“Nobel Prize in Theology”: The 2026 Ratzinger Prize

Leo XIV Visits the Dicastery for Culture and Education

ZENIT Staff

During the visit, which lasted approximately one hour, the Pope highlighted the importance of the work carried out worldwide to spread the mission of Catholic education and the responsibility regarding culture.

Restoration Concludes of One of St. Peter’s Basilica’s Most Important Domes

ZENIT Staff

The Chapel takes its name from Clement VIII (born Ippolito Aldobrandini), who commissioned its decoration. Built according to a design by Michelangelo Buonarroti and completed by Giacomo della Porta in 1580 as a symmetrical counterpart to the Gregorian Chapel, it is part of the group of spaces surrounding the «Confessio» of St. Peter.

Jehovah’s Witnesses “change their doctrine”: yes to blood donation

ZENIT Staff

The organization presents the change not as an abandonment of the sacred character it attributes to blood, but as a transfer of responsibility from a uniform religious prohibition to individual conscience

For the third year in a row, Ireland is experiencing a vocational spring. Here are the numbers of new “yes” responses

ZENIT Staff

15 men have chosen to begin by asking whether they are being called to give their lives to the Church

The son of Queen Rania and heir to the Jordanian throne visited the site of Jesus’ baptism

ZENIT Staff

The site, known in the Bible as Bethany beyond the Jordan, has acquired substantial archaeological significance. Excavations have uncovered the remains of churches, chapels, hermits’ caves and a baptistery, providing tangible evidence of centuries of Christian worship and pilgrimage associated with the baptism tradition

Despite its progressive stance, the Catholic Church in Germany is one of the biggest financial contributors: here are the numbers

Joachin Meisner Hertz

The figure, published September 16 by the German Bishops’ Conference in its annual “Global Church” report, represents a decline of almost 10 percent from the approximately €595 million provided in 2024

A Muslim father tries to burn his daughters alive for becoming Christians

ZENIT Staff

Their father, Muhamud, had doused the house with petrol, then set it alight while the girls slept inside. He had told them he would act to fulfill Islamic law since they had rejected Islam when they converted to Christianity on Aug. 26.

Vatican Announces Winner of the “Nobel Prize in Theology”: The 2026 Ratzinger Prize

ZENIT Staff

The Prize will be awarded by the Holy Father Leo XIV on 19 December at the Vatican Apostolic Palace. The Prize is awarded to scholars who have distinguished themselves through outstanding achievements in publication and scientific research. Nominations for the Prize are submitted to the Holy Father, for his approval, by the Foundation’s Scientific Committee.

Vatican Announces International Congress on School and University Pastoral Care for October 2026

ZENIT Staff

The event will feature keynote presentations offering participants opportunities for in-depth study and dialogue within a synodal atmosphere of prayer and listening, complemented by artistic performances and practical activities.

Nigeria: Gunmen Kill 11 Christians in Benue State

ZENIT Staff

The attack began at about 6:12 p.m., according to police. Police Mobile Force personnel, tactical teams, and conventional officers engaged the attackers in a gun battle that lasted about seven hours before the assailants withdrew into surrounding forests, police said.

The mainline’s unexpected 2026 political comeback

The mainline’s unexpected 2026 political comeback
Religion Unplugged: This election year, two candidates who personify the Mainline could conceivably flip Republican seats and give Democrats control of the U.S. Senate

 

Fulton Sheen, Catholic media star, will be beatified in St Louis Thursday
Religion News Service: This Thursday, the Catholic bishop who charmed millions while explaining theological concepts and scrawling on a blackboard on his show “Life Is Worth Living” will come one step closer to being declared a saint.

 

Understanding the Bible in terms of justice isn’t new*
The Christian Century: Claudia Setzer traces a bold tradition of reading scripture for the love of God, neighbor, and a more humane society.

 

Tradition and change among Latter-day Saints in the U.S.
Pew Research Center: Members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are still highly religious and conservative, but signs point to demographic and social change.
The Washington Post: Fewer Americans raised Mormon are staying in the faith, study finds*

 

Under congressional pressure, a major Muslim charity cuts ties and changes its name
Religion News Service: Islamic Relief USA, a humanitarian organization with a $150 million annual budget, rebranded itself as the Islamic Development and Empowerment in America after members of Congress threatened to have its tax-exempt status revoked.

Priest’s murder in Mexico may be warning to sow fear

Bishop of Austin decries ICE shooting as federal officials say man fled arrest

Bishop Garcia asked for prayers for the man who was shot and “all who have been involved,” asking for government authorities to be “transparent and honest about what occurred.”

Popular Catholic podcaster and religious sister announces discernment of new community

Sister Miriam James Heidland, SOLT, a well-known speaker, podcast host, and author, said she is discerning the establishment of a new religious community called Friends of the Bridegroom.

Bishop sees Pope Leo’s visit as bringing a ‘spiritual springtime’ to Uruguay

Although church attendance is low and the society is quite s quite secularized, the president of Uruguay’s bishops’ conference believes Pope Leo’s visit will give a boost to the country’s spiritual renewal.

Priest’s murder in Mexico may be warning to sow fear, priest says

The Sept. 15 murder of Father Román de la Cruz Hernández was likely perpetrated by organized crime and is not an isolated incident but forms part of a pattern of fear and intimidation.

When Does Distortion Become Dishonesty?

 

Written by Mike Lewis

I keep coming back to the same question: Why the dishonesty?

I genuinely do not understand how people who hold themselves out as traditional, orthodox, faithful Catholics can be so ruthless in distorting the truth about other Catholics.

I cannot see into anyone’s heart, but after nearly a decade of open and obvious distortions of reality from Catholic journalists, influencers, and media personalities, it is becoming impossible to believe there is an innocent explanation.

A recent example involves Archbishop Renzo Pegoraro, who was named president of the Pontifical Academy for Life last year following the retirement of Archbishop Vincenzo Paglia at age 80. Michael Haynes of the Catholic Herald announced earlier this month on X that Pegoraro “has argued Catholics can support ‘imperfect’ euthanasia laws.”

Vatican group to discuss AI

Pope Leo XIV to Poor Clare nuns: Lack of vocations should renew your commitment

The pontiff held an audience with the Federation of Capuchin Poor Clare Nuns of Italy on Sept. 21.

Swiss March for Life draws thousands as masked cyclists attempt disruption

Organizers have launched legal proceedings after authorities barred the annual pro-life march from the Zurich city center for a sixth consecutive year.

EWTN News’ Magdalena Wolińska-Riedi crowned as Polish speech champion

The longtime Vatican journalist and writer received the award in Ostrowiec, Poland, on Sept. 21.

Vatican group to discuss AI, human dignity with world leaders at UN General Assembly

The discussion focuses on the question “What are we building, for whom, and who will inherit it?”

Pastoral Mercy and the Processus Brevior

Decades ago, I was called to assist the marriage tribunal of my diocese as a judge, under provisions the Holy See had extended to dioceses that lacked a sufficient number of trained canon lawyers to staff their tribunals. Because I held a pontifical degree in theology — the Licentiate in Sacred Theology I earned at Louvain — I was conscripted into that service. It was not a role I had sought, but it became one I came to value deeply. I have always had a particular interest in canon law, and in marriage law especially, as it pertains to the process of annulment: a sad but necessary means by which the church seeks to bring healing to couples who have suffered the collapse of a marriage — an all too common reality in our society today.

With the growth over time in the number of trained canon lawyers available to the diocese, I was eventually relieved of that tribunal responsibility. But I have carried the wisdom gained from those years with me throughout my more than fifty-two years in the priesthood. It is a peculiar grace of ecclesial service that one’s formal duties may end while the insight they impart does not.

It was with that background, then, that I read with real interest the two-part column Cardinal Blase Cupich recently completed on the marriage nullity process — coming, fittingly, in the year that marked the tenth anniversary this past April of Pope Francis’s apostolic exhortation Amoris Laetitia, the document that gathered the fruits of the 2014–2015 Synods on the Family and gave the church’s pastoral approach to marriage and family life its most developed expression in a generation.

How to behave on yom kippur

Yom Kippur is the holiest day of the year in Judaism, focused on atonement, repentance, and spiritual renewal. Observing it traditionally involves following five physical prohibitions and focusing on prayer and self-reflection.

Here is how to behave on Yom Kippur, whether you are observing the traditions yourself or attending services.

📌 The Five Traditional Prohibitions

For 25 hours (from just before sunset on the eve of Yom Kippur until nightfall the next day), traditional Jewish law prohibits:

Eating and drinking: A complete fast is observed by healthy adults (above Bar/Bat Mitzvah age). If fasting endangers your health, Jewish law actually commands you to eat.
Bathing or washing: Only minimal washing to remove actual dirt is permitted.
Applying lotions or oils: This includes perfumes, makeup, and creams.
Wearing leather shoes: Traditional leather shoes are avoided as a sign of humility and because they represented luxury in ancient times. People often wear canvas sneakers or Crocs.
Marital relations: Intimacy is avoided during the holiday.

🏛️ Behavior at the Synagogue

If you attend services, expect a solemn but deeply communal environment:

Dress in white: Many people wear white clothing (or a white robe called a kittel) to symbolize purity and look like angels.
Wear non-leather shoes: Opt for canvas shoes, sandals, or sneakers.
Follow the service: The prayer book used is called a Machzor. Services are long and run throughout most of the day, featuring intense communal confessions (Al Chet).
Maintain decorum: Keep conversations to a minimum inside the sanctuary, as people are fasting and deeply focused on prayer.

💬 Greeting Someone

What to say: The standard greeting is "G'mar Chatimah Tovah" (May you be sealed for a good year) or "Tzom Kal" (Have an easy fast).
What to avoid: Do not say "Happy Yom Kippur," as it is a somber day of reflection rather than a celebratory holiday.

Are you planning to attend a synagogue service for the first time, or are you looking for tips on how to prepare your body for the fast? Let me know so I can give you the most relevant tips.

The 23 Eastern Catholic Churches

Lebanese faithful to walk to St. Charbel’s shrine in prayer for Christians in country’s south

A prayer pilgrimage from Byblos to Annaya aims to offer solidarity and hope to Christians in southern Lebanon.

The 23 Eastern Catholic Churches: Ancient traditions in communion with Rome

While the Catholic Church is often viewed from a Latin rite prism, it also includes 23 Eastern Churches that are in full communion as part of the one Catholic fold.

Pope Leo XIV appeals for international aid as Somalia crisis deepens

In his Sunday Angelus catechesis, the pontiff reflected on the parable of the vineyard workers, saying God’s generosity overturns human calculations of merit and reward.

A new lens can ease the strain of ministry By Meagan Manas

Sweeping the labyrinth and inviting others into our lonely questions By Laura M. Fabrycky

The well of joy By Jessica Young Brown

Christian practices and a way of life abundant Q&A with Dorothy C. Bas