In his message for Sea Sunday 2026, Cardinal Michael Czerny highlights the complex challenges maritime workers face today as the sea today is “increasingly marked by tension, insecurity, war, and fear.”

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During his Wednesday General Audience, Pope Leo XIV focuses on the Eucharist as he continues reflecting on Vatican II’s Dogmatic Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy, Sacrosanctum Concilium, underscoring that the sacred mystery enables us 'to adopt the very way of the Lord.'

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The Catholic bishops of Kenya have called for a renewed commitment to the dignity of human life, justice, and national dialogue, expressing concern over the growing disregard for human life and the moral challenges facing the country.

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Pope Leo XIV meets with writers from around the world to mark the 100th anniversary of the Vatican Publishing House (LEV), reminding authors that writing is an act of humanity, truth, and the search for God.

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Conflicts and humanitarian emergencies continue across the Middle East, Ukraine and Africa.

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The Dicastery for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments responds to a request made by the German Bishops, denying their petition for a layperson to preach the homily during Mass, even in exceptional cases, stating that the proclamation of the Word in the liturgical celebration is inseparable from the mission received sacramentally.

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In his opening address at the conference at the Angelicum on the theme “Building fraternity through dialogue and collaboration,” Cardinal George Koovakad, the Prefect of the Dicastery for Interreligious Dialogue, highlights the role of different religious traditions in defending and promoting peace in an increasingly fragmented and polarized world.

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On November 18, 1920, the USSR became the first country in the world to legalize abortion on request. According to Johnston’s Archive, more than 260 million abortions were performed during the 70 years of Soviet rule. The widespread legality and accessibility of the procedure contributed to the emergence of a so-called “abortion culture” within society.

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Pope Leo XIV will meet with members of the College of Cardinals on June 26-27 for an Extraordinary Consistory focused on the current situation of the Church and the world, the pursuit of peace, and the implementation of the Synod.

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WASHINGTON – The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ (USCCB) Committee on Clergy, Consecrated Life and Vocations has released its annual survey, A Portrait of the Permanent Diaconate in 2025: A Study for the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. Since 2005, the Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate (CARA) at Georgetown University has conducted this survey, which provides important statistics and forecasting trends on the state of the permanent diaconate in the Church in the United States. 

“Deacons continue to bring a spirit of renewal and encouragement to the missionary ministry of the Church through their service in the liturgy and works of charity expressed in everyday life,” said Archbishop Ronald A. Hicks, chairman of the USCCB’s Committee on Clergy, Consecrated Life and Vocations. “With nearly 15,000 active deacons in ministry in 2025, the permanent diaconate plays a vital role in bringing the Gospel to life through their witness as icons of Christ the Servant. With their primary duty of service in the Church being to proclaim the Gospel, preach, and perform charitable works, deacons serve a unique and vital ministry in the life of the Church. This annual survey is an opportunity for our faithful to recognize the work of the diaconate, pray for our deacons, and also discern if they are called to such ministry themselves.” 

The survey utilized contact information from the National Association of Diaconate Directors (NADD) and was sent to the Office of the Permanent Diaconate in the Latin and Eastern Rite (arch)dioceses and eparchies. In total, CARA received responses from 143 of the 185 (arch)dioceses/eparchies whose bishops are members of the USCCB and have an active Office of Deacons, for a 77% response rate. 

The full survey conducted by CARA may be accessed here. 

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