Mid-City Christian: A new generation of priests takes shape in the United States

French government deploys police against pro-life movements

ZENIT Staff

At the heart of the current climate lies a deeper question: whether the constitutionalization of abortion has resolved the ethical debate or merely shifted it into new arenas

Is the Vatican investigating the validity of Benedict XVI’s resignation? The truth behind a confirmation by the Vatican Tribunal

Valentina di Giorgio

The case originates from a formal petition submitted on 6 June 2024 by Andrea Cionci, supported by lawyer Roberto Tieghi and accompanied by numerous signatures. The request asked the Vatican Tribunal to examine the validity of Benedict XVI’s decision to resign the Petrine ministry

Mexican bishops warn of a nation at risk: violence, the Cristero War, and the World Cup

Enrique Villegas

One of the more historically resonant aspects of the message is its reference to the centenary of the persecution of Catholics during the Cristero War, which began in 1926. Rather than invoking this memory as a source of division, the bishops propose it as an opportunity for reflection and learning

When the pastor’s voice is stolen: Digital fraud using AI targets the Church in Latin America

ZENIT Staff

The warning, issued by the Honduran Episcopal Conference on 11 April, leaves no room for ambiguity. No Catholic bishop or priest in the country is engaged in selling medicines, furniture, or any commercial goods online

Thomas More Society Settlement Establishes Landmark Religious Liberty Protections for Coast Guard

ZENIT Staff

Agreement rewrites religious accommodation rules service-wide, mandates command-level training and requires public reporting of outcomes

Jesus Christ AI: This Is the God “Transformed” Into Artificial Intelligence That Already Exists and Aims to Redefine the Religious Experience

Jorge Enrique Mújica

At the center of the controversy is a feature introduced in December 2025, just days before Christmas, which offers users the possibility of engaging in voice or video conversations with an AI-generated figure inspired visually by a popular television portrayal of Jesus (The Chosen) and trained on the King James Bible

Israeli soldier vandalizes a crucifix in Lebanon: Israel responds, and so do the polls

ZENIT Staff

The Israeli Defense Forces acknowledged that the soldier involved was operating in southern Lebanon and described the act as incompatible with military values. An investigation has been opened, with assurances that appropriate disciplinary measures will follow

Pope Francis’ Last Words Are Published One Year After His Death

Rafael Llanes

The gesture encapsulates the Pontiff’s personality: approachable, humble, and attentive to those around him. The author considers it a synthesis of his way of living the priestly ministry with direct, informal interactions.

Dates and Locations Announced for Mass Events with Pope Leo XIV in Spain

ZENIT Staff

Pope Leo XIV will celebrate a great Prayer Vigil with young people and three great Masses during his Apostolic Journey to Spain. Registration forms are now open for participation in these first confirmed events on the Pope’s agenda. Registration can be done through the official website of the trip: conelpapa.es.

Israeli Army Replaces Crucifix Destroyed in Lebanon and Sentences Involved Soldiers to 30 Days in Prison

ZENIT Staff

The military response was swift and unusually explicit. Following an internal investigation, the army israeli concluded that the conduct of those involved “completely deviated” from its ethical standards. The soldier who carried out the act, along with another who documented it, was removed from combat

Between Cross and Power: Persecution, Propaganda, and the Cost of Faith in Russian-Controlled Territories

Joachin Meisner Hertz

Two episodes, distinct in geography but closely linked in context, illustrate a pattern that is drawing increasing concern among observers of religious freedom: the death in custody of a Christian blogger in Russia, and the seizure of a Catholic church in occupied Ukraine during one of the most sacred moments of the Christian calendar