Local Church

Despite the continuing decline in the number of Catholics, the Church’s tax revenue in Germany is on the rise again: here are the numbers

The so-called «church tax miracle» may therefore prove to be less a sign of ecclesial renewal than a temporary consequence of economic and demographic factors

Jul 10, 2026 12:59

ZENIT Staff

Marriage and Family

“The most important thing is forgiveness”: Chair of Marriage Care reflects on the ingredients for a strong relationship

Addressing difficulties in a marriage is not easy, and Roger shares that couples experiencing challenges wait an average of seven years before seeking professional support.

Jul 10, 2026 12:42

ZENIT Staff

Local Church•Pope Leo XIV•Young People

The Pope to Young Iraqi Christians: Your Mission Is to Be Light in the Darkness

The «Ankawa Youth Meeting» is the largest Christian gathering in Iraq. It began in 2013, though it had to be suspended the following year due to the occupation of the Nineveh Plains — where Erbil is located — by ISIS and the ensuing conflict.

Jul 09, 2026 12:09

ZENIT Staff

Religious Freedom

Little Sisters of the Poor Return to Court in Long-Running Religious Freedom Battle Over Contraception Mandate

From the outset, the Little Sisters of the Poor maintained that complying with the mandate would violate their Catholic faith. The congregation, which has served impoverished elderly people for nearly two centuries, argued that it could not participate in providing coverage for contraceptives, including products it believes may have abortifacient effects.

Jul 09, 2026 09:28

ZENIT Staff

Analysis Opinion

Europe’s Secular Future Still Bears the Imprint of Faith, New Economic Research Suggests

Perhaps one of the report’s most intriguing conclusions concerns ideas that have gradually become detached from their explicitly religious origins. The European Union’s principle of subsidiarity provides a striking example

Jul 09, 2026 08:57

ZENIT Staff

Holy Land•Persecuted Christians

Jews Denounce the Persecution of Christians by Radical Jews in the Holy Land: Facts, Figures, and Other Concerns

According to the Rossing Center for Education and Dialogue, 155 incidents targeting Christians and Christian institutions were documented in Israel and East Jerusalem during 2025, up significantly from 111 cases the previous year. These included physical assaults, vandalism, desecration of churches, verbal abuse and the increasingly reported phenomenon of clergy being spat upon in public

Jul 07, 2026 16:25

ZENIT Staff

Local Church•Priests•Vocations

Decline, Resurgence, and Breaking Stereotypes: The State of Vocations and Priestly Ordinations in France, Germany, and Italy

Rather than a single narrative of inevitable decline or universal revival, today’s Catholic Church presents a far more complex landscape—one in which signs of renewal and symptoms of crisis coexist, often separated by little more than a national border

Jul 07, 2026 15:55

ZENIT Staff

Cardinals and Bishops•Protection of vulnerable people

Cardinal López Romero Steps Aside from Duties Following Accusations by Some Women Against Him

In a letter issued on Monday, July 6, Cardinal Cristóbal López Romero told the Catholic community of Rabat: «I am accused of inappropriate behavior toward adult women. This situation has led the Church to open a preliminary investigation.»

Jul 07, 2026 09:02

ZENIT Staff

Local Church•Rome

Scottish bishops sell the Pontifical Scottish College in Rome

Technology can strengthen human relationships when it bridges distance or facilitates communication. But when it becomes a substitute for genuine human connection, something essential is lost

Jul 06, 2026 17:17

ZENIT Staff

Analysis Opinion

What happens when technology no longer assists religious life but begins to replace it?

Technology can strengthen human relationships when it bridges distance or facilitates communication. But when it becomes a substitute for genuine human connection, something essential is lost

Jul 06, 2026 17:03

ZENIT Staff

Local Church•Persecuted Christians•Religious Freedom

The United States Intervenes Following the Arrest of a Catholic Bishop by the Nicaraguan Dictatorship

Initial reports indicated that Mata was transferred to the Evaristo Vásquez Sánchez Police Complex in Managua, commonly known as “El Nuevo Chipote,” a detention center that has become synonymous with the imprisonment of political opponents. Although some sources later stated that he had been returned to his residence in Tisma, uncertainty soon emerged regarding his true situation

Jul 06, 2026 16:53

ZENIT Staff

Holy Land

Israel and the Armenian Genocide: Historical Justice or Contempt for Ankara?

The Israeli government has recognized the Armenian Genocide of 1915, following decades of silence imposed by its relations with Turkey. This decision comes amidst deteriorating relations between Israel and Ankara due to the war in Gaza.

Jul 06, 2026 15:38

ZENIT Staff