christmas Concert conducted by Maestro Riccardo Muti himself in Paul VI Hall. (ZENIT News / Rome, 11. 26. 2025).- The Scientific Committee and the Board of Directors of the Joseph Ratzinger-Benedict XVI Vatican Foundation announced that Pope Leo XIV approved the awarding of the 2025 Ratzinger Prize to Maestro Riccardo Muti. The immense value of Maestro Muti's art is universally recognized, and Benedict XVI was also considered a sincere admirer. For his part, the Maestro reciprocated this esteem with repeated personal displays of attention and affection, even when Pope Benedict XVI, after his resignation, was at the Mater Ecclesiae Monastery. Maestro Muti expressed his gratitude for the award with these meaningful words: "I…...

3+ day, 12+ hour ago (284+ words) Another benefit of the program has been the increase in seminarians. The diocese promotes vocations with the Called by Name program, which has been successful in other dioceses in the United States. (ZENIT News / Bridgeport, 11. 26. 2025).- The Diocese of Bridgeport, in the state of Connecticut, USA, has seen a 22% increase in Mass attendance since 2022, according to statements by Frank Joseph Caggiano, Bishop of the diocese. The diocesan-wide program works to "renew the culture of our Church and bring each faithful closer to the Lord Jesus through an encounter with His strength and love." It promotes "small faith communities that accompany and support their members on their faith journey." Another fruit of the program has been the increase in seminarians. The diocese fosters vocations with the Called by Name program, which has been successful in other dioceses in the United States. Community…...

3+ day, 14+ hour ago (263+ words) The result represents a dramatic turnaround from the 51.2-million-euro deficit recorded the previous year and may signal a long-awaited shift toward greater financial stability. One of the most notable developments is the strong performance of the Vatican's financial management sector. The 2024 cycle generated 46 million euros in positive results, surpassing the previous year's levels. Much of this success is attributed to capital gains realized after the full activation of the Vatican's Investment Committee, which began operating effectively only this year. A Budget Aligned With Mission Other major spending areas include worship and evangelization initiatives (14%), papal and Vatican communications (12%), the diplomatic presence of the Holy See through its Apostolic Nunciatures (10%), and charitable services (10%). The remaining 17% covers a range of activities, from the organization of ecclesial life to the management of historical assets and the work of academic institutions. A Step Forward, Pending…...

3+ day, 14+ hour ago (153+ words) Builders of hope, instruments of peace Faith amidst the rubble From Francis to Leo Finally, within the context of the Holy Year 2025, The Pope Video acquires special relevance, since it allows us to learn about the prayer intentions the Pope holds in his heart. To properly receive the graces of the Jubilee indulgence, it is necessary to pray for the Pope's intentions. On the eve of his departure for T'rkiye and Lebanon, the Pope invites us to pray for Christian communities who live in war-torn or conflict zones. Leo XIV invites them to not feel abandoned and to be "seeds of peace, reconciliation and hope." He then asks all Christians in the world "to not fall into indifference" and to be "builders of unity." Pope's general audience, November 26, 2025, on how Christ's Passover illuminates the mystery of life and allows us…...