Dicasteries

How Can a Layperson Move from the Lefebvrists to Communion with the Catholic Church? Vatican Publishes Procedure

The imposition of a penalty on laypersons belonging to the Priestly Fraternity of Saint Pius X cannot be presumed automatically; rather, it must be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.

Jul 02, 2026 10:10

ZENIT Staff

Controversies•Dicasteries•Documents

Vatican Explains Consequences of Excommunication of Lefebvrists, Including Invalidity of Sacraments

Explanatory Note from the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, regarding the Decree of excommunication for the ordaining bishops and the members of the Society of Saint Pius X who illicitly received ordination without the Pope’s authorization.

Jul 02, 2026 09:11

ZENIT Staff

Dicasteries•Documents

Vatican Releases Excommunication Decree Following Lefebvrists Episcopal Ordinations: Here Is What It Says

Decree of excommunication for the ordaining bishops and the men of the Society of Saint Pius X who have illicitly received ordination without the Pope’s authorization.

Jul 02, 2026 09:09

ZENIT Staff

Good News•Local Church

Salford Diocese unveils restored cathedral for growing congregation in modern age

After more than 175 years, the cathedral was in urgent need of significant restoration to address the longstanding repairs required to its failing stonework and towering infrastructure, whilst meeting the needs of a growing community.

Jul 02, 2026 08:36

ZENIT Staff

Local Church•Religious Freedom

Arizona Legislature Rejects Bill That Would Have Forced Catholic Priests to Break the Seal of Confession

The bill proposed severe penalties for clergy who refused to comply. A first violation would have constituted a Class 6 felony, carrying fines of up to $150,000 and prison sentences of as much as two years. Repeated refusals could have exposed priests to substantially longer terms of imprisonment.

Jul 02, 2026 08:34

ZENIT Staff

Persecuted Christians

Armed Muslims kill 31 Christians in attacks in Nigeria’s Plateau and Kaduna states

The deadliest attack occurred late on June 21 in Kawel community, Mushere District of Bokkos Local Government Area, Plateau state, where residents said gunmen opened fire on homes and a hospital, killing 22 Christians.

Jul 01, 2026 10:06

ZENIT Staff

Holy Land

Jordan is cataloging, promoting, and revitalizing 34 Christian sites in the Holy Land

The initiative promoted by the Hashemite Kingdom consolidates investment in Christian religious tourism in the country and looks ahead to 2030, when the 2,000th anniversary of the Baptism of Jesus will be celebrated. From Mount Nebo to Madaba, from Gerasa to the Byzantine site of Petra itself – these are places that aim to create itineraries independent of trips to Israel and Palestine.

Jul 01, 2026 09:27

ZENIT Staff

Gender Ideology•Justice and Peace

U.S. Supreme Court Upholds Ban on Men in Women’s Sports (Even If a Man Identifies as a Woman)

High court upholds West Virginia, Idaho laws protecting female athletes by keeping males out of women’s sports

Jun 30, 2026 16:13

ZENIT Staff

Controversies

Lefebvrians Respond to the Pope with an Open Letter: “Far be it from us to separate ourselves from the Roman Church”

Full text in English of the letter from the Superior General of the Society of St. Pius X to Pope Leo XIV in response to a letter from the Holy Father

Jun 30, 2026 16:08

ZENIT Staff

Dicasteries•Ecumenism

The Vatican and Europe’s largest Protestant denomination have suspended their theological dialogue. Here is the explanation

Far from signaling the end of cooperation, both sides stressed that the interruption is intended to evaluate the experience accumulated over recent years and clarify the conditions under which the dialogue might continue more effectively

Jun 30, 2026 15:41

ZENIT Staff

Pope Leo XIV

Leo XIV intervenes of the Order of Malta through new legislative measures that amend or clarify provisions established by Pope Francis

The Rescriptum ex Audientia Sanctissimi, approved by the Pope on April 10 and signed by Cardinal Gianfranco Ghirlanda, revises fourteen provisions—five articles of the Constitutional Charter and nine articles of the Melitense Code

Jun 30, 2026 15:31

ZENIT Staff

Pope Leo XIV

“To tear the seamless garment of Christ is a sin of extreme gravity”: Leo XIV writes to the Lefebvrians

Letter from Pope Leo XIV to the Superior General of the Society of St. Pius X

Jun 30, 2026 15:08

ZENIT Staff