Wednesday, February 4, 2026
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Read more: The historic pontificate of Pope Leo XIV
Read more: The historic pontificate of Pope Leo XIV

House hearing examines rising global religious freedom threats, policy challenges

by Kate Scanlon

Authoritarian regimes increasingly threaten the cause of international religious freedom, lawmakers and experts said Feb. 4. 

One day after desecration, California school holds reparation Mass
Amid US foreign aid cuts, bishops call for solidarity between American, African Catholics
Pope Leo XIV taps Trappist Bishop Varden to preach papal Lenten retreat
Haitian Catholics in US relieved, yet wary, after judge temporarily halts end of protected status
These Olympic athletes are leaning on faith going into the Winter Games

U.S. Church

America’s first basilica marks a century

by Susan Klemond

MINNEAPOLIS (OSV News) — A century ago, Pope Pius XI granted a grand Minneapolis church the title of “basilica.” It was the first church in the United States to receive the designation. At a Feb. 1 Mass honoring …

Pope Leo, Archbishop Coakley urge renewal of last US-Russia nuclear treaty

Catholic high school students in Utah walk out to protest ICE and support immigrants

Threats to religious freedom present risks to global security, experts warn

Traditionalist society to consecrate new bishops in July without papal mandate

Illinois pitching for funds to shore up abortion tourism denounced as ‘macabre’

Historic San Diego parish opens new center to help immigrants amid deportation fears

World

Vatican secretary of state prioritized dialogue during Denmark visit, archbishop says

by Junno Arocho Esteves

(OSV News) — During his recent visit to Denmark, Cardinal Pietro Parolin declined an invitation to sign a joint declaration regarding Greenland’s sovereignty, in the hopes of maintaining neutrality …

Full text: Pope Leo XIV’s Feb. 4, 2026, general audience
As Lent approaches, Catholics urged to leave ‘hesitation at the door’ and visit Holy Land
Historic restoration to begin at Bethlehem’s Church of the Nativity Grotto after 600 years
Pope adds feast day of St. John Henry Newman to universal calendar
Giorgia Meloni look-alike angel sparks investigation at historic Roman church

Happiness cannot be bought, hoarded, only shared with others, pope says

Pope Leo prays for thousands affected by disastrous floods in southern Africa

Guatemala’s ‘Fray Augusto’ is a martyr of the confessional, vice postulator says

Vatican

Pope praises religious for courageous witness serving the marginalized 

by Carol Glatz

Opinion

A Quaker, a Bavarian monk and a Catholic king: Exploring Catholic history in Pennsylvania, New York and New Jersey

by Father Anthony D. Andreassi

A nation within the Church: Consecrated life, lived from the inside

by Father Augustine Dada

What is the feast of the Presentation?

by D.D. Emmons

Reviews

Hamnet

by John Mulderig
‘Offer It Up’ explores finding grace in the pain of chronic illness
Fathom Entertainment encores Lord of the Rings trilogy
‘Knives Out’ discovers the strange, attractive light of the Christian story
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