Catholic school enrollment figures for the current school year—significantly impacted by the pandemic—dropped 6.4% or more than 111,000 students from the previous school year, which is the largest single year decline in almost 50 years.

“2021 is a time that must not be wasted,” Pope Francis said during his annual meeting with diplomats accredited to the Holy See. “I am convinced that fraternity is the true cure for the pandemic and the many evils that have affected us.”

Pope Francis today expressed his “live concern” at the recent developments in Myanmar where the military has seized power, overthrowing the results of the recent election.

No matter how many times you hear it described thus—jokingly or not—an annulment is not just “Catholic divorce.” Church teaching is not that the marriage in question failed, but that the marriage never existed in a sacramental sense.

Breaking with tradition and opening a new door in the synodal process, Pope Francis has appointed a woman, Sister Nathalie Becquart, as one of two new undersecretaries of the synod of bishops.

“The Scarlet and The Black,” available on Amazon Prime, tells the story of an Irish priest, Msgr. Hugh O’Flaherty, who was in the Vatican diplomatic service in World War II.

Virginia is on its way to becoming the 23rd state to abolish the death penalty and, significantly, the first formerly Confederate state to achieve abolition.

And in the midst of the pandemic chaos, we have become fixated on figuring out who are the deserving.

“Saint Maud” is the latest entrant in the religious-obsessives-are-the-craziest-people movie catalogue.

“News of the World” succeeds in marrying the classic action-adventure conventions of the American Western with a deeper, human story about the ties that bind us, even in the midst of persistent unrest.

How closely did you follow the news this week? Take our Catholic news quiz and find out.

Joe Biden has signed eight executive orders related to immigration in his first two weeks in office. These measures are important first steps, but immigration reform must move beyond executive orders.

In November, incoming U.S. President Joe Biden said at a Jesuit Refugee Service event that he would be heading in a dramatically different direction than the previous administration on refugee admissions.

While it is true that conflict exists between the U.S. bishops and the Biden administration, ignoring the areas of agreement is ignoring the facts. It is bad for the administration, bad for the bishops and bad for the country.

Whether you are an agnostic seeker who’s curious about the whole “prayer” thing or a seasoned Catholic looking to deepen your relationship with God, James Martin, S.J., has a book for you—and everyone else.

The head of the Catholic Church and the head of Al-Azhar gave the world yet another powerful witness of their friendship and commitment to work together for peace among the nations.

In a world that trivializes kinship more and more, Pope Francis’ retrieval of the concept of fraternity is timely and challenging.

The plan places a particular emphasis on ensuring equal access to Covid-19 testing, treatment and vaccination.

The Associated Press (again) investigated Catholic dioceses that benefited from the Paycheck Protection Program. Here’s what they got wrong about the church in the United States.