Local Church•Virgin Mary

Venezuela: Virgin Mary moves 2.7 million Catholics

Pilgrims from across the country covered more than 7.5 kilometers on the feast day of the Virgin. The state governor, Adolfo Pereira, shared on his social media that during the procession, «peace, calmness, and the religiosity of the people prevailed.»

Jan 17, 2024 23:50

ZENIT Staff

Gender Ideology•Justice and Peace

Mexico: civil society leader condemned by LGBT lobby takes his case to International Commission

Luévano filed a complaint against Cortés, arguing that 9 social media posts on X and Facebook violated the alleged right to be “acknowledged as a woman” and a “denial of identity”. Cortés was charged with “gender-based political violence” merely because Luevano is a sitting member of the Mexican Congress. 

Jan 17, 2024 23:42

ZENIT Staff

Persecuted Christians

The 50 Countries Where Christians Are Most Persecuted at Present: Communism and Islamism Head the Persecutions

Christianity is the most persecuted religion in the world. In many countries Christians suffer all sorts of vexations because of their faith. Some 317 million Christians suffer persecution in those 50 countries.

Jan 17, 2024 23:34

ZENIT Staff

General Audience•Pope Francis

Pope Francis Explains Lust and Two Contaminatiions It Produces

The Holy Father’s General Audience on January 17, 20024 on Lust

Jan 17, 2024 23:28

ZENIT Staff

Local Church•Religious Freedom

This is what the first report on religious freedom in the U.S. prepared by the country’s Catholic bishops says

The issues of abortion and gender identity were at the heart of key cultural trends affecting religious liberty. Opposition to Christians’ witness against abortion continued to motivate vandalism against churches and pro-life pregnancy centers. The celebration of “Pride Month” generated numerous controversies, including protest and counterprotest of the Los Angeles Dodgers’ decision to honor an anti-Catholic group as part of the baseball team’s “Pride Night” festivities.

Jan 16, 2024 23:07

ZENIT Staff

Analysis Opinion•Bioethics

Australia: Legalising ‘Assisted Dying’ fails to reduce suicide rate

The author of this study, David Albert Jones, is the Director of the Anscombe Bioethics Centre in Oxford and Professor of Bioethics at St Mary’s University, Twickenham.

Jan 16, 2024 21:07

ZENIT Staff

Local Church•Religious Freedom

USA: bishops release first report on religious freedom in the country

The report identifies a wide range of concerns, such as federal agencies misusing laws meant to aid pregnant women in order to promote abortion, threats to the safety of our Jewish and Muslim neighbors, and hostility toward ministries serving migrants and refugees, and suggests how individuals and communities can respond.

Jan 16, 2024 21:03

ZENIT Staff

Holy Land•Testimonies

Craftswoman in Jesus’ City: A Syndrome Deforms Basma’s Face, But She Creates Beauty with Her Hands

She is a young Christian Palestinian woman from Bethlehem. She suffers from a syndrome, a little known disease, which has deformed her face and body. But she creates beautiful object with her hands, which speak to us of Christmas, of Bethlehem, of the Holy Family, of the Child-God.

Jan 16, 2024 21:00

ZENIT Staff

Holy Land•Local Church

Lebanon: Maronite Catholic patriarch says Lebanese oppose war against Israel

For Card Beshara al-Rahi, the Lebanese do not want an escalation on the southern border, in the wake of the ongoing conflict in Gaza. Meanwhile, the United States and Europe are intensifying diplomatic efforts to prevent further violence. Blinken and Borrell warn about worse to come. Hackers attack Beirut airport with messages about Hezbollah and Iran.

Jan 16, 2024 17:56

ZENIT Staff

Pope Francis

Pope Francis Closes January 2024 Conferring Ministries to Laymen and Launching Year of Prayer

Two people will receive the ministry of Lectorate and nine the ministry of Catechist. They are lay faithful that intend to represent the People of God and they come from Brazil, Bolivia, Korea, Chad, Germany and the Antilles

Jan 15, 2024 18:21

ZENIT Staff

Holy Land•Local Church

China: Guidelines Instruct Religions How to Implement the New Patriotic Education Law

The key statute on domestic indoctrination is in force since January 1. Now religions are told how they should enforce it. We offer a full English translation of the Guidelines.

Jan 15, 2024 18:17

ZENIT Staff

Holy Land•Local Church

Vicar of Arabia: from Gaza to the Houthis ‘worrying’ escalation. Close to the Christians in Yemen

US and British air raids against pro-Iranian rebels first act of a possible widening of the war. An operation in response to assaults on ships bound for the Red Sea by the rebels. Mgr. Martinelli: difficulties in reaching «a stable equilibrium», the «great concern» for the situation in the Holy Land remains. In Yemen «the nuns’ work for the poor and sick continues».

Jan 15, 2024 18:13

ZENIT Staff